Assalaamu `alaikum warahmatullaahi wabarkaatuh.
There's a small but very beautiful book I wanted to share with everyone.
I could just give y'all the link to it but then I thought, "Nah, they might not read it." So I'll post a section of a chapter (there are 17 chapter's in total) everyday till the end. That way it's not a long and overwhelming read and you can take it in small doses. =)
Skipping over the translator's intro/note.
Author's Prologue.
Praise be to Allâh, the Patient (as-Sabûr), the Thankful (ash-Shakûr), the Most High (al-
‘Aliyy), the Greatest (al-Kabîr), the All-Hearing (as-Samî’), the All-Seeing (al-Basîr), the
All-Knowing (al-‘Alîm), the All-Powerful (al-Qâdir), Whose power controls every single
creature and Whose Will dominates every single event. His Call to people to prepare for
the Hereafter has been so strongly that even the dead could hear it. I bear witness that
Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger, the best of His creation who did not spare any
effort to advise this Ummah, the most patient in accepting the decree of Allâh and the
most grateful for His blessings. Truly he conveyed the Message of Allâh and proclaimed the Truth, and endured in the way of Allâh that which no human being had ever endured. He followed Allâh’s commands patiently and gratefully, until he gained the pleasure of Allâh and attained the highest degree of patience, such as had never before been reached.
Patience, or patient perseverance, is obligatory, according to the consensus of the
scholars, and it is half of faith (îmân), the other half of which is gratitude (shukr).
Patience is mentioned in the Qur’ân around ninety times. The relation of patience to îmân
is like the relation of the head to the body, and the one who has no patience has no îmân.
Allâh has commanded patience for the Believers in the following âyah:“O you who believe! seek help with patient perseverance (sabr) and prayer...” (alBaqarah 2:153)
Patience has also been made a condition for a person’s entering Paradise and being saved
from the Hellfire; on the Day of Judgement Allâh will say: “I have rewarded them this day for their patience and constancy (patience): they are indeed the ones that have achieved Bliss...” (al-Mu’minûn 23:111)
And Allâh commanded the patient (those who have patience) when He said: "...(it is righteousness...) to be firm and patient, in pain or suffering and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.” (al-Baqarah 2:177) and: “...Allâh loves those who are firm and steadfast.” (Āl ‘Imrân 3:146)
Allâh has told us that He is with those who have patience; this is a special "companionship” (ma’iyyah) which means that He is protecting and supporting them, which is over and above the ordinary “companionship” which applies to believers and disbelievers alike whereby Allâh has knowledge of them and is watching over them. Allâh has told us: "...And be patient and persevering: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.” (al-Anfâl 8:47)
The Prophet (SAAS) told us that patience is all good and full of goodness, and said that
“There is no gift better than patience.” ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) said: “The best days
of our lives were ours by virtue of patience.”
This book has been written to highlight the urgent need for patience, and to explain that
our happiness in this life and our salvation in the hereafter depends on patience. This
book is filled with benefits and readers will benefit from its advice and teachings. What is
good and correct in this book is by the help of Allâh, and what is mistaken in it is from
the Shaytân. May Allâh forgive the author and the editor. Allâh is the Greatest Helper,
and we put our trust in Him.
Chapter 1: The Definition of Patience.
Sabr (صبر) is an Arabic 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.
What scholars have said about patience.
Some scholars have defined patience as a good human characteristic or a positive
psychological attitude, by virtue of which we refrain from doing that which is not good.
Human beings cannot live a proper, healthy life without patience.
Abû ‘Uthmân said: “the one who has patience is the one who trained himself to handle
difficulties.” ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthmân al-Makkî said: “Patience means to keep close to Allâh
and to accept calmly the trials He sends, without complaining or feeling sad.” AlKhawwas said: “Patience means to adhere to the rules of the Qur’ân and Sunnah.”
Another scholar said: “Patience means to refrain from complaining.” ‘Alî ibn Abî Tâlib
said: “Patience means to seek Allâh’s help.”
Is it better to have patience at the time of difficulty, or to be in a situation which does not require patience? Abû Muhammad al-Harirî said: “Patience means not seeing any difference between times of ease and times of hardship, and being content at all times.” I (Ibn Qayyim) say: This is too difficult, and we are not instructed to be like this. Allâh has created us in such a way that we feel the difference between times of ease and times of hardship, and all that we can do is refrain from panicking at times of stress. Patience does not mean feeling the
same at both easy and difficult times. That is beyond us, and is not part of our nature.
Having an easy time is better for us than having a difficult time. As the Prophet (SAAS)
said in his well known du‘â: “If You are not angry with me, then I do not care what
happens to me, but still I would rather have your blessings and your favour.” This does
not contradict the hadîth which says, “No-one has ever been given a better gift than
patience,” because that refers to after a test or trial has befallen a person. But ease is still
better.
There's a small but very beautiful book I wanted to share with everyone.
I could just give y'all the link to it but then I thought, "Nah, they might not read it." So I'll post a section of a chapter (there are 17 chapter's in total) everyday till the end. That way it's not a long and overwhelming read and you can take it in small doses. =)
Skipping over the translator's intro/note.
Author's Prologue.
Praise be to Allâh, the Patient (as-Sabûr), the Thankful (ash-Shakûr), the Most High (al-
‘Aliyy), the Greatest (al-Kabîr), the All-Hearing (as-Samî’), the All-Seeing (al-Basîr), the
All-Knowing (al-‘Alîm), the All-Powerful (al-Qâdir), Whose power controls every single
creature and Whose Will dominates every single event. His Call to people to prepare for
the Hereafter has been so strongly that even the dead could hear it. I bear witness that
Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger, the best of His creation who did not spare any
effort to advise this Ummah, the most patient in accepting the decree of Allâh and the
most grateful for His blessings. Truly he conveyed the Message of Allâh and proclaimed the Truth, and endured in the way of Allâh that which no human being had ever endured. He followed Allâh’s commands patiently and gratefully, until he gained the pleasure of Allâh and attained the highest degree of patience, such as had never before been reached.
Patience, or patient perseverance, is obligatory, according to the consensus of the
scholars, and it is half of faith (îmân), the other half of which is gratitude (shukr).
Patience is mentioned in the Qur’ân around ninety times. The relation of patience to îmân
is like the relation of the head to the body, and the one who has no patience has no îmân.
Allâh has commanded patience for the Believers in the following âyah:“O you who believe! seek help with patient perseverance (sabr) and prayer...” (alBaqarah 2:153)
Patience has also been made a condition for a person’s entering Paradise and being saved
from the Hellfire; on the Day of Judgement Allâh will say: “I have rewarded them this day for their patience and constancy (patience): they are indeed the ones that have achieved Bliss...” (al-Mu’minûn 23:111)
And Allâh commanded the patient (those who have patience) when He said: "...(it is righteousness...) to be firm and patient, in pain or suffering and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.” (al-Baqarah 2:177) and: “...Allâh loves those who are firm and steadfast.” (Āl ‘Imrân 3:146)
Allâh has told us that He is with those who have patience; this is a special "companionship” (ma’iyyah) which means that He is protecting and supporting them, which is over and above the ordinary “companionship” which applies to believers and disbelievers alike whereby Allâh has knowledge of them and is watching over them. Allâh has told us: "...And be patient and persevering: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.” (al-Anfâl 8:47)
The Prophet (SAAS) told us that patience is all good and full of goodness, and said that
“There is no gift better than patience.” ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) said: “The best days
of our lives were ours by virtue of patience.”
This book has been written to highlight the urgent need for patience, and to explain that
our happiness in this life and our salvation in the hereafter depends on patience. This
book is filled with benefits and readers will benefit from its advice and teachings. What is
good and correct in this book is by the help of Allâh, and what is mistaken in it is from
the Shaytân. May Allâh forgive the author and the editor. Allâh is the Greatest Helper,
and we put our trust in Him.
Chapter 1: The Definition of Patience.
Sabr (صبر) is an Arabic 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.
What scholars have said about patience.
Some scholars have defined patience as a good human characteristic or a positive
psychological attitude, by virtue of which we refrain from doing that which is not good.
Human beings cannot live a proper, healthy life without patience.
Abû ‘Uthmân said: “the one who has patience is the one who trained himself to handle
difficulties.” ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthmân al-Makkî said: “Patience means to keep close to Allâh
and to accept calmly the trials He sends, without complaining or feeling sad.” AlKhawwas said: “Patience means to adhere to the rules of the Qur’ân and Sunnah.”
Another scholar said: “Patience means to refrain from complaining.” ‘Alî ibn Abî Tâlib
said: “Patience means to seek Allâh’s help.”
Is it better to have patience at the time of difficulty, or to be in a situation which does not require patience? Abû Muhammad al-Harirî said: “Patience means not seeing any difference between times of ease and times of hardship, and being content at all times.” I (Ibn Qayyim) say: This is too difficult, and we are not instructed to be like this. Allâh has created us in such a way that we feel the difference between times of ease and times of hardship, and all that we can do is refrain from panicking at times of stress. Patience does not mean feeling the
same at both easy and difficult times. That is beyond us, and is not part of our nature.
Having an easy time is better for us than having a difficult time. As the Prophet (SAAS)
said in his well known du‘â: “If You are not angry with me, then I do not care what
happens to me, but still I would rather have your blessings and your favour.” This does
not contradict the hadîth which says, “No-one has ever been given a better gift than
patience,” because that refers to after a test or trial has befallen a person. But ease is still
better.