in loss, except for those who have faith and perform righteous
deeds and enjoin others to truth and enjoin others to
patience.
How to practice patience in Islam
There is no shortage of ayahs, hadith, and quotes narrating
the benefits of patience, particularly when one is going
through hard times or facing adversity. Allah has cited
patience more than 90 times in the Quran, which includes
the stories of the prophets who suffered sickness, loss of
wealth, death of close ones and persisted in their love and
reliance in Allah. In other words, they fully trusted Allah
even at the lowest ebb of their lives and that resulted in
their success. “And (mention) Ismael, Idris and Dhul-Kifl;
all were among the patient. And we admitted them into our
mercy, Indeed, they were among the righteous” (21:85).
So how exactly do we practice patience and what are some
of the practical and spiritual benefits of doing so? Here are
some tips and important aspects to remember:
1. Surrender and submit to Allah’s will. In Islam, it is important
to understand and admit that Allah is in total
control of our affairs. We are weak but strengthened by
fully submitting to His will and empowered when we
believe in him.
2. Understand that Allah has a purpose for your life and
knows what’s best for you and loves you. Focus on
these truths when you feel unwelcomed stirrings of
stress, anxiety and even misery no matter what is happening
in your life to cause it. Focus on worshipping
Allah alone, with no partner, and cling to this so that
you can earn his pleasure and your place in Jannah. Allah
says: “And it may be that you dislike something and
it is good for you and that you love something and it is
bad for you, and Allah knows and you do not” (2:216).
Isn’t it comforting? To be certain that no matter what
befalls you Allah is in control and understands perfectly
what you need in your life. Realizing this, you’ll
be able to push negative thoughts aside, which in turn
makes being patient for a person so much easier.
3. Recognize that impatience affects your relationship.
Impatience often results in having a difficult time looking
at past character flaws of friends, loved ones and
neighbors. This is a recipe for hurt feelings and broken
bonds. Instead, focus on how being a patient person
can open you up to showing mercy, forgiveness, and
compassion to those close ones in your life, thereby
strengthening your connection.
4. Know that Allah wants to hear your troubles. He loves
you after all, and wants you to look to Him for relief
times of need, and persevering through the harm others
may cause us. Allah says, “Be patient over what they say
and avoid them graciously” (73:10). In another ayah, Allah
says: “(the messenger said) we will surely be patient against
whatever harm you shall cause to us, and upon Allah rely
those who rely” (14:12)
The second part deals with being diligent in avoiding sins
and acts of disobedience. Allah says, “So be patient as were
those of determination among the messengers and do not
be impatient for them. It will be on the Day they see what
they have been promised as though they had not remained
in the world but an hour of a day, this is a notification, and
will any be destroyed besides the defiantly disobedient”
(46:35). It is narrated in the hadith that Allah will provide
shade on the Day of Judgement to the man who is enticed
by a beautiful woman to commit adultery, but he remains
patient.
The third type part of patience deals with being content
with the decree of Allah during calamities. True patience
is to be calm and composed at the time of hardships. Anas
bin Malik g reported that the Messenger a passed by a
woman who was weeping beside a grave. The Prophet a
said, “Be mindful of Allah and be patient.” She said “Go
away from me! For you have not been afflicted by a calamity
like mine!” and didn’t recognize him. Then, she was
informed that it was the Prophet a. She went to his home
and said, “I didn’t recognize you.” The Prophet a said “Verily,
patience is at the first strike” (Bukhari).
Indeed, this high level of patience can only be achieved
upon the realization that nothing occurring to a true believer
is bad for him/her because a calamity is an opportunity
to be patient and thereby receive reward from Allah.
Suhayb g reported that the Prophet a said, “Wondrous
is the affair of a believer for there is good for him in every
matter and this is not the case with anyone except a believer.
If he is happy, he thanks Allah and thus there is good for
him and if he is harmed, he shows patience and thus there
is good for him” (Muslim).
The perfection of these three aspects together is called
beautiful patience, which was the defining characteristic
of all the prophets of Allah. If we can achieve such level of
patience, only then will Allah bestow upon us true leadership
in the world. Allah says, “We made from among them
leaders guiding by our command when they were patient
and when they were certain of our verses” (32:24).
Most importantly, practicing all three types of patience
is the only way we can complete our faith and guarantee
protection for ourselves from loss in this world and the
hereafter. Allah says, “I swear by time! Indeed, mankind is
6 March – April 2021 | AL-MADINAH