Patience
A western commentator, William Patron, has observed: One of the fruits of Islam has been that stubborn durable patience which comes out of the submission to the absolute will of God.
And what an apt observation indeed. Islam puts a great deal of emphasis on the importance of patience in our lives , manners , bearings and daily routines. In fact the very spirit of Islam is unimaginable without Patience.
The Qur’an repeatedly stresses the need for patience. In chapter 31, we are enjoined to remain patient in these words.
“Endure with fortitude whatever befalls you.” (17)
In chapter 8, we are told to
“have patience. God is with those that are patient.” (46)
Chapter 103 says,
“Perdition shall be the lot of man except for those who believe. and do good works and exhort one another to justice and to fortitude.
Description:
If I were asked to describe patience I’d say :
“Patience is to subdue your outrage when it’s at the peak.”
Calming down and regaining composure after that tornado of outrage has past is easier. while not letting that tornado shred everything to pieces around you is the actual challenge. Those who do pass it are truly among the As-Sabiroon (The Patient Ones).
Those who do learn to muster their anger are often able to dodge away from many huge problems. Most issues in our daily life are caused because of impatience.
So you were preparing dinner and you ran out of salt. You rush to the super market got the salt. but the queue at the payment counter was too long for you to wait in. So you dodge many people and pushed some , elbowed others , stepped on someone’s foot and tried to squeeze in between two. And then finally got entangled in a quarrel with the people that you were trying to push back. what would happen then? At worst the arguments would swell and you might even get into a fist fight, or , at best the store’s administration is called in ; they snatch the salt from you and kick you out. if only you were patient you might as well have been home with a pouch of salt with you, by then wouldn’t you?. 😉
Levels of Patience
There are different levels of Patience, I’ve ranked them from 1 to 4 from the lowest to the highest.
Level 1 (the lowest and forbidden level of patience )
It is when your faith is tested by some hardship or loss and you get frustrated and angry so much so that you can not even think straight.
anger could be of three types:
- Anger towards Allah, the human gets angry at Allah and his decree. He refuses to accept it and keeps asking Allah : “why me?” This is haram (Allah’s decree is unquestionable) and might lead us to Kufr. (Naozzu BILLAH 🙁 )
- Anger expressed with your tongue i.e. considering others responsible for your loss and making Duas for their destruction. This is Prohibited as well.
- Anger that is physically expressed: Expressing your anger by physically harming yourself or the others around you, like pulling your hair , beating yourself , crying loudly and complaining or ripping your clothes.
All of this is Haram and contradicts Patience.
Level 2
A good level of Patience is when you undergo a calamity and its unbearably hard to endure and its weight is crushing you but you try to stay patient. It’s hard for you to stay patient but you put in all your efforts and try to ignore the evil voice inside you that’s urging you to rebel. Allah promises the Highest reward for such a person because of his conscious endeavor.
Allah Says:
“And be patient, indeed Allah is with the patient ones.” (8:46)
Level 3
Practicing patience as much as possible raises you to a level of patience where you do not find it hard anymore to keep your composure and not complain. You feel contended even when you undergo any trial or loss because you know that Allah knows best and you know that wholeheartedly. Masha’a Allah.
Level 4
Such a person when hit with some calamity Thanks Allah SUbhana Wa Ta’alaa for the hardship because he sees it as a means of purification of his self. He knows that Allah would expiate his sins in reward of his patience. He has a staunch belief in what The Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“There is no affliction which strikes the Muslim except that Allah expiates with it (sins), even with a thorn that may poke him.” (Bukhaaree & Muslim)
May Allah save us from being at the Level 1 of Patience and May he help us achieve the highest level of patience.
Activity:
Now that we know what Patience is, Why is it necessary and what are it’s different levels ; let us evaluate ourselves. Let’s be Honest and judge our current level of patience and then set a higher level of patience as a goal to achieve for this month. and let us then work hard to achieve it partly at least within the next 30 days. 🙂
P.S: Keep your current level of Imaan a secret between you and your lord. Indeed he’s the Best listener and best of secret keepers. and then make dua daily to attain a higher level of patience.
TIP:
One of my Quran tutor once told me this tip to boost up the level of patience. and I’m sharing it with you today. 🙂
Whenever you face any situation. before reacting just take a second and think.and whenever you experience a loss think for a sec and make sure that your first reaction is. :
نَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونl (Sura Al-Baqara, Verse 156.).
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A few verses from Surah -e- Baqarah
“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits. but give good tidings to the patient.”
2:156
“Who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return.””
2:157
“Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.”
