Patience (الصَّبُورُ)

One of Allah’s 99 names is As-Sabur (الصَّبُورُ), the Patient One. If we consider the chaotic nature of humans in this world and how most people are distracted, ignore or reject Him… we may gain an understanding of why He carries such a name…

Throughout the Quran, humans are advised of the importance of patience…

سورة البقرة ١٥٣
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ

سورة آل عمران ٢٠٠
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

سورة هود ١١٥
وَاصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

Surah Al-Baqara 2:153
O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.

Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:200
O ye who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah; that ye may prosper.

Surah Hud 11:115
And be steadfast in patience; for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.

What is it with patience that is so important? Well, it comes down to what it does to our character. Looking at it from the perspective of our human mentality… what is the difference between patience and impatience? When we experience emotions like anger and frustration… we are expressing impatience. The heart is narrowed by these feelings and our already limited view becomes even more limited. We only allow ourselves to see what we feel and think in that moment and do not think beyond that point… A good example is when Prophet Musa asked to follow a learned man in order to gain wisdom… he witnessed things that provoked him and thus was not patient enough to wait for an answer…

سورة الكهف ٦٨
وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْرًا

Surah Al-Kahf 18:68
“And how canst thou have patience about things about which thy understanding is not complete?”

Impatience shows itself in different forms. Things like fear and worry… our hearts, in such times, become narrow and restricted and bring people to a state of blind hopelessness. It limits the mind. In turn… it affects our faith. We lose sight of the fact that our Creator is always present and that He has all the power.

سورة فصلت ٤٩
لَّا يَسْأَمُ الْإِنسَانُ مِن دُعَاءِ الْخَيْرِ وَإِن مَّسَّهُ الشَّرُّ فَيَئُوسٌ قَنُوطٌ

Surah Fussilat 41:49
Man does not weary of asking for good (things), but if ill touches him, he gives up all hope (and) is lost in despair.

So, what effect does patience have? Perhaps not so surprisingly, the complete opposite. It opens the heart to a wider understanding of things. It allows the mind to think more objectively and to see beyond the narrowed point of view… beyond what angered or worried… For example, if someone speaks badly about you… with a little patience you would quickly realize a simple truth… it does not say anything about you… it says something about them.

سورة النحل ١٢٧
وَاصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ ۚ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا تَكُ فِي ضَيْقٍ مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ

Surah An-Nahl 16:127
And do thou be patient, for thy patience is but from Allah; nor grieve over them: and distress not thyself because of their plots.

A balanced mind gives the ability to see, not just your own personal feelings, but perhaps also the ability to appreciate the bigger picture… that there is Someone in our life who has the power to make the most impossible things happen…

سورة البقرة ٢٥٥
لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ

سورة القيامة ٤٠
أَلَيْسَ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَىٰ أَن يُحْيِيَ الْمَوْتَىٰ

سورة آل عمران ١٣٩
وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

سورة آل عمران ١٥٩
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ

Surah Al-Baqara 2:255
His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth?

Surah Al-Qiyaama 75:40
Has not He, (the same), the power to give life to the dead?

Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:139
So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith.

Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:159
For Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).

Patience gives us balance. We just need to remember that He is there.

In the end, as the saying goes… have patience with all things, but first of all, with yourself.

I hope this input works as a beautiful benefit for anyone who reads it and that it has brought something to consider.

The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.