In the second wording he—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “And know that victory comes with patience, relief comes with distress, and ease comes with hardship.”

Be absolutely certain that victory accompanies patience. When you persevere and make use of the means to victory that Allah has commanded, Allah the Exalted will grant you success. Here, patience includes remaining constant in obedience to Allah, refraining from His disobedience, and enduring His painful decrees, for the enemy may assail a person from every side. Someone might feel unable to face his foe, become dejected, and abandon jihad; he might begin the struggle but, when harm befalls him, lose heart and quit; or he might press on yet still suffer pain at the hands of the enemy. Each of these cases demands patience.

Allah says, “If a wound touches you, a similar wound has already touched those people” (Ali ʿImran 3:140), and He says, “Do not falter in pursuing the enemy. If you are suffering, they are suffering just as you suffer, but you hope from Allah what they do not hope for. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise” (Al-Nisaʾ 4:104). Therefore, when a person is patient, steadfast, and stands firm, Allah will grant him victory.

Regarding his words, “and know that relief comes with distress,” whenever matters become constricted and severe, relief is near, for Allah—Mighty and Majestic—says: “Who is it that answers the one in desperate need when he calls upon Him, removes affliction, and makes you successors on the earth? Is there any deity alongside Allah? Little indeed do you remember!” (Al-Naml 27:62). Thus, the more intense the circumstance, the more you should anticipate relief from Allah.

And his statement, “Indeed, with hardship comes ease”—every hardship is followed by ease; rather, hardship—