Sabr (الصبر) is an Arabic word that means to refrain, stop and detain. Patience, in a spiritual sense, means to stop ourselves from frightening and being hopeless, to refrain from complaining. 

Patience verses in Holy Qur’an define patience as one of the paths that lead people from darkness to light. 

Patience is defined as an attribute of morality that is superior to, wide-ranging. 

True patience is a moral attribute of every stage of life as well as in the face of difficulties. The high moral virtue of the Koran teaches people to be patient.

Patience (الصبر) is also defined as a good human characteristic and a positive attitude. Abu Uthman said; “patience means being close to Allah and being calm when the calamities by Him strike, without whining or feeling depressed.“

Why is Patience Important?

Allah has decreed patience as the means for attaining His companionship, love, help, support, and good rewards. As in the verse on Patience:

“Oh you who believe, seek help in perseverance and prayer, Allah is with the patient.” (Al-Baqara: 153)

Holy Prophet (PBUH) also mentions in the hadith on sabr (صبر) that the believers remain patient when faced with calamity:

“The believer’s instance is that of a fresh tender plant. From whatever direction the wind comes, it twists it. Although it becomes straight again as the wind becomes still. Similarly, a believer is affected by calamities but remains patient until Allah removes the difficulty.”  (Bukhari) 

Types of Patience (الصبر)

There may be two forms of forbearance , either physical or behavioral. Both forms can either be without option or by choice.

Physical forbearance by choice, for instance, such as gladly and without choice to do hard labor, such as patiently carrying sickness. 

Similarly, psychological forbearance by choice, such as refraining from false things and without choice, as both the Shari’ah and common sense suggest, such as patiently enduring an enforced separation from one you love.

In a hadith on forbearance and perseverance (الصبر), Prophet (PBUH) advised believers to be patient and trust Allah:

“Be mindful of Allah, you will find Him before you. Keep remembering Allah in prosperity, and He will remember you in adversity. Know that what happened to you, wasn’t going to befall you and that what has befallen you wasn’t going to happen to you. And know that success comes with patience, relaxation with pain, and ease with misery.” (Tirmidhi)

Patience is half of Imaan (الإيمان)

forbearance and Imaan are inseparable. Without forbearance , a person cannot be imagined as a believer. Salat (صلوة), mercy, and guidance, these special gifts of Allah have been reserved for the patient. The Prophet (peace be upon Him) supported this and was asked: “What is Imaan?” He (PBUH) stated in a hadith on forbearance : “Patience and generosity”.

Similarly, the Prophet (PBUH) in His another hadith on sabr, said: “Patience is one of the treasures of Paradise.”

The relationship between forbearance (الصبر) faith (الإيمان) has been made very clear by Ali (May Allah be pleased with him). He said: “forbearance and faith have the same connection as the head with the body, that is, without the head just as the body is nothing. Similarly, Imaan without forbearance is meaningless.”

Another saying by Ali (May Allah be pleased with him): “The edifice of Imaan stands on four pillars; belief, jihad, forbearance , and justice.”

Thus, Imaan is based on two pillars; conviction and forbearance . And religion is based on two principles; determination and perseverance (patience). A hadith on forbearance and perseverance referred to as: “Oh Allah, I ask You for perseverance in all my affairs, and I ask You for the determination to stay on the straight and narrow path.” 

Hadith on Patience in Arabic

Our beloved Prophet (peace be upon Him) was an embodiment of forbearance and steadfastness. The biography of the Prophet (PBUH) is enough to show the importance of patience. He (PBUH) narrated many Hadith on forbearance and perseverance in Arabic. 

Following are few hadith on patience in Arabic:

• الصبر ضياء  (Patience is a light)
• والصبر ردائى (And Patience is my cloak)
•  الصبر كنزٌ من كنوز الجنة (Patience is one of the treasures of heaven)
• النصر مع الصبر  (Victory is conditional on patience)
• الصبر نصف الإيمان (Patience is half faith)

Thus, the matter of a believer is very special. When he seeks a blessing, shows gratitude. And he is afflicted with any calamity and remains patient. So, he is rewarded in both accounts.

Most difficult type of Patience (الصبر) 

Some things can be difficult to avoid. For example, it is very difficult for a ruler to refrain from committing injustice and oppression. It is difficult for a young man to refrain from unfaithfulness. And it is difficult for a rich person to detain from pursuing especially physical desires. 

In a hadith on forbearance : He (PBUH) referred to those who will be shaded in the shade of Allah’s throne for their perfect forbearance.

• Such as the forbearance of an absolute dictator of being just in all cases
• The forbearance of a young man in worshipping and obeying Allah and suppressing his desires
• The forbearance of the person who gives sadaqah and keeps his sadaqah as a secret
• The forbearance of a person who resists the temptation of a woman of beauty and high status 
• The forbearance of one who weeps out of fear of Allah

All of these are among the most difficult types of forbearance. 

forbearance in abstaining from wrong actions of speech and sexual wrong actions are the most difficult forms. Once the wrong actions and wrong speech have become a habit, forbearance becomes even more difficult.

When patience is needed?

forbearance is a basic requirement in all areas of life. But Islam taught us to do Sabr,

• When worshiping Allah and when following His commands
• By abstaining ourselves from indulging in wrong actions
• By accepting Allah’s ruling and decree by heart
• forbearance in adversity and situations beyond man’s control

Ways of Strengthening Patience 

As forbearance is obligatory (فرض), Allah has provided us with means and ways of strengthening and obtaining the quality of forbearance . Even so, forbearance is difficult, but it is not impossible to attain. 

forbearance consists of two elements: knowledge and action. The remedies for all spiritual and physical troubles are derived from these two elements. Combined, knowledge, and action are always essential. 

How to exhibit Patience in our lives?

If a person does not have a characteristic of patience naturally, he can acquire this by practicing it until it becomes natural. As Holy Prophet told in a hadith on patience: 

 “Whoever strives to be patient, thus Allah will also help him to be patient.” 

Thus, this noble characteristic can become a second nature of a person by practicing 

steadiness, generosity, and courage.

Moreover, it requires the demonstration of determination and consistency during times of ease and hardship. 

As Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated in a hadith on Sabr: “Whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be blessed with a blessing greater and better than forbearance .” (Bukhari)

Allah gives the most striking examples of forbearance from the lives of the Prophets. Allah may test people so that they can acquire more perfect forbearance . And Allah promises the great return to those who exhibit great patience. 

As in a forbearance verse: “Now await in forbearance the command of your Lord: for verily you are in Our eyes” (At-Tur: 52) 

What is the reward of patience?

There are many rewards for sabr, promised in forbearance hadith and verses. 

1. forbearance leads to intelligence. 
2. Patience ensures subtle thought and the ability to see things deeply.
3. forbearance enables people to overcome many of their bad attributes and thus to find out good behavior. 
4. The biggest reward for forbearance is paradise as described in the Hadith on sabr
5. Forgiveness of sin 
6. When someone bears the calamities with perseverance, the rewards are multiplied numerous times 
7. In forbearance hadith and verses, it has been repeated many times that Allah is with those who patiently persevere.
8. forbearance ensures just behavior.
9. forbearance gives believers a trustworthy character.

Thus, the finest reward that the believer and faithful can get in this world and hereafter for this outstanding forbearance is Allah’s love, generosity, and approval. Angels announce that these eternal blessings are the reward for their forbearance . The believers’ greatest reward for being patient is Paradise.