Patience
الصبرPatient endurance and steadfastness
Qur'an
القرآن الكريمإِنِّي جَزَيْتُهُمُ الْيَوْمَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ
Indeed, I have rewarded them this Day for their patient endurance - that they are the attainers [of success]."
Translation: Saheeh International
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۗ وَأَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةٌ ۗ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
Say, "O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account."
Translation: Saheeh International
وَالَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ
And those who are patient, seeking the countenance of their Lord, and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good - those will have the good consequence of [this] home -
Translation: Saheeh International
الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَهُمْ وَالْمُقِيمِي الصَّلَاةِ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
Who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts are fearful, and [to] the patient over what has afflicted them, and the establishers of prayer and those who spend from what We have provided them.
Translation: Saheeh International
إِن تَمْسَسْكُمْ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ وَإِن تُصِبْكُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَفْرَحُوا بِهَا ۖ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْئًا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ
If good touches you, it distresses them; but if harm strikes you, they rejoice at it. And if you are patient and fear Allah, their plot will not harm you at all. Indeed, Allah is encompassing of what they do.
Translation: Saheeh International
فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا
So be patient with gracious patience.
Translation: Saheeh International
فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ
Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muhammad], and be not like the companion of the fish when he called out while he was distressed.
Translation: Saheeh International
يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ
O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] determination.
Translation: Saheeh International
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.
Translation: Saheeh International
وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَذَا الْكِفْلِ ۖ كُلٌّ مِّنَ الصَّابِرِينَ وَأَدْخَلْنَاهُمْ فِي رَحْمَتِنَا ۖ إِنَّهُم مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
And [mention] Ishmael and Idrees and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient.
And We admitted them into Our mercy. Indeed, they were of the righteous.
Translation: Saheeh International
وَلِرَبِّكَ فَاصْبِرْ
But for your Lord be patient.
Translation: Saheeh International
وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُم مِّنَ الْجَنَّةِ غُرَفًا تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ نِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِينَ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
And those who have believed and done righteous deeds - We will surely assign to them of Paradise [elevated] chambers beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers
Who have been patient and upon their Lord rely.
Translation: Saheeh International
Hadith
الحديث النبويأَنَّ أُنَاسًا مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ سَأَلُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ يَسْأَلْهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ إِلاَّ أَعْطَاهُ حَتَّى نَفِدَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ حِينَ نَفِدَ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ أَنْفَقَ بِيَدَيْهِ " مَا يَكُنْ عِنْدِي مِنْ خَيْرٍ لاَ أَدَّخِرْهُ عَنْكُمْ، وَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَسْتَعِفَّ يُعِفُّهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ يَتَصَبَّرْ يُصَبِّرْهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللَّهُ، وَلَنْ تُعْطَوْا عَطَاءً خَيْرًا وَأَوْسَعَ مِنَ الصَّبْرِ ".
Narrated Abu Sa`id:
Some people from the Ansar asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (to give them something) and he gave to everyone of them, who asked him, until all that he had was finished. When everything was finished and he had spent all that was in his hand, he said to them, '"(Know) that if I have any wealth, I will not withhold it from you (to keep for somebody else); And (know) that he who refrains from begging others (or doing prohibited deeds), Allah will make him contented and not in need of others; and he who remains patient, Allah will bestow patience upon him, and he who is satisfied with what he has, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And there is no gift better and vast (you may be given) than patience."
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَيْسَ الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ، إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيدُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ ".
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger."
عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الصَّبْرُ عِنْدَ الصَّدْمَةِ الأُولَى ".
Narrated Anas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity."
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُسْلِمَ مِنْ نَصَبٍ وَلاَ وَصَبٍ وَلاَ هَمٍّ وَلاَ حُزْنٍ وَلاَ أَذًى وَلاَ غَمٍّ حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا، إِلاَّ كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ خَطَايَاهُ ".
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that."
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "لا تتمنوا لقاء العدو، فإذا لقيتموه فاصبروا"
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Do not wish for an encounter with the enemy. Pray to Allah to grant you safety; (but) when you encounter them, show patience."
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " الْمُؤْمِنُ الَّذِي يُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ وَيَصْبِرُ عَلَى أَذَاهُمْ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي لاَ يُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ وَلاَ يَصْبِرُ عَلَى أَذَاهُمْ " .
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“The believer who mixes with people and bears their annoyance with patience will have a greater reward than the believer who does not mix with people and does not put up with their annoyance.”
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ بِهِ خَيْرًا يُصِبْ مِنْهُ ".
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials."
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ إِذَا أَخَذْتُ كَرِيمَتَىْ عَبْدِي فِي الدُّنْيَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ عِنْدِي إِلاَّ الْجَنَّةَ " . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَزَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ .
Anas bin Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) said:
"Indeed Allah [Most High] said: 'When I take My slave's sight in the world, then there shall be no reward for him with Me except Paradise.'"
أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَاهُ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَرْضَى لِعَبْدِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِذَا ذَهَبَ بِصَفِيِّهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ فَصَبَرَ وَاحْتَسَبَ وَقَالَ مَا أُمِرَ بِهِ بِثَوَابٍ دُونَ الْجَنَّةِ " .
'Amr bin sa'eed bin Abi Husain told us that:
'Amr bin Shu'aib wrote to 'Abdullah bin 'Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Husain to offer condolences for a son of his who had died. In his letter he mentioned that he had heard his father narrate, that his grandfather, 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-As said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah does not approve for His believing slave, if He takes away his loved one from among the people of the Earth, and he bears that with patience and seeks reward, and says that which he is commanded any reward less than Paradise."'
عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ يَخِرُّ رِجَالٌ مِنْ قَامَتِهِمْ فِي الصَّلاَةِ مِنَ الْخَصَاصَةِ وَهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الصُّفَّةِ حَتَّى تَقُولَ الأَعْرَابُ هَؤُلاَءِ مَجَانِينُ أَوْ مَجَانُونَ فَإِذَا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم انْصَرَفَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ " لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا لَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ لأَحْبَبْتُمْ أَنْ تَزْدَادُوا فَاقَةً وَحَاجَةً " . قَالَ فَضَالَةُ وَأَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Fadalah bin 'Ubaid narrated that when the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) would lead the people in Salat some men would collapse among them during the Salat due to hunger – they were among them Ashab As-suffah – such that a Bedouin would say:
'These people are mad' or "possessed." So when the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) finished the Salah, he turned to them and said: 'If you knew what was in store for you with Allah then you would love to be increased in poverty and need.'” Fadalah said: “And on that day, I was with the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w).”
عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنْ صَبَرْتَ وَاحْتَسَبْتَ عِنْدَ الصَّدْمَةِ الْأُولَى لَمْ أَرْضَ لَكَ ثَوَابًا دُونَ الْجَنَّةِ
Abu Umamah reported:
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah Almighty says: O son of Adam, if you are patient and restrained at the first shock of calamity, I would not be pleased with any reward for you less than Paradise.”
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ فِي الصَّبْرِ عَلَى مَا تَكْرَهُ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا وَأَنَّ النَّصْرَ مَعَ الصَّبْرِ وَأَنَّ الْفَرَجَ مَعَ الْكَرْبِ وَأَنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
Ibn Abbas reported:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Know that there is much good in being patient with what you detest, victory will come with patience, relief will come with affliction, and ‘with the hardship will come an ease.’” (94:5)
عَنْ جَدِّهِ، وَكَانَتْ لَهُ صُحْبَةٌ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا سَبَقَتْ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَنْزِلَةٌ لَمْ يَبْلُغْهَا بِعَمَلِهِ ابْتَلاَهُ اللَّهُ فِي جَسَدِهِ أَوْ فِي مَالِهِ أَوْ فِي وَلَدِهِ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ زَادَ ابْنُ نُفَيْلٍ " ثُمَّ صَبَّرَهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ " . ثُمَّ اتَّفَقَا " حَتَّى يُبْلِغَهُ الْمَنْزِلَةَ الَّتِي سَبَقَتْ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى " .
Narrated Muhammad ibn Khalid as-Sulami:
on his father's authority said his grandfather reported: He was a Companion of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: When Allah has previously decreed for a servant a rank which he has not attained by his action, He afflicts him in his body, or his property or his children.
Abu Dawud said: Ibn Nufail added in his version: "He then enables him to endure that." The agreed version goes: "So that He may bring him to the rank previously decreed from him by Allah."
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَسَمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَسْمًا، فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ إِنَّ هَذِهِ لَقِسْمَةٌ مَا أُرِيدَ بِهَا وَجْهُ اللَّهِ. فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ، فَغَضِبَ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ الْغَضَبَ فِي وَجْهِهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ " يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ مُوسَى قَدْ أُوذِيَ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ هَذَا فَصَبَرَ ".
Narrated `Abdullah:
Once the Prophet (ﷺ) distributed something (among his followers. A man said, "This distribution has not been done (with justice) seeking Allah's Countenance." I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and told him (of that). He became so angry that I saw the signs of anger oh his face. Then he said, "May Allah bestow His Mercy on Moses, for he was harmed more (in a worse manner) than this; yet he endured patiently."
عَنْ مَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَفْضَلُ الْإِيمَانِ الصَّبْرُ وَالسَّمَاحَةُ
Ma’qil ibn Yasar reported:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The best of faith is patience and tolerance.”
Statements of the Salaf
أقوال السلفExcellence is that you are good to the one who is evil to you, for only doing good to a good-doer is merely a transaction like currency in the marketplace. Take from me and give back.
O Allah, I am weak, so make me strong. I am harsh, so make me gentle. I am miserly, so make me generous.
Source: Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 5179
The true believer is forbearing: he does not act ignorantly even if someone treats him with ignorance, and when insulted, he pardons and remembers that his ultimate reward is with Allah.
Source: al-Zuhd li-Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal 1/276
A soldier struck Ibrahim on the head with a stick until blood flowed. Ibrahim immediately raised his hands and made supplication for him, praying that Allah grant the soldier Paradise. When asked why, Ibrahim replied: ‘I knew that through his abuse I was rewarded, while because of me he fell into sin; so I did not wish for my share from him to be good while his share from me was evil.’
Source: Ḥilyat al-Awliyāʾ li-Abī Nuʿaym 7/370
A man continuously insulted and reviled Ibn Abbas. When the man finally finished, Ibn Abbas turned to his servant and said: ‘O Ikrimah, see if the man has any financial need that we may fulfill for him!’ Upon hearing this, the man lowered his head in utter shame.
Source: al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah li-Ibn Kathīr 8/306
O my brother! Do not exhaust all your insults against us, but leave some room for reconciliation. For we do not retaliate against someone who disobeys Allah concerning us with anything better than obeying Allah concerning him.
Source: Ḥilyat al-Awliyāʾ li-Abī Nuʿaym 1/212
The first reward a forbearing person receives for his forbearance in the face of insult is that all the people become his supporters against the foolish instigator.
Source: al-Adab al-Sharʿiyyah li-Ibn Mufliḥ 1/216
A man followed al-Ahnaf through the road insulting and swearing at him for a long distance. When al-Ahnaf drew close to the neighborhood of his tribe, he paused, turned to the man, and said: ‘Young man, if you have any insults remaining in your chest, say them now before the foolish youth of my tribe hear you and harm you for it.’
Source: Tārīkh Dimashq li-Ibn ʿAsākir 24/326
Statements of Scholars
أقوال العلماءIf a foolish person speaks to you, do not respond to him; for the best response to him is dignified silence. If you answer him, you grant him relief; but if you leave him ignored, he chokes in his own rage.
Source: Dīwān al-Imām al-Shāfiʿī 1/36
Every single person who harmed me or spoke ill of me is entirely forgiven by me, except an obstinate innovator. For what benefit is it to you that Allah should punish your Muslim brother on your account?
Source: Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ 11/261
No servant was ever wronged or insulted and chose to patiently endure it for the sake of Allah, except that Allah elevated his prestige, granted him victory, and established honor for him in the hearts of the creation.
Source: Jāmiʿ al-Masāʾil li-Ibn Taymiyyah 1/171