Patience – A Divine Virtue Embedded in Islam As Well As All Other Religions of the World

 

By Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam

11 June 2021

Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity And Other Religious Faiths’ Definition Of Practicing Patience And Its Divine Values Have Established It As A Definite Key To Success

Main Points:

1.    Patience is a divine virtue that brings a man closer to God

2.    Human beings materialistic approach to life is one of the reasons that patience has gone into oblivion.

3.    Studying Holy Quran and Hadees traditions, Bhagavad Gita, Christianity, Buddhism and religious epics of other religions and faiths is important to understand the ethos of patience.

4.    People think patience is nothing but hiding behind God’s teachings.

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Patience is a divine virtue that brings a man closer to God and models him into a rightful candidate for rewards from God that are everlasting.

Patience is a trait that the human being takes in good stead, understanding its value in durable success. But it is also one of those traits that humankind has long lost to practice. Human beings materialistic approach to life is one of the reasons that patience has gone into oblivion. Mankind is in a hurry to achieve all those that he wishes to but without paying attention to the labour and the amount of time it requires.  This act of being in a hurry creates nothing but a negative sense of inability in one's mind. And a negative thought creeping in one mind sucks all his ability and positive sense of success transforming him into a zombie that can only create odds for society. The human being, therefore, should learn to have patience with the help of spiritual gurus and reading of religious epics.

Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and other religious faiths’ definition of practising patience and its divine values have established it as a definite key to success that humankind is always in search of.

 

Illustration: Ramandeep Kaur | ThePrint

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Studying Holy Quran and Hadees traditions, Bhagavad Gita, Christianity, Buddhism and religious epics of other religions and faiths is important to understand the ethos of the positivities of life created by practising patience. Consider some of them in the following lines to understand what does patience mean in religions that we follow:

Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with a goodly patience. (Ayah al-Ma`arij - 5) - Muhammad Asad

These negative and positive situations have a measure — they end after some time. Know this and bear them out with patience. (Bhagavad Gita)

'Enduring patience is the highest austerity (Verse 184 - Dhammapada)

"Through patience, a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone" (Proverbs 25:14-16, NIV)

Quranic Teachings To Ascertain the Beauty of Patience

Allah, the All-Knower knew His people will have to face many such circumstances in the form of adversity that they will be in danger of losing patience. Losing patience as described in the Holy Quran is an invitation to long-lasting difficulties and chaos that engulfs human life and turns it hellish. Therefore, Allah, the Most Gracious has commanded the living being, on many occasions, to never lose patience and have faith in Him as He says in the Holy Quran:

God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear: ... (Surah Al-Baqarah - 286) — Abdul Haleem

Above mentioned verse is a clear indication for the human being to have ‘goodly patience’ فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا in all adverse situations knowing that Allah, the Most Gracious has promised not to test him more than his capacity.

The Holy Quran describes how even the Prophets and religious scholars were put to test and how they came out of the adverse situations triumphantly. And it was only because they never lost faith in Allah and His revelations that teaches to practice patience. Allah, the All-Knower has revealed in the Holy Quran in the forms of Ayat that all that is sent on the earth will have to pass through adverse situations so that they are tested in their faith in God. The good news for human being is that their perseverance and patience will be rewarded with guidance, mercy and His kindness.  Consider the following Ayat of the Holy Quran:

...And be patient and persevering, for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. ( Holy Qur'an, 8: 46)

"All that is on earth will perish, but face of your Lord will abide (forever), full of Majesty, Bounty and Honour" (Qur'an Surah Rahman; 55:26-27)

"Give glad tidings to those who patiently endure, who say when afflicted with a calamity: "To Allah we belong and to Him we return." They are those on whom (descend) blessings and mercy from their Lord, and they are the ones who receive guidance." (Qur'an Surah Baqarah; 2:155-157)

And to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, And throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing. (Qur'an 2:177)

Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.” [Yusuf: 90]

And how many a prophet [fought and] with him fought many religious scholars. But they never lost assurance due to what afflicted them in the cause of Allah, nor did they weaken or submit. And Allah loves the patient ones.” [Surah Aali Imran 3:146]

“For those who do good in this world is good and the earth of Allah is vast. Only those who are patient will be paid back their reward without measure.” [az-Zumar 39: 10]

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient” (Surah Baqarah Ayah 155)

Hadees Traditions In Appreciation of Patience

Prophet Muhammad Pbuh lived an exemplary life to establish all the positivities of life and to make sure that his Ummah also lives as he did. He faced many adversaries during his lifetime.

But he never lost his patience and accepted all that came in his life trying to come out of the adverse situations, with his patience and his belief in Allah. He was sent on this planet earth as ‘peace for the world’ in the true sense of the epithet. He kept his companions and common men teaching the religious and social values of life. His teachings on patience are as under:

"O Allah! Reward me in my calamity and replace my loss with a better one." (Sahih Muslim)

 The Prophet said, "The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity." [Hadith No: 389, Sahih Bukhari]

The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) 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" [Hadith No: 4032, Sunan Ibn Majah].

Narrated Abu Said Al Khudri: Some Ansari persons asked for (something) from Allah’s Apostle and he gave them. They again asked him for (something) and he again gave them. And then they asked him and he gave them again till all that was with him finished. And then he said “If I had anything, I would not keep it away from you. (Remember,) whoever abstains from asking others, Allah will make him contented, and whoever tries to make himself self-sufficient, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience.” Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 24 Hadith 548

The Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by a woman who was weeping beside a grave. He told her to fear Allah and be patient. She said to him, “Go away, for you have not been afflicted with a calamity like mine.” And she did not recognize him. Then she was informed that he was the Prophet. So she went to the house of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and there she did not find any guard. Then she said to him, “I did not recognize you.” He said, “Verily, the patience is at the first stroke of a calamity” [Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 23 Hadith 372].

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant; from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with calamities (but he remains patient till Allah removes his difficulties.) And an impious wicked person is like a pine tree which keeps hard and straight till Allah cuts (breaks) it down when He wishes” [Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 70 Hadith 547].

Narrated Ata bin Abi Rabah: Ibn ‘Abbas said to me, “Shall I show you a woman of the people of Paradise?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “This black lady came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, ‘I get attacks of epilepsy and my body becomes uncovered; please invoke Allah for me.’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said (to her), ‘If you wish, be patient and you will have (enter) Paradise; and if you wish, I will invoke Allah to cure you.’ She said, ‘I will remain patient,’ and added, ‘but I become uncovered, so please invoke Allah for me that I may not become uncovered.’ So he invoked Allah for her” [Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 70 Hadith 555].

Narrated Anas bin Malik: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “Allah said, ‘If I deprive my slave of his two beloved things (i.e., his eyes) and he remains patient, I will let him enter Paradise in compensation for them” [Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 70 Hadith 557].

Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub: The Prophet (peace be upon him) named our cavalry “the Cavalry of Allah,” when we were struck with panic, and when panic overtook us, the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded us to be united, to have patience and perseverance; and to be so when we fought” [Sunan of Abu-Dawood – Book 14 Hadith 2554].

Narrated Aisha: I asked Allah’s Apostle about the plague. He said, “That was a means of torture which Allah used to send upon whomsoever He wished, but He made it a source of mercy for the believers, for anyone who is residing in a town in which this disease is present, and remains there and does not leave that town, but has patience and hopes for Allah’s reward, and knows that nothing will befall him except what Allah has written for him, then he will get such reward as that of a martyr” [Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 7 Hadith 616]

"Indeed! Whatever Allah gives or takes belongs to him and everything is predestined by Him." (Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)

Value of Patience and Its Appeal

The world recognises the importance of preserving patience through its religious texts and the sayings of Sufis and Rishis and faith leaders, believing in the power of spirituality. The universality of the importance of preserving patience can be gauged from the fact that all the world religions advocate the perseverance of patience in all situations, social or natural. Consider what Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity have to say about patience:

Buddhism

In Buddhism, patience refers to not returning harm, rather than merely enduring a difficult situation. It is the ability to control one's emotions even when being criticized or attacked. (Alexander Berzin, The Ten Perfections in Theravada)

 'Enduring patience is the highest austerity. (Verse 184 of the Dhammapada)

 

(Photo: Courtesy Scroll Droll)

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Hinduism

These negative and positive situations have a measure — they end after some time. Know this and bear them out with patience. (Bhagavad Gita)

The one, who doesn’t get upset at the experience of good and bad, is fit to receive undying motivational energy. The patient receives this energy. (Bhagavad Gita)

Christianity

In the Christian Bible, patience is referred to in several sections. The Book of Proverbs notes that

"Through patience, a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone" (Proverbs 25:14-16, NIV)

"End of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride" (Ecclesiastes 7:7-9, NIV)

"Be patient with all. See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good for each other and for all" (Thessalonians 5:14-15, NAB)

"See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,...until it receives the early and the late rains." (James 5:7-11, NAB)

"Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life".(Timothy 1:15-17 NIV)

Kabir and Osho on Patience

Kabir

'Have patience O mind, everything will happen with time, just as a gardener waters a hundred times, and the fruits come when the season arrives.  (Ibn Qayyim’s “Patience and Gratitude”)

Osho

Everything comes in its own time. Everything comes when you are ripe. Everything comes when you deserve it .... this is my experience. (Metamorphosise. Blog Spot)

Patience is a Strength Not a Show of Weakness

Today the world is in a phase of social and political turbulence and chaos. It is man-made. It is the result of impatience and a race of superiority in the quest for materialistic comfort. The human being is living a life full of exaggerations that demand them to acquire as much as they can and that also in no time. There is no time for patience. Patience is taken as a weakness. People think patience is nothing but hiding behind God’s teachings.

In Islamic and other world religions parlance, patience is the key to durable peace and growth of spirituality in the society and a source of rewards from the Creator of the universe. Think, if the Creator of the Universe, by whatever name you call it, Allah, Bhagwan, Christ, Buddha, Mahavira or anything else, gets impatient with our wrongdoings and decides to teach the world a lesson. Nothing will be there but devastations and a few noble souls. We, therefore, remember Him in our Dua as:

رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا

...O our Lord, pour out patience upon us, .... (Surah Al-A'raf - 126) — Mufti Taqi Usmani

And Allah Knows the Best

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Arman Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.

URL:     https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/divine-virtue-patience-religion/d/124964

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