Patience

Islam takes pride in having always encouraged mankind to attain noble characteristics. One of these virtues is patience. God has ordered us to seek patience for our own benefit. God sent down Prophets to encourage this noble quality in man.

God has promised the patient person reward in the after-life by stating in the Holy Koran:

"Say: O my servants who believe! Be careful of (your duty to) your Lord; for those who do good in this world is good, and God's earth is spacious; only the patient will be paid back (in the hereafter) their reward in full without measure." (39:10)

Also, God has promised victory for the patient and demise for the impatient: "I (God) swear by time, Most surely man is in loss, Except those who believe and do good, and enjoin on each other truth, and enjoin on each other patience."(103) Faith, according to Islam, has two halves, one being gratitude (being thankful) and the other being patience. This paper will deal with the following: true patience and its meaning, the three pillars of patience and man's essential need for patience.

Islam sees patience as a noble human characteristic. He who posses it will reach joy and inner peace. Islam also views patience as a strength and the key to fixing all matters of one's self, and as the path to happiness and righteousness. The patient person is he who trains him/herself to fight back against all evil thoughts and actions. Man is the one who steers his/her soul into either eternal Paradise or eternal Hell-Fire. This harness which man uses for steering his soul is patience. Islam encourages people to seek dependence, help, and salvation from God. God alone is the Creator, the Sustainer and therefore is alone the Savour.

The first pillar is patience with the duties and obligations towards people and God. Some examples of this are praying the five daily prayers, charity, pilgrimage to Mecca, respecting one's parents, marriage, and respect towards one's spouse. The second pillar is patience in abstaining from all that God has made forbidden. Some examples here are: stealing, cheating, lying, backbiting, etc. The third pillar is patience with what may befall man from natural disasters, illness, and death. God says in the Koran:

"O my dear son! Establish worship and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity, and persevere whatever may befall thee." (31:17)

Islam also teaches man to be patient when he has health, money, happiness, and all the good in his life. In order to refrain from pride and arrogance and from becoming ungrateful to the Bestower of these blessings and bounties, one needs patience. Fulfilling one's duties towards God and not to become arrogant also require patience. Trying not to use blessings in evil ways, and abstaining from what God has labelled as forbidden also require patience.

Patience is also needed with illness and death. In illness one must be patient in seeking a cure and must be thankful that they are not in a worse position. In Death one must remember that death is simply a doorway to eternity, and that the true winners are the ones that earned a places in Paradise through their deeds.

"And We most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruit; and give good news to the patient, who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: Surely we are God's and to Him we shall surely return. Those are they on whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord, and those are the followers of the right course." (2:155-157)