The Treasures of Patience

 

Hassan Al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

"Patience is a treasure from the treasures of good, Allah does not grant it except to the slave that is honourable with him." 

Ibn Abi Dunyah in the book of Patience (pg.16)

 

Hayaan Ibn Abi Jabalah (may Allah have mercy on him) said regarding the verse of the Most-High: {Beautiful patience (is most befitting)} : (Yusuf:18)

"It is the patience that has no complaining in it."

Tafsir Ibn Jareer (Vol. 12, pg. 166)

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✍ Translated by:

Abu Hazm Eyssa Pakistani

Reflecting upon the patience of Yoosuf ( عليه السلام)

Ibnul-Qayyim رحمه الله said: I heard Sheikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله say: 

((The patience of Yoosuf عليه السلام against compliance to the wife of Al-‘Azeez in her matter was more complete than his patience over his being thrown into the well by his brothers and his being sold off as well as their separating him from his father. For these affairs passed him whilst he had no choice in them, he was not secure from them; the servant is in no position in them except to have patience. As for his patience from committing sin; then that was practicing a patience of choice and waging a war upon the Nafs (inner-self/soul). 

What is Sabr?

By Imâm Ibnul Qayyim 

The Meaning of Patience!

In the Arabic language, 'Sabr' means ‘to hold fast, cease, or choke’. For example, in Bedouin Arabic, to say 'one has been killed by sabr,' means one is choked to death. Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى says,

وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ

"Moreover, keep yourself patient in the company of those (humble believers) who call upon their Lord (with devotion) in the morning and in the evening, desiring (only) His Face."

(Al-Kahf 18:28)

Sabr in this verse means to ‘hold onto’.

Thus, Sabr means to hold oneself from anxiety (jaza) and anger (tasakhkhut) , to hold one’s tongue from complaint, and to hold one’s body from disgraceful movements.

It is of three types: Patience in obeying Allaah (namely, perseverance), patience in avoiding Allaah’s disobedience (namely, resolve), and patience in Allaah’s tests. The first two of these are related to voluntary acts, over which we as humans have control. The last pertains to what happens to us (by Allaah’s decree) wherein we have no choice.

The Patience of the Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام

I have heard Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله say:

“(The Prophet) Yusuf’s patience in resisting the temptation of the minister’s wife was higher than his patience regarding his brothers’ throwing him into the well and separating him from his father, for the latter happened to him without his choice. In such cases, a servant of Allaah has no option but patience. But his perseverance in avoiding the seduction (of the minister’s wife) involved his choice and pleasure (resulting from his volitional obedience to Allaah), and struggling against his self.

Which type of Patience is Better?

 

Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله wrote:

Here there is an issue which people debated about:

Which type of patience is better – patience in refraining from sin or patience in obeying Allaah?

One group of people suggested that the former is better, and they said that patience in refraining from sin is the attitude of the Siddeeqeen, as some of the Salaf said,

‘Good deeds are done by righteous and immoral alike, but no one has the power to refrain from sin except a Siddeeq’,

and because the motive to commit sin is greater than the motive to stop being obedient – because the motive to commit sin is pleasure, but the motive to stop being obedient is laziness and sloth; and undoubtedly the motive to commit sin is stronger.

Patience...!

Beautiful Hadith about Patience

Narrated Abu Huraira that  Allaah’s Messenger صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said,

“The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant; from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with calamities (but he remains patient till Allaah removes his difficulties.) And an impious wicked person is like a pine tree which keeps hard and straight till Allaah cuts (breaks) it down when He wishes.”

(Bukhari)

"I saw from the affliction is that the believer makes dua ..."

 

Ibn al-Jawzee  رحمه الله said,

"I saw from the affliction is that the believer makes dua & receives no response (for it), so he repeats the dua & the period becomes long but still he sees no sign of the answer (for the dua), so it is necessary for him to know that this is from the affliction that requires (him) to have patience (as well)."

Having Patience simultaneously with awaiting Allaah’s reward

Sheikh Uthaymeen رحمه الله said,

“If the person’s attitude towards ordeals follows a course of patience without awaiting Allaah’s reward, a considerable amount of his sins shall be forgiven. But, if he maintains patience simultaneously with awaiting Allaah’s reward, he shall reap a reward besides the forgiveness of sins. Awaiting Allaah’s reward means: to believe that the patience one endures during the ordeal shall be compensated with a reward from Allaah. This implicitly reflects one’s trust in Allaah, Who, in return, will grant him what he besought from Him."

Commentary on Sahih Muslim: 342.

The Fruits of Patience

Discontentment is a trait of an impatient individual whose very own intolerant disposition prevents them from receiving rewards from Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى. Moreover, their sinful behavior leads them to being overwhelmed by their difficulties. Consequently, they are besieged by two afflictions: problems in their religion caused by their unhappiness and the weight of the hardship that befell them in the first place.

To the contrary, the truly patient believer controls him or herself at the onset of their difficulty. Yes, they do not like that this calamity has happened to them, but they patiently control themselves. He or she refrains from uttering anything or doing anything that would anger Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى. Nor does this believer harbor ill-feelings in their heart towards the Most Wise. In spite of their trials and mishaps, this person is patient. The contented one is at ease and totally calm during their adversity as though nothing has occurred.

So They Know...

 

“And We gave him (back) his family, and along with them the like thereof, as a mercy from Us and a reminder for those who understand.“
~ Surah Saad, 38:43

Shaykh Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) comments:

“{And as a reminder for those who understand}: meaning, for those of intellect so they know that the end result of patience is relief, a way out and ease.”

Source: Tafseer Ibn Katheer p. 456