Patience is a trait that is highly encouraged in Islam. It is the ability to endure difficulties and be calm in the face of adversity. It is also considered a virtue which will reap great rewards, as Allah s.w.t. says in the Quran:
قُلۡ يَٰعِبَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ فِى هَٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۗ وَأَرۡضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةٌ ۗ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّٰبِرُونَ أَجۡرَهُم بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٍ
Say “O My servants who believe! Be mindful of your Lord. Those who do good in this world will have a good reward. And Allah’s earth is spacious. Only those who endure patiently will be given their reward without limit.”
(Surah Az-Zumar, 39:10)
Allah s.w.t. mentions the word ‘Sabr’ in its different forms in the Quran. Apart from patience, it can also be defined as endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, restraint and perseverance.
In Islam, we are taught three main types of patience:
Real patience is at the first stroke of calamity or grief, as mentioned in a hadith. The Prophet s.a.w. said:
إِنَّمَا الصَّبْرُ عِنْدَ الصَّدْمَةِ الْأُولَ
“Verily, patience is at the first stroke of a calamity.”
Patience is a virtue and it definitely requires practice. Allah s.w.t. mentions it numerous times in the Quran, which shows us it’s great importance. Here are some Quranic verses about patience:
When facing difficulties and going through tough times in life, it is vital that we believe Allah s.w.t is always ready to help us. Therefore, we need to be patient and seek His help through prayers.
وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ
“And seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, it is a burden except for the humble”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:45)
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ
“O believers! Seek comfort in patience and prayer. Allah is truly with those who are patient.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:153)
As the reward for patience is great and without limit, it undoubtedly requires determination and lots of practice.
وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمِنۡ عَزۡمِ ٱلۡأُمُورِ
And whoever endures patiently and forgives—surely this is a resolve to aspire to.
(Surah Ash-Shuraa, 42:43)
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يُجۡزَوۡنَ ٱلۡغُرۡفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ وَيُلَقَّوۡنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَٰمًا
I"t is they who will be rewarded with (elevated) mansions (in Paradise) for their perseverance, and will be received with salutations and (greetings of) peace"
(Surah Al-Furqan, 25:75)
Facing hardships is inevitable when we are enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. Therefore, patience is required.
يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ
“O my dear son! Establish prayer, encourage what is good and forbid what is evil, and endure patiently whatever befalls you. Surely this is a resolve to aspire to."
(Surah Luqman, 31:17)
Patience is considered as a virtuous good deed. At times, we may think that we are at a loss when our patience does not bear the result that we aspire to. Verily Allah reminds us that those who are patient are among the good-doers whose rewards are promised.
وَٱصۡبِرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِين
"And be patient; verily, Allah loses not the reward of the good-doers."
(Surah Hud, 11:115)
One of the most pleasured rewards in this world and the next is to receive the love of Allah s.w.t. Having patience entails love from The Most Loving.
وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ
"And Allah loves the steadfast."
(Surah Ali ‘Imran, 3:146)
Allah s.w.t is sufficient for us and He knows everything that we are going through. When we are faced with hardships and events that test our character, let us remind ourselves that we want Allah to be with us, and that is through beautiful patience.
وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَنَٰزَعُواْ فَتَفۡشَلُواْ وَتَذۡهَبَ رِيحُكُمۡ ۖ وَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ
"Obey Allah and His Messenger and do not dispute with one another, or you would be discouraged and weakened. Persevere! Surely Allah is with those who persevere."
(Surah Al-Anfal, 8:46)