Sabr – Patience & Steadfastness in Islam

 Sabr – Patience & Steadfastness in Islam صبر کی اہمیت اسلام مِں

Allah has ordered the followers of Islam to develop certain characteristics among themselves, Sabr Patience is one among them. Lets go through Quran & Hadith to Understand what is patience, In which deeds we have to keep patience and what are the benefits of keeping patience.

103 Verses of Quran contains description of Patience. With this we can understand the significance of it in our lives.

Literal meaning of word Sabr (patience) as per Lugaat (Dictionary) ul Quran :

• صَبْرٌ  (sabr) means for someone to keep striving persistently for the achievement of a desired goal {T}. As such, its basic meaning holds the connotations of stability, firmness, and continuous struggle.
• اَلصَّبِرُ  (as-sabir): the cloud which is static and does not move e.g. for 24 hours. A mountain is called so as is firmly established and does not move {T}.
• اَلْاَصْبِرَۃُ  (al-asbeera): flock which return to their owners (after grazing the whole day) and do not stay away from them {L}, {T}.
• اَلصَّابُوْرَۃُ  (as-saaboorah): a stone which is kept in the boat to maintain the balance {M}. This makes the meaning of  صَبْرٌ  (sabr) clear. Since this action produces desired balance, it is called sabr.

Above Usage of root word of Sabr gives an indication of the depth of this term. 

This is the Quranic meaning of  صَبْرٌ  (sabr). The meanings that are usually taken by us (in the Urdu language) are the opposite. We take  صَبْرٌ  (sabr) to mean helplessness and forbear the oppression of the oppressors quietly and shed tears at it.

As such, in complete helplessness we are wont to say  All right, go ahead, do what you please, what can I do except be patient , and this is the patience we are told to exercise as according to them there is no other way than to be patient. This means that  صَبْرٌ  (sabr) generally means abject helpless-ness and be content with one’s deprivation and reconcile to status quo.

Note how the meaning of a word changes with a change in perspective. The Quranic meaning of  صَبْرٌ  (sabr) is to face challenges of life resolutely and never to give up, while wrong meaning of  صَبْرٌ  (sabr) is rendering oneself helpless.

In summary,  صَبْرٌ  (sabr) means to remain engaged resolutely in the pursuit of righteous deeds and to face the difficulties on the way with courage and steadfastness so that one’s feet remain well established and firm and do not waver.

Definition of Sabr as per Quran

Quran says “003.146 How many of the prophets fought (in Allah's way), and with them (fought) Large bands of godly men? but they never lost heart if they met with disaster in Allah's way, nor did they weaken (in will) nor give in. And Allah Loves those who are firm and steadfast.”

The people of patience are those who never bow down, no one can buy them, who don’t lay down or weaken, who are not intimidated by any sort of adversaries and against any super power. Those were the prophets and their disciples we are encouraged to follow them to be successful and been loved by the God.

In another verse “006.034 Rejected were the messengers before thee: with patience and constancy they bore their rejection and their wrongs, until Our aid did reach them: there is none that can alter the words (and decrees) of Allah. Already hast thou received some account of those messengers.”

The best people among the humans i.e. the Prophets when they presented the best message to humanity for their salvation; they were rejected and tortured but yet they didn’t loose their hope and continue admonishing the people until the help from Allah reaches them.

Allah want to test the people who are sabireen among others by testing them against odds. “Did ye think that ye would enter Heaven without Allah testing those of you who fought hard (In His Cause) and remained steadfast? 3:142”. The one who show steadfastness are the one who are successful.

Timings of Sabr

“سَمِعْتُ أَنَسًا رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ،‏‏‏‏ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ الصَّبْرُ عِنْدَ الصَّدْمَةِ الْأُولَى.”

Anas (RA): The Prophet ﷺ said, "The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity." Bukhari 1302. As mentioned by Prophet SAS the real time of being patience is at the first stroke as later one will adjust himself to the adverse situation. Most of the people break down when they are stricken with sorrows.  

Circumstances to show Patience

A. Fear & Losses: Allah says we will be tested with fear, Hunger, loss of lives and businesses “ Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere 2:155. Glad tidings are given to those who are steadfast in these circumstances.

B. Wicked People torture: In Other verse Quran says that continuous torture of wicked people from others nation should not dishearten you. “ye shall certainly Hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be a determining factor in all affairs.”3:186.

One will see continuous bombardment of false information, distorted reporting of facts, branding and labelling of lewd terms to whole nation on wrong doing of one or two persons. Yet our perseverance should win over them.

C. Deceiving Plots:

When the whole world unites to wipe you out or to make you cornered and plot many deceiving plans to not let the ummah prosper; still, we have to be steadfast and continue our peaceful progress and not get impatient. 016.127 And do thou be patient, for thy patience is but from Allah; nor grieve over them: and distress not thyself because of their plots.

D. Infighting:

To make the matter worse, the continuous infighting among ourselves makes our prospects gloomy. Yet Allah says “008.046 And obey Allah and His Messenger; and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: For Allah is with those who patiently persevere:” our nations should come out of internal fighting and strive unitedly to deliver the best message available with them to the thirsty humanity.

Benefits of Patience Sabr in this world.

1. Leadership:

We are devoid of Real Leadership among masses. Allah says that we will get right leaders if we develop Sabr (patience) among ourselves “ 032.024 And We appointed, from among them, leaders, giving guidance under Our command, so long as they persevered with patience and continued to have faith in Our Signs.”. Leaders are those who don’t bow down, cant be bribed and runaway from trials which is only possible when they have sabr patience.

2. Allah’s Help:

Allah will send the invisible aids to support us as he has done it before. 003.125 "Yea, - if ye remain firm, and act aright, even if the enemy should rush here on you in hot haste, your Lord would help you with five thousand angels Making a terrific onslaught.”

3. Enemies Plots:

Whatever the enemies plot against us will have no impact as long as we adhere to firmness and steadfastness on true path. “ 003.120 … But if ye are constant and do right, not the least harm will their cunning do to you; for Allah Compasseth round about all that they do.”. we sometimes get disheartened by seeing their plots successful but it is to be noted that much severe and bigger plans were made by the pharaohs earlier but were overpowered.

4. Effective Impact:

If the ummah develops basic core human values and Islamic Values then even with 10% resources we will be victorious provided we meet the criteria of Persistence and patience. Quran Says “ 008.065 O Prophet! rouse the Believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of the Unbelievers: for these are a people without understanding.”. Its not just illusion of some day dreamer as the world has seen the David’s defeating the Goliaths though they were outnumbered and ill resourced.

002.249 but those who were convinced that they must meet Allah, said: "How oft, by Allah's will, Hath a small force vanquished a big one? Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere."

5. Foes turned Friends:

If we apply patience those who are persecuting might felt the remorse in their hearts and they start melting and might turn towards the righteous path. Quran says “ 041.034 Nor can goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!! 041.035 And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint,- none but persons of the greatest good fortune”. Omar bin Khattab and Khalid bin waleed etc changed the camps just because they saw the perseverance among the muslim which made them think in their hearts and minds about whats the wrong with themselves.

How to attain Patience

• Believing that destiny is in Allah’s hand and nothing can befall on us without his will.
• Fasting as mentioned in numerous prophetic traditions that fasting has all the basic ingredients of patience from dawn to dusk and we practice it for whole month in a year.
  
• Remembrance: In the period of trials remembrance of Allah is the best solace.
• Praying: We have to do all the prayers and Iste’anat (استعانت) to please the almighty as this is test been taken by Him to purify us.
• Good company: Islamic society in general has been asked to show collective sabr in Chapter Asr of Quran to help us overcome the period of trials and be successful.

Summarizing the above we should be firm in our principles; show patience under trials, reject tortures and adversaries inflicting on us with graciousness and hope positively that the help of Allah will be with us and He will make us victorious in the struggle between Truth and Falsehood.