Some perspective on patience

Some perspective on patience

 

Patience is of two types, Physical patience and Psychological patience.  Then physical patience also is of 2 more types:  “By Choice” is something like doing hard labor willingly and “Without choice” is something like bearing pain and agony even if the signs of agony are expressed by themselves.  Even in such a state, this (patient) person does not do anything against reason and the Shariah. 

 

Psychological patience is to stop the Self from following desires.  If someone checks the desires of the belly and the genitalia, it will be termed as chastity.  If the Self is stopped from useless things, it will be termed asceticism and contentment.  If someone forgives his (or her) enemy when angry and stops the Self from revenge, it will be termed as magnanimity.  If the tongue is held from revealing others’ secrets, it will be termed confidentiality.  If tongue is held from uttering indecencies and the limbs are held from useless acts, it is called sobriety.

 

Whoever has achieved progress, it has been because of patience alone.  In Islam, an aspect of patience, fasting, has also been made obligatory on this Ummah.  This is so that the Self gets used to the pangs of hunger and thirst and becomes habituated to desist from a desirable thing like intercourse in spite of the means to do so.  (Tafseer Haqqani)

 

No work, be it of this world or the next, cannot be done by the impatient.  Neither can that person fend off the deceits of Satan and rebuff the desires of the Self.  Neither can such a person have any good etiquette nor engage in worship and prayer nor can think deeply and reflect nor can he have any forbearance.  No matter how much we think about this, the impatient one does not succeed anywhere.  That’s why it is said:  Patience is the key to success.

 

It is also promised in the Holy Quran that if you are patient, you will be helped with 5000 angels i.e. one should not prefer one’s wishes over patience (reason) and should not step out of the bounds of the Shariah.

 

Thus, if any displeasing thing has such an effect on the heart that complaints about Allah Most High arise in it or one starts opposing the Will of Allah Most High either through words or through actions, then that is also nothing but impatience.  (Khulaasatut Tafaseer).

 

[Excerpted from Kitab Ul Muhabbat]