Paean to patience
The word patience has been mentioned in the Quran more then 90 times and is a constant theme running throughout the holy book. One of the verses says, “Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!” (39: 10)
In the stories of the prophets in the Quran, we know that all of them practised patience. God rewarded them by elevating their spiritual ranks. God does not tell us about Prophet Job’s methods of preaching or how his people reacted or the fate of Job’s people. However, He tells us about Job’s patience, “Truly we found him patient. How excellent a slave.”
In the Quran, the word patience has been used in the context of maintaining composure, equanimity, self-control and endurance in the face of difficulties, hardships or inconveniences that we encounter in the course of our lives. Among the attributes essential to spiritual and worldly progress are sabr (patience) and shukr (gratitude).
Today, patience has become a rare virtue. This is largely because of the times we live in are about instant gratification.
Be it our career or aspiration, the greater the goal the more patience it requires. It is easy to exercise patience when all is going well, but the test is when we are troubled with suffering or injustice. Most of all, patience is required to control one’s anger and not allow it to
escalate.
Once when a man asked Prophet Mohammad for advice, he said, “Do not become angry.” The man asked the question again and he got the same reply. The man questioned him a third time and the Prophet repeated his advice. Anger can often be entirely irrational and consume a person. One of the main reasons that people get angry is that they are filled with themselves and their egos cause them to flare up easily.
Anger, though, is not entirely a negative emotion for it can be a motivator for change. But anger needs to be trained so that it does not become troublesome, causing an imbalance that can lead to unlawful and immoral conduct. The early Islamic scholars have said that anger is only acceptable at the right time, the right place, for the right reasons and with the right intensity.
One of the ways to control anger is to recognise that nothing takes place without God’s leave, and that there is no power other than God. Life is but a series of trials and those heedless of this reality tend to react severely when faced with tribulations.
Prophet Mohammad said that the strong man is not one who can wrestle people, but one who controls himself when angry. Be it for the success of this world or the hereafter, those who struggle through their lives with patience are the ones who achieve their goal.
Comments
Assalamualikum It should be
Mohammed Zafar Ahmed
24 May 2012 - 23:25
Assalamualikum
It should be clear that patience does not mean tolerating injustice or oppression. Also, we have to differentiate between two rights: rights of the individual and rights of the whole Ummah. As for the rights of the individual, it may be better for the individual to forgive and forget about the wrong inflicted on him personally. On the other hand, as for the rights of the Ummah, it is the obligation of the leaders of the Muslim Ummah to defend justice and to confront oppression.
"Allah says: “And those who, when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on them, (are not cowed but) help and defend themselves. The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah: for (Allah) loveth not those who do wrong. But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong (done) to them, against such there is no cause of blame. The blame is only against those who oppress men and wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a penalty grievous. But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs” (Ash-Shura: 39-43).
Reading these verses and contemplating their meanings, a Muslim can understand that patience does not mean to tolerate injustice or unfairness. It is part of the rights of the Muslim to defend his or her rights after being oppressed, but to forgive is a better choice, as Allah says, “But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs” (Ash-Shura: 43).
This leads us to distinguish between the rights of the individual and the rights of the Ummah in the light of Islam. As for the right of the individual, it is often better for the individual to forgive and forget about the wrong inflicted on him personally. On the other hand, as for the right of the Ummah, it is the obligation of the leaders of the Muslim Ummah to defend justice and to confront oppression."
suppose if someone slaps your
imran
23 May 2012 - 18:00
suppose if someone slaps your child in-front of you without any mistake.......... will you keep patience?
Do you think Mukhtaran Mai's family should have kept patience while panchayat men were raping her?
if someone molest someone's sister infront of her brother.......... do you think that Brother should give a patience full smile?
if agencies abduct your brother/husband then will you keep patience or show your natural anger??
Anger is a reaction............... if a society is full of unlawful actions then one should expect so-called patience from people over there......... Patience is a behaviour of lawful less problematic societies not fit in societies of pakistan somalia or countries like this..............
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