Patience and its Virtues from Quran and Hadeeth

Patient is defined as: “the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like” (Dictionnary).

Patience is characterized by remaining spiritually firm, and to keep doing good action when facing opposition or encountering problems, and unwanted results. The best level of patient is “Sabrun Jameel” (the beautiful patient) that prophet Ya’qub showed when he lost his both children Yusuf and his young brother Benyamin. Sabrun jameel means "you don’t want the sympathy of the others but just wait for Allah’s help." There are other types of patience and that is patient at the time of calamities which need patient to bear the bitterness of troubles and misfortunes. The second type is patient in obedience of Allah and that to have patient to worship Allah during difficult time. And last is to have patient against prohibited acts by refraining from doing or even approaching sins that are attractive.

The reward of patience does not have account like other deeds that are rewarded 10 to 700, it is only Allah who rewards those who are patient, Allah says: “Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account." (Az-zumar:10).

Many verses in Quran talked about the virtue of patience and the reward for those who show patient and Allah says that He will be with those are patient. Allah mentioned in Quran that when the believer is patient and pious, the plot of the enemy cannot do any harm, even if he is powerful, Allah says:“But if you remain patient and become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious), not the least harm will their cunning do to you. Surely, Allah surrounds all that they do”(Al-Imran :120). 

Allah has given glad tidings to those who are patient, “and give glad tidings to As‑ Saabiroon (the patient).  Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return. They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones”(Al-Baqarah :155-157). 

Allah forgives and rewards those who do righteous deeds and are patient, Allah says:  “Except those who show patience and do righteous good deeds: those, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward (Paradise)” (Hood :11).

In the hereafter, those who were patient Allah will reward them with houses in paradise and it will be said to them “Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home.” (Al-Raad:23). 

The prophet (Pbuh) said “Whoever would be patient, then Allah will make him patient. There is no gift that is better and more comprehensive than patience” (Al-Bukhari, Vol.2, book 24, Had.548). In fact, true patience is to be calm and composed the first strike of a calamity. Anas ibn Malik reported:  “The Messenger of Allah (Pbuh) passed by a woman who was weeping beside a grave. The Prophet said: Be mindful of Allah and be patient. She said, “Go away from me, for you have not been afflicted by a calamity like mine!” And she did not recognize him. Then, she was told that it was the Prophet, so she went to the house of the Prophet and she did not find any bodyguards there. She said to him, “I did not recognize you.” The Prophet said:She said to him, “I did not recognize you.” The Prophet said: Verily, patience is at the first strike of calamity (Al- Bukhari, Vol.2,book23, Had.372).

 Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Pbuh) say: “When a person suffers from a calamity and utters: We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. O Allah! Compensate me in my affliction, recompense my loss and give me something better in exchange for it, then Allah surely compensates him with reward and better substitute." (Muslim, book7, Had.921). He (Peace be upon him) said “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, Book1, Had.27).