“Surely, Allaah is with those who are As‑Saabiroon (the patient)”[al-Anfaal 6:46]
Life is the name of ups and downs. Good and bad times together made enhance the life. As in case of happiness we Muslims have to say thanks (sukr) to God similarly in case of bad times and worries we should adopt patience (sabr). In bad times a believer must have to maintain a connection between him and Allah Almighty. The believer must forge a bond that is unbreakable. There are dozens upon dozens of verses that remind Muslims to be patient and trust in Allah Almighty during these times of trial. Among them some of the verses are here as follows:
“Seek Allah’s help with patient perseverance and prayer. It is indeed hard except for those who are humble.” (2:45)
“Oh you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer, for God is with those who patiently persevere.” (2:153)
“Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives, and the fruits of your toil. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who say, when afflicted with calamity, ‘To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.’ They are those on whom descend blessings from their Lord, and mercy. They are the ones who receive guidance.” (2:155-157)
The meaning of Patience (sabr):
Patience (Sabr) is an araabic word which comes from a root meaning to detain, refrain and stop. There is an expression in Arabic, “so-and-so was killed sabran,” which means that he was captured and detained until he died. In the spiritual sense, patience means to stop ourselves from despairing and panicking, to stop our tongues from complaining, and to stop our hands from striking our faces and tearing our clothes at times of grief and stress.
Importance of patience:
As Muslims, we should not let our emotions get the better of us. It is certainly difficult for a person to pass through the tragedies and not feel helpless and sad. But believers are called to put their trust in their Lord, and not to fall into despair or hopelessness. In Islam this verse can completely clear the importance of patience (sabr)
“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West. But it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, And the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; To spend of your substance, out of love for Him, For your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; To be steadfast in prayer And give in charity; To fulfill the contracts which you have made; And to be firm and patient, in pain and adversity And throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing. Qur’an 2:177
Or there is another verse:
Verily, with every difficulty there is relief. Verily, with every difficulty there is relief. [Qur’an 94:5-6]
