Patience and Gratitude (Abridged)

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Patience, or patient perseverance, is obligatory, according to the consensus of the scholars, and it is half of faith (îmân), the other half of which is gratitude (shukr). Patience is mentioned in the Qur’ân around ninety times. The relation of patience to îmân is like the relation of the head to the body, and the one who has no patience has no îmân.

Allâh has commanded patience for the Believers in the following âyah:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ
“O you who believe! seek help with patient perseverance (sabr) and prayer…” (al-Baqarah 2:153)

Patience has also been made a condition for a person’s entering Paradise and being savedfrom the Hellfire; on the Day of Judgement Allâh will say:

إِنِّي جَزَيْتُهُمُ الْيَوْمَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ

“I have rewarded them this day for their patience and constancy (patience): they are indeed the ones that have achieved Bliss…” (al-Mu’minûn 23:111)

And Allâh commanded the patient (those who have patience) when He said:

وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ

“…(it is righteousness…) to be firm and patient, in pain or suffering and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.”
(al-Baqarah 2:177)

and:

وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الصَّابِرِينَ

“…Allâh loves those who are firm and steadfast.” (Āl ‘Imrân 3:146)

This book has been written to highlight the urgent need for patience, and to explain that our happiness in this life and our salvation in the hereafter depends on patience. This book is filled with benefits and readers will benefit from its advice and teachings. What is good and correct in this book is by the help of Allâh, and what is mistaken in it is from the Shaytân. May Allâh forgive the author and the editor. Allâh is the Greatest Helper, and we put our trust in Him.