Patience (Sabr) and Determination in the Light of Quran & Sunna
Patience and determination literally mean being resolutely firm, unwavering, firmly established and perseverant. In sharia, patience and determination mean that while walking through the right path i.e. Islam, remain steadfast and have proper control over inner baser self in the time of distress, hardship, loss, pain, oppression and trials.
Importance of Sabr in the Light of Holy Quran
Allah’s help is with those who observe patience and determination. He says in the Holy Quran:
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اسۡتَعِیۡنُوۡا بِالصَّبۡرِ وَ الصَّلٰوۃِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ مَعَ الصّٰبِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۵۳﴾
Meaning: O believers! Always seek help (from Me) through patience and Prayer. Certainly, Allah is (always) with those who observe patience. (Al-Baqarah: 153)
It is clear from the above verse that one should seek Allah’s help through prayer and should wait patiently for its results. Hence, Allah loves only those who observe sabr and determination. Therefore, we should observe patience in order to become the beloved of Allah. Allah Almighty has given glad tidings to a patient person in the Holy Quran.
He says:
وَ بَشِّرِ الصّٰبِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۵۵﴾ۙ
Meaning: And, (O Beloved!) give glad tidings to those who observe patience. (Al-Baqarah: 155)
A glad tiding by Allah Almighty is a great honor and a source of success. Moreover, Allah Almighty promised to give full reward to the steadfast.
He says in the Holy Quran:
اِنَّمَا یُوَفَّی الصّٰبِرُوۡنَ اَجۡرَہُمۡ بِغَیۡرِ حِسَابٍ ﴿۱۰﴾
Meaning: So the steadfast will certainly be given their reward without measure. (Al-Zumar: 10)
Similarly, sabr and determination are signs of highly resolute people. Everyone cannot patiently endure adversity. Therefore, Allah says:
وَ اصۡبِرۡ عَلٰی مَاۤ اَصَابَکَ ؕ اِنَّ ذٰلِکَ مِنۡ عَزۡمِ الۡاُمُوۡرِ ﴿ۚ۱۷﴾
Meaning: And patiently endure every suffering that touches you. Verily, these are matters of great courage and high resolve. (Luqman: 17)
Importance of Patience and Determination in Hadith
Patience and determination are means of forgiveness of sins. Therefore, the prophet mohammad said:
- Whenever a true believer is afflicted with hardship or pain or even a thorn prickles him, Allah will forgive some of his sins in return. (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Moreover, every human being needs guidance to reach his destination. Patience along with determination provide light for this guidance. The Holy Prophet says:
اَلصَّبْرُ ضِیَائٌ
Meaning: Patience is light.
In the light of patience as well as determination, life becomes easier for a Muslim. While explaining the importance of patience, he says:
- Patience is one of the treasures of heaven.
Hence, we should benefit from the treasure of patience and determination. Nowadays, impatience has created many problems for us. So, the solution to these problems lies in patience and determination. Moreover, the Holy Prophet declared patience as half faith. He says:
الصبر نصف الایمان
Meaning: Patience is half the faith.
Conclusively, it is impossible to have faith without patience. An enduring man saves half the faith. The importance of patience can be judged from the above Hadith.
Moreover, human success is dependent upon patience along with determination. Prophet Mohammad says:
النصر مع الصبر
Meaning: (Allah’s) help and victory is due to patience.
Hence, patience is the ultimate key to success and Allah’s help, while impatience leads to failure.
Sultan ul Ashiqeen says about patience:
Learn to have patience. Allah knows everything; He knows what you went through. Have faith that time will change because change is the principle of universe.
Sultan ul Ashiqeen