may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the words of someone who had offended him. He replied, ‘Leave us be. Moses suffered greater harm than this, yet he remained patient.’”

He would patiently endure the harm inflicted upon him by disbelievers, hypocrites, and even some believers, as Allah Most High says:

“That was causing the Prophet discomfort, but he was too shy to tell you.”

He would mention that this had been decreed.

The believer is commanded to bear patiently what has been decreed. Thus Allah says:

“If you are patient and mindful of Allah, their schemes will not harm you at all.”

Piety consists in doing what is commanded, avoiding what is forbidden, and patiently bearing their harm. Then, where Allah permits retaliation, He says:

“If you retaliate, retaliate only to the extent of the harm you have suffered. But if you are patient, that is certainly better for those who are patient.”

“And be patient; your patience is only through Allah. Do not grieve over them, nor be distressed by their schemes.”

He thus declares that the Prophet’s patience is through Allah: Allah is the One who helps him remain patient. Patiently enduring hardships without taking revenge upon the wrongdoer is difficult for the soul. Yet his patience is through Allah, just as Allah commanded that it be for His sake when He said:

“Be patient for the sake of your Lord.”

There, however, He expressed this as a command, because the Prophet is commanded to be patient for Allah’s sake, not for anyone else’s. Here, He expressed it as a statement:

“Your patience is only through Allah.”

For patience, like every other event, occurs only through Allah. Yet it may or may not occur. Whatever is not through Allah cannot occur, and whatever is not for Allah’s sake neither benefits nor endures.

It is not said, “Be patient through Allah,” since patience can only be through Allah. Rather, it is said, “Seek Allah’s help and be patient.” Thus, we seek Allah’s help to remain patient.