AS-SABR (PERSEVERANCE)

Prophet Muhammad(SAW) said: “No one had ever been given anything better than Sabr.”

 

Sabr is the Islamic virtue for patience, endurance and perseverance. Saabir is the Arabic word for those that have sabr. Sabr is categorized as being one of the two parts of faith. It teaches us to remain spiritually steadfast, and to keep doing good actions in the personal and collective domain specifically when facing opposition and encountering problems with unwanted result. As muslims, we should have endurance for physical troubles whether active or passive and we should also have sabr spiritually by controlling our natural impulses. We can not blame Shaytan(the devil) for our bad deeds because even during Ramadan when Shaytan has been locked up, we still commit bad deeds. Every human has been given free will so we all have a choice in either doing good or bad. During times of deep trial, despair, and sadness, Muslims seek comfort and guidance in the words of Allah in the Quran. Allah reminds us that all people will be tried and tested in life, and calls upon Muslims to bear these trials with patient perseverance and prayer.in times of struggle,  we are advice to strive for good in both prayer and action. For example, if someone is bullying and hitting you, you should have sabr by praying and reporting to the authorities instead of hitting back in anger. The Prophet(SAW) said we have to tie our camels before leaving it in the security of Allah. This means prayer does not work without conscious effort and action.

 

In the Quran, there is always a close connection between being patiently persisting in doing right and expecting relief and deliverance from Allah. Some verses in the Quran that encourages Sabr are:

  1. Quran 3 verse 200, “O you who believe! Persevere in patience and constantly be pious, that you may prosper.”

 

  1. Quran 11 verse 115- “And be steadfast in patience for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the right.”

 

  1. Quran 6 verse 3-“And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him.”

 

  1. “Seek Allah’s help with patient perseverance and prayer. It is indeed hard except for those who are humble.” (2:45)

 

  1. “Oh you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer, for God is with those who patiently persevere.” (2:153)

 

  1. “Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives, and the fruits of your toil. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who say, when afflicted with calamity, ‘To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.’ They are those on whom descend blessings from their Lord, and mercy. They are the ones who receive guidance.” (2:155-157)

 

  1. “Oh you who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy. Vie in such perseverance, strengthen each other, and be pious, that you may prosper.” (3:200)

 

  1. “And be steadfast in patience, for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.” (11:115)

 

  1. “Be patient, for your patience is with the help of Allah.” (16:127)

 

  1. “Patiently, then, persevere – for the Promise of Allah is true, and ask forgiveness for your faults, and celebrate the praises of your Lord in the evening and in the morning.” (40:55)

 

  1. “No one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune.” (41:35)

 

  1. “Verily man is in loss, except such as have faith, and do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual enjoining of truth, and of patience and constancy.” (103:2-3)

 

Prophet Muhammad(SAW) said: “No one had ever been given anything better than Sabr.”

 

Sabr is the Islamic virtue for patience, endurance and perseverance. Saabir is the Arabic word for those that have sabr. Sabr is categorized as being one of the two parts of faith. It teaches us to remain spiritually steadfast, and to keep doing good actions in the personal and collective domain specifically when facing opposition and encountering problems with unwanted result. As muslims, we should have endurance for physical troubles whether active or passive and we should also have sabr spiritually by controlling our natural impulses. We can not blame Shaytan(the devil) for our bad deeds because even during Ramadan when Shaytan has been locked up, we still commit bad deeds. Every human has been given free will so we all have a choice in either doing good or bad. During times of deep trial, despair, and sadness, Muslims seek comfort and guidance in the words of Allah in the Quran. Allah reminds us that all people will be tried and tested in life, and calls upon Muslims to bear these trials with patient perseverance and prayer.in times of struggle,  we are advice to strive for good in both prayer and action. For example, if someone is bullying and hitting you, you should have sabr by praying and reporting to the authorities instead of hitting back in anger. The Prophet(SAW) said we have to tie our camels before leaving it in the security of Allah. This means prayer does not work without conscious effort and action.

 

In the Quran, there is always a close connection between being patiently persisting in doing right and expecting relief and deliverance from Allah. Some verses in the Quran that encourages Sabr are:

  1. Quran 3 verse 200, “O you who believe! Persevere in patience and constantly be pious, that you may prosper.”

 

  1. Quran 11 verse 115- “And be steadfast in patience for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the right.”

 

  1. Quran 6 verse 3-“And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him.”

 

  1. “Seek Allah’s help with patient perseverance and prayer. It is indeed hard except for those who are humble.” (2:45)

 

  1. “Oh you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer, for God is with those who patiently persevere.” (2:153)

 

  1. “Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives, and the fruits of your toil. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who say, when afflicted with calamity, ‘To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.’ They are those on whom descend blessings from their Lord, and mercy. They are the ones who receive guidance.” (2:155-157)

 

  1. “Oh you who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy. Vie in such perseverance, strengthen each other, and be pious, that you may prosper.” (3:200)

 

  1. “And be steadfast in patience, for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.” (11:115)

 

  1. “Be patient, for your patience is with the help of Allah.” (16:127)

 

  1. “Patiently, then, persevere – for the Promise of Allah is true, and ask forgiveness for your faults, and celebrate the praises of your Lord in the evening and in the morning.” (40:55)

 

  1. “No one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune.” (41:35)

 

  1. “Verily man is in loss, except such as have faith, and do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual enjoining of truth, and of patience and constancy.” (103:2-3)