Patience When the Storm Hits

Humans endure a lot of trouble for little gain in this world and even die for it. That being the case, it is necessary to adopt patience as a morality in order to draw closer to Allah and His endless blessings. Whichever road is at the end of goodness and beauty, that road is followed, no matter how hard it is. What is better than a road that ends in Heaven? 

One of the qualities of a good Muslim and one of the virtues enshrined in Islamic morals is patience. Patience is among the most distinctive moral characteristics of the prophets and awliyas. It is a must for every believer to be endowed with this morality.

The Arabic word for patience, “sabr,” literally means to prevent, imprison, and be strong and resistant. As a religious concept, it means to be resilient in the face of calamities, not resort to disobedience and oppression, and preserve good manners by waiting for the result from Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala).

One of the great awliyas, Dhul-Nun al-Misri (quddisa sirruhu), describes patience as follows: “Patience is to stay away from actions that do not comply with Allah's orders, to maintain the calmness of the heart at times of distress, not to cry and complain, and to consider oneself rich even in poverty.”

Many verses in the Qur'an al-Karim encourage believers to be patient. Allah Almighty says in surah Al-Baqarah: "We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good tidings to the patient.” (Baqarah, 155). In the verse, Allah (jalla jalaluhu) states that He will test us in various ways and recommends patience.

Undoubtedly, the world is a place of testing. We are being tested with every breath we take. Patience is the secret of salvation in this world of tests, which has many trials and sorrows. For some tests, there is no way out other than patience. Only those who manage to embrace and retain patience will prosper in such cases. Those who cannot show patience and indulge in haste, anxiety, and complaints will lose the test and become surrounded by a litany of troubles in this world and the Hereafter.

The best reward

Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said about patience: “No one has ever been given a better reward than patience.” (Muslim, Zakat, 124). Indeed, patience is the greatest reward. When the hardest troubles are met with patience, they lead to material and spiritual gains. Even the most bitter disasters and hardships yield better outcomes through the practice of patience.

Those endowed with patience not only save themselves but also become a stronghold for others around them. A patient believer does not complain or bemoan about the misfortunes that befall them. Therefore, they do not upset their loved ones, push people too hard, or disturb the peace of their friends and relatives. They know that the responsibility and duty lie with them, and the judgment belongs to Allah the Most High. They take the available measures and defer to Allah the All-Knowing, absolutely, in ordaining the outcome of the affairs. They submit to Allah’s command. They supplicate to Him to grant an easy solution. They present their weakness to Him with their most sincere prayers.

The test of those who are loved

As patience is a great gift and reward, impatience is a habit that is equally uncouth and disgraceful. The impatient people react to the slightest trouble with an explosive reaction. They unnecessarily put themselves and those around them in dire situations. They complain and whine about their problems at every opportunity. Many who try to comfort them are more often than not in greater distress than those who gripe and make a commotion. However, they remain silent with their patience and fortitude.

Believers who lack patience cannot protect themselves from breaking others’ hearts. A broken heart is a disaster worse than hurricanes and earthquakes. Believers are not heartbreakers; they are peacemakers. Hurting, offending, tormenting, and insulting people by not showing patience in times of difficulty is incompatible with the orders of Allah the Almighty and the good morals of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

The nafs cries out in rebellion in moments of hardship. Shaytan injects his myriad of waswasas into the heart. He keeps trying to incite rebellion by whispering to people that they didn’t do anything to deserve the predicament they have fallen into. However, when the life of our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is considered, it becomes immediately clear how groundless such thoughts are. Our Prophet, who is the most beloved servant of Allah, was subjected to many forms of injustice, distress, and grief throughout his life.

He was orphaned first, then lost his beloved wife, our mother Khadijah (radiyallahu anha), and saw the deaths of three sons and three daughters. He was expelled from his homeland and migrated to Medinah. He experienced fierce battles such as Badr, Uhud, and Khandaq. However, he always showed patience and tolerance to all the difficulties he experienced and said, “If Allah wills good for someone, He afflicts him with trials...” (Al-Bukhari 5321), and encouraged believers to be patient.

Patience is a bitter pill to swallow. But the result is undoubtedly well-being and salvation. This is the promise of our Rabb Himself. Allah Almighty says in our infallible book, the Qur’an, "Only those who endure patiently will be given their reward without limit.” (Az-Zumar, 10)

Keeping calm when the storm hits

The most perfect patience is one shown at the moment when a disaster rears its head. Those who have internalized the truth of the moral value enshrined in patience do not immediately react to irritating or burdensome things for their nafs; they prefer calmness and composure at the first moment of distress. This calmness is not complacency or unresponsiveness but rather an expression of firm will and strong character. This is considered one of the most acceptable good deeds.

The following dhikrs are said at trying times that require patience:

· “Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakil: Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs.”

· “La hawla wala quwwata illa billah: There is no might nor power except with Allah.”

· “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un: Verily we belong to Allah and verily to Him do we return.”

Perseverance in orders and prohibitions

The second part of patience is the perseverance required to carry out Allah's commands because obeying Allah's orders often requires opposing the nafs, leaving one’s comfort zone, and taking a break from personal gains and enjoyment.

For example, getting up for the fajr prayer requires patience against sleepiness, fasting requires patience against hunger and thirst, making hajj requires patience for multiple laborious tasks and challenging conditions, and earning halal requires patience for the many difficulties that honest, hard work entails. There are also times when moral patience is needed. In particular, our efforts to serve our parents, never saying words of contempt or displeasure, and abiding by our promises in trade, fall into this category of patience.

Another part of patience is practiced by not approaching things forbidden by Allah the Exalted. This is more difficult than the previous case but more valuable in terms of benefit since there are rewards in acts of worship that are elusive to the five senses but glaringly obvious to a heart purified and tuned for it. As one learns to cherish these pleasures, a desire to fulfill Allah's commands swells inside them with increasing strength and frequency. This makes it easier to be patient in ibadah.

However, the nafs insistently desires haram. For instance, when it is easy to get the money that will put your business in order and obtain what you want with interest, not opting for the easy way and illegitimate gain is like trampling on your nafs. It is a kind of spiritual wrestling for a young person who has the opportunity to commit adultery to give up out of fear of Allah. It is challenging to avoid actions that Allah is displeased with, especially if opportunities present themselves against such rampant desires of the nafs; doing so is no small feat that requires vast supplies of patience. Of course, this patience shown for Allah is not without reward. The blessings of Jannah await in abundance in the Hereafter, along with the many divine blessings in this life and the sweetness of faith settling in our hearts.

As believers, we know that we are in this life to be tried and tested. So, we are aware that we will be required to endure many trials in consecutive order. This entire mortal life is a series of trials. It is, therefore, our duty to be patient in any situation. The state of a believer who behaves like this is enviable, as revealed by the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in the holy hadith:

"How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything, and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah, and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently, and that is better for him". (Muslim, Zuhd, 64)

Selim Uğur