Through courage and generosity in Allah’s cause, He gave precedence to the earliest believers, saying:

“Not equal among you are those who spent and fought before the conquest. They are greater in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards, though Allah has promised the finest reward to all.”

He has mentioned jihad in His cause with one’s life and wealth, praising it in numerous verses of His Book. This is courage and generosity in obedience to Him, glorified be He. He says:

“How many a small company has overcome a large company by Allah’s permission! And Allah is with the patient.”

Allah Most High also says:

“O you who believe, when you encounter an enemy force, stand firm and remember Allah often, so that you may succeed.”

“And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute, lest you lose courage and your strength depart. Be patient; indeed, Allah is with the patient.”

Courage is not bodily strength: a man may be strong in body yet weak in heart. Rather, it is strength and firmness of heart. Fighting depends on bodily strength and skill in combat, as well as strength of heart and experience in fighting. What is praiseworthy in both is that which is guided by knowledge and understanding, rather than recklessness, whose possessor neither thinks nor distinguishes between what is praiseworthy and what is blameworthy. Thus, the truly strong and mighty person is the one who controls himself when angry, so that he acts rightly. As for someone overcome by his anger, he is neither courageous nor strong. As explained earlier, patience is what brings all this together; it is indispensable.

Patience is of two kinds: patience when angry and patience when afflicted by calamity. As al-Hasan said:

“No servant has ever swallowed