Patience in the Qur’an

Imam Ahmad rahimahullah said, “Allah has mentioned patience in the Qur’an in 90 places.”

Patience in the Qur’an: Six Benefits

1. Instruction: Patience is enjoyed upon the Believers.

وَاصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

And endure patiently, your patience is not but from Allah. (16:127)

وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا

So wait patiently for the Decision of your Lord, for verily, you are under Our Eyes. (52:48)

2. That which is opposite to patience is forbidden

فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ

So wait with patience for the Decision of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish – when he cried out (to Us) while he was in deep sorrow. (68:48)

3. Patience is made a condition of success and prosperity

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

O you who believe! Endure and be more patient, and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allah, so that you may be successful. (3:200)

4. The reward of those who exercise patience is doubled

أُولَـٰئِكَ يُؤْتَوْنَ أَجْرَهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

These will be given their reward twice over, because they are patient, and repel evil with good, and spend out of what We have provided them. (28:54)

إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning. (39:10)

Sulayman ibn Qasim said, “the reward of every deed is known, except for the reward of patience which will be like heavy rain.”

5. Patience and emaan are pre-requisites for leadership in religion

وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا ۖ وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ

And We made from among them (Children of Israel), leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayat. (32:24)

6. Patience is the way to earn the Companionship of Allah

وَاصْبِرُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ

And be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are patient. (8:46)

-Taken from “Patience and Gratitude” by Ibn al-Qayyim

Adversities and comforts are a trial for Muslims. Everything our Lord chooses for us; be it good or evil, is for our own benefits. Whatever is chosen by our Lord, it cannot be changed and similarly whatever is not chosen by our Lord, we cannot attain it by any means. But the great rewards are only for those among us who are patient with the Decree of their Lord.

Anxiety and impatience never prevent what our Supreme Lord has decreed for us. Complaining is the opposite of patience. It is our belief and Faith that Allah (SWT) Alone can protect us from all harms and ease our difficulties. Therefore, patience is obligatory in such panic situations and hardships in all that Allah (SWT) had decreed for us.

Patience is a good, praise-worthy and desirable character. It is a distinct moral of a Muslim. It has many graceful effects, good benefits and generous consequences. It is an excellent mean of strength against adversities, harms, hardships and anxieties. It provides us resistance against weakness and endows us with steadfastness in obeying Allah (SWT). It is the best tool of firmness against tribulations and temptations. Moreover, it is the weapon of a Muslim through which he will be successful both in this world and in the Hereafter.

What is Patience (Sabr)

Patience is to hold one’s soul from being impatient and displeased, holding the tongue from complaining and the body parts from harming himself or others. The word (sabr) patience in Quran and Sunnah of the beloved Prophet (PBUH) is mentioned at many places, which indicates the virtues and excellence of patience. There are numerous evidences of patience in the bible as well but they are not the subject at the moment.

Types of Patience (Sabr)

Showing patience while obeying Allah by carrying out all sort of good deeds and acts of worship.

Showing patience by not committing the sins and evil deeds.

Showing patience on the trials and tribulations that Allah (SWT) decreed for us. One should not be displeased or being impatient.

Benefits of Patience (Sabr)

It is the great virtue and significance of patience that we will be recompensed with great rewards and achieve many good benefits. Some of these rewards and benefits are immediate and others are longer-term. Among the many benefits of patience in Quran and Sunnah are the following:

In the Holy Quran

Those who have patience are the rightful people to lead, because Allah (SWT) conditioned the leadership with patience. He says:

“And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and [when] they were certain of Our signs.” (As-Sajdah 32:24).

Patience is the source of all goods. Allah (SWT) informed us with certainty in the following verse:

“But if you endure patiently, verily, it is better for As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).” (An-Nahl 16:126).

Moreover, it is due to patience that the patient ones will receive abundance rewards for their good deeds. Almighty Allah says:

“Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning.” (Az-Zumar 39:10).

Allah, the Exalted loves the patient ones among his slaves. He says:

“And Allah loves As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).” (Al-Imran 3:146). 

Allah is with those who endure patiently. He says:

“And be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).” (Al-Anfal 8:46).

Those who endure patiently will be successful both in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah (SWT) says:

“O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allah, so that you may be successful.”

(Al-Imran 3:200).

Allah (SWT) gave three major and great glad tidings to those who endure patiently while they are afflicted with calamities and trials. They will receive blessings of Allah, His Mercy and they are the ones who are righty-guided. He says:

“They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e. blessings, etc.) (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones.”

(Al-Baqarah 2:157).

If someone is pious and endures patiently, the plots of the enemies will never harm him at least and they will never overcome him. Almighty Allah says:

“But if you remain patient and become Al-Muttaqun (the pious – see V.2:2), not the least harm will their cunning do to you. Surely, Allah surrounds all that they do.” (Al-Imran 3:120).

The patient ones deserve to enter Paradise and the angels will present them the greetings of peace and blessing. Allah the Exalted says:

“Those will be rewarded with the highest place (in Paradise) because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect.” (Al-Furqan 25:75).

10. It is from the things that recommended by our Lord and of the matters requiring determination. Allah, the Glorious says:

“And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives that would truly be from the things recommended by Allah.” (Ash-Shura 42:43).

11. The verses about virtues and benefits of patience in the Holy Quran are more than ninety verses.

12. There are more than ninety verses in the Holy Quran about the virtues and benefits of patience. Such number of verses indicate that virtues and excellence of this matter. 

In Sunnah of the Beloved Prophet:

The patience is illumination. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“As-Sabr (the patience) is illumination.” (Muslim 223).

Those who deprived from their eyes and remain patient will enter Paradise. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Allah said: ‘If I deprive my slave of his two beloved things (i.e., his eyes) and he remains patient, I will let him enter Paradise in compensation for them.”

(Al-Bukhari 5653).

The one whose beloved ones or relatives die and endures patiently, Allah will also admit him to Paradise as a recompense of his patience. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Allah says, ‘I have nothing to give but Paradise as a reward to my salve, a true believer of Islamic Monotheism, who, if I cause his dear friend (or relative) to die, remains patient (and hopes for Allah’s Reward).’”

(Al-Bukhari 6424).

The reward of being patient while the true believer is afflicted with any kind of calamities and trials. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.” (Al-Bukhari 5641, 5642).

The one who remains patient in the days of patience where there will be to many trials, tribulations and temptations and do good deeds, will be rewarded with the similar reward of fifty of the Companions of the beloved Prophet (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Ahead of you there are days of patience, when patience will be like grasping live coals, and the one who does good deeds will have the reward of fifty men who do deeds like his.” (Abu Dawud 4341).

Those who mix with people and bear their annoyance with patience will have great reward. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“The believer who mixes with people and bears their annoyance with patience will have a greater reward than the believer who does not mix with people and does not put up with their annoyance.” (Ibn Majah 4032).

There are also many narrations of the beloved Prophet (PBUH), which highlight the importance of patience and indicate the great rewards and benefits of this venerable act of worship.Whoever wants to be patient, Allah will help him to be patient. None is ever given anything better and more far-reaching than patience.