Patience-1

Patience-1

Restraining the Nafs (lower self) from anger and lust, giving preference to our mind and staying within the limits prescribed by the Shariah is called Sabr (patience). Sabr is the key to success. The progress of the Batin (the soul) is based on Sabr only. Sabr creates freshness and radiance in the soul and weakens the Nafs .

Any task of this world or of religion is never completed through impatience. How much ever you consider, success is never achieved through impatience. Whatever high stations are there have been promised for those who have Sabr .

The highest stations are those who face difficulties. Others cannot reach those stations.

It is mentioned in the Hadith that whenever Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) wants to grant some high station to somebody and that person cannot reach that station through deeds, then Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) gives that person some physical difficulty or some financial difficulty or makes that person poor and needy or through the death of the child. When that person is patient on these difficulties, then that station, which could not have been achieved through deeds, is achieved through Sabr .

Difficulties seem very bad, but there are wisdoms hidden in them. If a person falls ill and the doctor decides on purging as a cure and gives medicines which remove the waste from the body, then although the medicine seems bad, but we take it as a cure and put up with it. In the same way, difficulties are spiritual medicines. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) removes your sins through this. It is surprising that you consider medicine as wisdom and do not accept difficulties as wisdom! If there were no difficulties, then how would you get the reward of Sabr .

It is mentioned in the Hadith that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) says: When I put a person in difficulties and that person behaves with perfect patience ( Sabr Jameel), then on the Day of Judgment, I (i.e. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala)) will feel shy of setting up the Mizan (Lit. balance) to judge that person.

It is also mentioned: On the Day of Judgment, a caller will call out: All those on whom difficulties descended in the world, come towards Jannah. Innumerable people will go towards Jannah. On the way, when angels ask them: Is your judgment over? They will reply: We do not know what judgment is. On this the angels will ask: What was your practice in the world? They will say: We were patient on difficulties and we considered adversities as blessings of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) and offered thanks on them. The angels will say: This is your reward. Go into Jannah!

Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) says: 3 kinds of Sabr have been mentioned in the Holy Quran:

First, on performing the Fardh. This also results in reward.

Second, on stopping oneself from what Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) prohibits. There is double reward for it.

Third, on difficulties and charity. There is a 3-fold reward for it.

Their superiority over one another is like the fasts of summer and the Salaat of winter. Each Muslim can have patience on the Fardh and the prohibitions, but the third kind of Sabr can be exercised only by those who are divinely guided; because it is very hard on the Nafs . The person who is given the third kind of Sabr is very lucky and blessed. That person's status is superior than of those who fast during the day and stand up in prayer during the night.