:: Sabr, Patience ::

Assalam Alaikum,

I read this from "The Book of Character" edited by Camille Helminski (Page 108-109) and she wrote about patience so sweetly that I want to share with you...

There it is... Hope it brings peace to you~

W'salam,

Khadijah C.

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The journey of revelation of the Qur'an was a long one to Prophet Muhammad. The first revelation, the first portion of the Qur'an that was conveyed, was only a few lines long. It was a period of twenty-three years that the words of the Qur'an unfolded.

A time came when people challenged Prophet Muhammad, questioning God' power and asking him why he didn't just convey the Qur'an as a whole. An ayat, a verse or sign, was then revealed explaining that the Qur'an was conveyed in stages in order to strengthen his heart.

The power of God is infinitely great, capable of any feat, but for our sake and our needs, our learning and development is gradual. It takes nine months for a child to mature in the womb before it is ready to be born. If we rush such a process, we can cause harm. Patience with God's measure allows the fruit of our being and our work to mature appropriately.

Imam Ali has said, "Bear patiently a task whose reward is indispensable to you, and desist from action whose punishment you are not capable of bearing; withstand the judgement of someone who has nothing but that on which to rely and take refuge in. If trials are met with contentment and patience, they are a constant blessing, and if blessings are devoid of gratitude, they are an ever-present trial."

He also said, "There are two kinds of patience: Patience in misfortune is a fine and beautiful thing, but better than this is patience when Allah deprives you of something. Remembrance is of two kinds also: Remembrance of Allah in misfortune, and better than this is remembrance of Allah when He deprives you of something and impedes you."

As-Sadiq said, "When the believer enters his grave, prayer is on his right, zakat on his left, righteous actions are spread over him and patience bends down at his side, and if he enters the place of questioning, patience says to prayer, zakat and righteous actions, 'Take heed of your companion: if you fail him, then I am beneath him'."

As-Sadiq said,"Patience has the same relation to faith as the head to the body; if the head is removed, the body dies, and if patience is removed, faith dies."

'Ali b. Abi Talib observed, "Patience is a mount that never stumbles."

It is often said tat, "Patience is the key to joy."