WHAT IS PATIENCE?
Principled Response
THE literal meaning of sabr, the Arabic word for patience, is ‘to stop’. A life of faith is a principled one. A believer lives for a certain purpose. He does not take any step as an emotionallydriven reaction. When faced with any situation, he stops to think about the response he should make. It has to be in accordance with his principles and purpose in life, distinguishing this clearly from those that go against. In this way, he exercises sabr or patience.
In other words, impatience is reflected in a hasty response to a situation, while a considered, well-thought-out response is what patience is about. Patience is connected with all aspects of our lives. Should you feel overwhelmed by a desire, you must choose not to set about fulfilling the desire as soon as it emerges. You need to control the desire, think about it and then do what Divine law demands of you in that situation. For instance when someone has caused you trouble, you feel overwhelmed by the desire for revenge. But stop yourself and then do what your faith wants you to do. This is exercising patience.
Impatience is reflected in a hasty response to a situation, while a considered,
wellthought-out response is what patience is about.
Suppose you are engaged in inviting people to God, and you face hurdles. You choose not to go about creating a furore or trying to fight the situation. Instead, you reflect on the matter in the light of Divine law, in the light of the guidance of the Quran and the Prophet’s practice, and then take steps for the situation in accordance with these sources. You make yourself do what the Quran and the Prophet’s practice want you to do, not what you might personally like. This is exercising patience.
Patience is binding on a believer, and is a major principle of one’s life. If a person lacks patience, it is open to doubt whether he has had a realization of faith.
