- Chapter: Patience
Allah the Exalted says, “O you who believe, be patient and outdo one another in patience” (Āl ʿImrān 3:200). “O you who believe, be patient and outdo one another in patience” (Āl ʿImrān 3:200). And He, exalted is He, says, “We shall surely test you with a measure of fear and hunger and loss of wealth, lives, and fruits; but give glad tidings to those who are patient” (Al-Baqarah 2:155). And He says, “Only those who are patient shall be given their reward in full without measure” (Az-Zumar 39:10). “Only those who are patient shall be given their reward in full without measure” (Az-Zumar 39:10). And He says, “Whoever is patient and forgives—indeed, that is among matters requiring firm resolve” (Ash-Shūrā 42:43). And He says, “O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer; indeed, Allah is with those who are patient” (Al-Baqarah 2:153). And He says, “We shall surely test you until We make evident those of you who strive and those who are patient” (Muḥammad 47:31). The verses that command patience and clarify its virtue are many and well known.
Explanation
In the language, ṣabr (patience) means restraint. In the Sharīʿah it means restraining the soul in regard to three things:
- Remaining steadfast in obedience to Allah;
- Refraining from what Allah has forbidden; and
- Bearing the painful decrees of Allah.
These are the types of patience mentioned by the scholars.
The first type is that a person endure in obeying Allah, for obedience is burdensome to the soul and difficult for a person. It can also weigh heavily on the body so that one feels weakness and fatigue. Likewise, it may involve financial hardship, such as in the case of zakāh and pilgrimage. Acts of obedience therefore impose a certain strain on both soul and body, and they require patience and perseverance. Allah says—