remove evil deeds. That is a reminder for those who are mindful.”

“And be patient, for Allah never lets the reward of those who do good go to waste.”

Allah Most High says:

“So be patient. Indeed, Allah’s promise is true. Seek forgiveness for your sin, and glorify your Lord with praise in the evening and the morning.”

He Most High says:

“So be patient with what they say, and glorify your Lord with praise before sunrise and before sunset, and during parts of the night.”

He Most High says:

“Seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, it is burdensome except for the humbly submissive.”

He Most High says:

“Seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”

These are passages in which prayer and patience are coupled. “Mercy and patience” are also coupled, as in His saying:

“And they urge one another to patience and urge one another to mercy.”

Mercy includes kindness towards people through zakah and other means. Here, too, people fall into four categories. Some are patient but show no mercy, such as those who are strong and hard-hearted. Others show mercy but lack patience, such as those who are weak and tender-hearted, including many women and those who resemble them. Still others are neither patient nor merciful, such as those who are hard-hearted and prone to panic.

The praiseworthy person is one who is both patient and merciful. As the jurists have said of a person entrusted with authority: “He should be strong without harshness, and gentle without weakness.” Through patience he gains strength, and through gentleness he shows mercy. Through patience a servant is granted victory, for victory comes with patience; and through showing mercy he receives the mercy of Allah Most High. As the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah shows mercy only to those of His servants who are merciful.”

He also said:

“Whoever shows no mercy will be shown no mercy.”

He said:

“Mercy is stripped away only from a wretched person.”

And he said:

“The Most Merciful shows mercy to those who are merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and the One in heaven will show mercy to you.”

And Allah knows best. End.