Patience (sabr): how to grow in it
Patience is mentioned in the Quran more than ninety times. It is not passive waiting but holding firm: in obedience, away from sin and through hardship.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٥٣﴾
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo istaʿeenoo bialssabri waalssalati inna Allaha maʿa alssabireena
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient
Quran 2:153 · Surah Al-Baqara
قُلۡ يَٰعِبَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمۡۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ فِي هَٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةٞۗ وَأَرۡضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةٌۗ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ أَجۡرَهُم بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٖ ﴿١٠﴾
Qul ya ʿibadi allatheena amanoo ittaqoo rabbakum lillatheena ahsanoo fee hathihi alddunya hasanatun waardu Allahi wasiʿatun innama yuwaffa alssabiroona ajrahum bighayri hisabin
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
Quran 39:10 · Surah Az-Zumar
No fatigue, illness, worry, grief, harm or sadness afflicts a Muslim, not even a thorn that pricks him, except that Allah expiates some of his sins by it.
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
Patience is at the first strike.
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
Three kinds of patience
- In obeying Allah: waking for Fajr, fasting, giving.
- In staying away from sin.
- With what Allah has decreed: illness, loss, delays.
Daily habits
- Say "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun" at every setback, big or small (Q 2:156).
- Delay your reaction for a few minutes.
- Remember the reward without measure for the patient.
- Make dua for patience: "Rabbana afrigh alayna sabran" (Q 2:250).
- Read about the prophets: Ayyub, Yaqub, Yusuf.
Quotes to share: Islamic quotes about patience.
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