Episode 14: The place of patience in Islam
Patience
Definition: To confine oneself in accordance with reason and Sharia'(1).
Allah Almighty said: (Therefore, be patient, as did the Messengers who were with determination)(2).
The place of patience in [Islam]
The placement of patience in [Islam] is equivalent to the placement of the head in [relation to] the body. Therefore, a person lacking patience lacks faith. Patience is a rank of the prophets and messengers, and an ornament of the pure and pious. Regarding the worshippers of The Most Merciful, Allah Almighty said: (Those are the ones who will be rewarded with the highest place in Paradise, because of their patience: Therein they shall be met with greetings and peace)(3), and regarding the inhabitants of Heaven He said: (and the angels shall enter unto them from every gate [(with the greeting:)] * "Peace be upon you for what you have persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final Home")(4). Allah (glory be to Him) has informed that there is no limit to the reward for the patient ones, All Praise be to Him said: (It is those who patiently persevere shall receive their reward without reckoning)(5). A person rotates between joy and sorrow, and his obligation during joy is to be grateful and during sorrow to be patient, and whenever he attains the status of patience and the status of gratefulness then his faith becomes complete. According to Suhaib, he said: Allah's messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: (Amazing is the believer's situation. Indeed, his whole situation is good, and this is not but for the believer. If joy afflicts him, he is grateful and that is then good for him. If sorrow afflicts him, he is patient and that is then good for him)(6).
The types of patience
There are three types of patience(7):
1) Patience in worshipping Allah: Which is for a person to confine himself to worship, and perform it in accordance with what Allah Almighty has decreed, and not be tedious of it, neglect it or abandon it.
2) Patience [in refraining] from disobeying Allah: Which is for [a person] to prevent himself from committing what Allah has forbidden, with regard to what is due to Allah or what is due to His worshippers.
3) Patience for what Allah has destined: Which means that a human should submit to the hardships, worries and illnesses that afflict him and not confront them with discontent or resentment.
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1) Mosou'at Akhlag al-Quran by Dr. Ahmad al-Sharbasi 1/191.
2) Translation of meaning: Holy Quran, chapter al-Ahgaf, verse 35.
3) Translation of meaning: Holy Quran, chapter al-Furgan, verse 75.
4) Translation of meaning: Holy Quran, chapter al-Ra'd, verses 23-24.
5) Translation of meaning: Holy Quran, chapter al-Zumar, verse 10.
6) Produced by Muslim #2999.
7) See Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Gasideen, page. 269.