Many times in human life, situations arise in which a person loses control of his senses and is carried away by a flood of emotions. A person’s emotions overpower his intellect and understanding, causing him to burn with anger and rage. He then wishes to destroy the person against whom he feels this anger or the one who caused it. He wants to take immediate action with all his strength and defeat his enemy without delay.
Since Islam is a complete code of life, it guides people by preventing them from making decisions based on emotions. Instead, it encourages them to control their senses and think carefully before acting. The Holy Qur’an refers to this quality as Sabr (Patience).
In the Arabic language, Sabr means to endure, to restrain oneself, and to refrain from something. In the terminology of Shariah, Sabr means not allowing one’s desires to overpower one’s intellect and not exceeding the limits set by Islamic law. The practice of patience requires firmness of will and strength of determination. Simply being unable to do anything because of helplessness, weakness, or compulsion, and silently enduring hardship or difficulty, is not considered patience. Rather, patience is built upon steadfastness and perseverance, and maintaining this quality is true Sabr.
Allah Almighty describes the virtue of patience in the Holy Qur’an by saying:
.أُوْلَئِکَ یُؤْتَوْنَ أَجْرَهُم مَّرَّتَیْنِ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَیَدْرَؤُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّیِّئَۃَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ یُنفِقُونَ
They are the ones who will be given their reward twice because they remained patient. They repel evil with good and spend from what We have provided for them.
(Surah Al-Qasas, 54 : 28)
Compared to other righteous deeds, Allah Almighty will grant those who are patient a reward without measure. Allah Almighty says:
.قُلْ یَا عِبَادِ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا رَبَّکُمْ لِلَّذِینَ أَحْسَنُوا فِی هَذِہِ الدُّنْیَا حَسَنَۃٌ وَأَرْضُ اللَّہِ وَاسِعَۃٌ إِنَّمَا یُوَفَّی الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَیْرِ حِسَابٍ
(Surah Az-Zumar, 10 : 39)
(O Beloved, on My behalf) say: O My believing servants! Fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world, there is an excellent reward. And the earth of Allah is vast. Indeed, those who remain patient will be given their reward in full without measure.
Gratitude is a fundamental part of good character, righteous deeds, and worship. Without the spirit of gratitude, all deeds and acts of worship lose their true meaning. Allah Almighty describes the virtue of gratitude in the Holy Qur’an by saying:
.مَّا یَفْعَلُ اللّهُ بِعَذَابِکُمْ إِن شَکَرْتُمْ وَآمَنتُمْ وَکَانَ اللّهُ شَاکِرًا عَلِیمًا
(Surah An-Nisa, 147 : 4)
What would Allah gain by punishing you if you become grateful and believe? And Allah is Ever Appreciative and All-Knowing.
Thus, Allah Almighty mentions gratitude together with faith and declares that both are a means of protection from punishment.
In another place, Allah Almighty says:
oفَاذْکُرُوْنِیْ اَذْ کُرْکُمْ وَاشْکُرُوْالِیْ وَلَا تَکْفُرُوْنِ
So remember Me, and I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me.
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 152 : 2)
It is narrated by Hazrat Aishah (RA) that the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would stand in prayer for long periods during the night and remain engaged in the worship of Allah. Because of his prolonged standing, his blessed feet would become swollen.
She said, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! You are the beloved and chosen servant of Allah. Why do you endure such hardship? The Holy Prophet ﷺ replied:
.اَفَلَا اَکُوْنُ عَبْدًا شَکُوْرًا
(Sahih Muslim, 4: 2172 , Hadith No. 2825)
He ﷺ said, “Should I not be a grateful servant of Allah Almighty?
Thus, it becomes clear that patience and gratitude are inseparable. Allah Almighty has joined them together, and in the Holy Qur’an, He praises both by saying:
.فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا بَاعِدْ بَیْنَ أَسْفَارِنَا وَظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ فَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَحَادِیثَ وَمَزَّقْنَاهُمْ کُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ إِنَّ فِی ذَلِکَ لَآیَاتٍ لِّکُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَکُورٍ
(Saba, 19 : 34 )
Then they said, ‘Our Lord, increase the distance between our journeys,’ and they wronged themselves. So We made them tales (of warning) and scattered them into complete dispersion. Indeed, in this are signs for every steadfast and truly grateful person.
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