The Most Beautiful Expressions on Patience in the Quran and Sunnah
Here are some of the most profound expressions regarding patience found in the Quran and the Sunnah:
- Allah Almighty stated: {Seek help through patience and prayer; indeed, Allah is with the patient}.
- The concept of patience is mentioned over ninety times in various contexts throughout the Holy Quran. The term “patience” itself appears 102 times, as in the verse: {Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account} (Surah Az-Zumar 10). Allah instructed His Prophet to practice patience and assured him of the rewards awaiting the patient: {So be patient; indeed, the outcome is for the righteous} (Surah Hud 49). Furthermore, Allah paired patience with acts of worship, as illustrated: {And seek help through patience and prayer} (Surah Al-Baqarah 45).
- The Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him – remarked, “No one has been granted a gift greater and more expansive than patience.”
- The Prophet – peace be upon him – stated: “Remarkable is the affair of the believer, for all of his affairs are good. This is only the case for the believer: if something good befalls him, he is grateful, which is good for him, and if a hardship strikes him, he is patient, which is also good for him.”
- Allah – glory be to Him – declared that the patient are in His companionship, as mentioned in Surah Al-Anfal 46: {And be patient; indeed, Allah is with the patient}.
Beautiful Prose on Patience
Here are some of the most beautiful reflections on patience in prose:
- Umar ibn Al-Khattab – may Allah be pleased with him – said: “We found that the best of our lives is patience.”
- Umar ibn Al-Khattab – may Allah be pleased with him – also said: “The best of lives we achieved was through patience, and had patience been a man, it would have been noble.”
- Ali ibn Abi Talib – may Allah be pleased with him – stated: “Know that patience holds the same status to faith as the head does to the body. If the head is severed, the body perishes.” He then raised his voice, affirming: “There is no faith for one who lacks patience.”
- Al-Hasan Al-Basri remarked: “Patience is a treasure from the treasures of goodness, which Allah only grants to His honorable servants.”
- Umar ibn Abdul Aziz stated: “Whenever Allah bestows a blessing upon a servant and then takes it away, replacing it with patience, that replacement will certainly be better than what was taken away.”
- Patience is a powerful steed that never stumbles, a sword that does not wane, a stronghold against adversities, and a solid shield.
- “Whoever practices patience will ultimately succeed.”
- “He who does not exercise patience over a harsh word will be overwhelmed by many words.”
- “There are two types of patience: patience in response to what you dislike and patience in the face of what you love.”
- “Indeed, patience is most potent at the onset of adversity.”
- “Patience during hardships is termed faith, while patience in indulgence is called contentment. Patience in keeping a secret refers to discretion, and patience for the sake of friendship is termed loyalty.”
- “The remedy for life’s challenges is patience.”
- “Resisting the prohibitions of Allah is easier than enduring His punishment.”
- “If a calamity befalls you, be patient; for the affliction affects greatly one who cannot bear it.”
Beautiful Expressions on Patience in Poetry
Here are some exquisite poetic verses on patience:
Poem: Be patient through the hardship of awakening at dawn
By Ali ibn Abi Talib – may Allah honor his face:
Be patient through the hardship of awakening at dawn,
And in the journey towards necessities and the morning’s fuel.
Do not be disheartened nor let the pursuit of your goals sadden you;
Success lies between surrender and discontent.
I have observed over the years’ experiences,
That patience yields a rewarding outcome.
Few are those who strive in pursuit of their goals,
And keep patience as their companion, lest they achieve victory.
Poem: The Self Bears its Burden
By Ali ibn Al-Jahm:
The self bears its burden as long as it is carried,
And the times will shift between justice and tyranny.
The end of beautiful patience is truly beautiful,
And the noblest of virtues in men is magnanimity.
Poem: Only through Patience Can You Achieve What You Desire
By Hussein Al-Dajani:
Only through patience can you achieve what you wish;
And with piety, iron will yield to you.
So be steadfast in obedience to Allah,
For your pacts with Him are genuine.
Poem: Show Resilience Against Hostility
Show resilience against your enemies,
And do not reveal weakness; instead, rise strong.
Do you not see how the basil freshens the viewer,
And rests in the meadows when it transforms?
Poem: Time Has Informed Me, and Patience Has Mentored Me
Time has imparted lessons to me, and patience has guided me;
Contentment has sufficed me, while despair has enriched me.
And from my experiences over the years,
I have recognized what once forbade me.
Poem: When Adversity Strikes
When hardship strikes you one day,
Face it with unwavering patience and open heart.
For the turns of time are remarkable,
Some days you see ease, and other days you find hardship.
Poem: How Beautiful is Patience in This World!
How beautiful is patience in this world and how lovely,
In the sight of Allah, it saves one from distress.
He who is strengthened by patience during painful times,
Will find his hands grasping an unbroken cord.
Poem: O Worry, Relief is Near
O bearer of concern, know that troubles will ease,
Rejoice in goodness, for the reliever is Allah.
Despair sometimes severs its obligations,
Do not lose hope, for your provision is Allah.
Allah creates ease following hardship,
Do not be disheartened, for the distributor is Allah.
If calamity befalls you, trust in Allah and be pleased with His decree;
For indeed, He is the one who lifts affliction, Allah alone.
And Allah is the only Lord, there is no other beside Him,
So suffice it that Allah suffices you in all matters.
Poem: Time has Neglected Me
Time has neglected me, yet it does not know that I am,
More dignified than what the events of time can dull.
It night showed me the tribulation’s extent,
And I remained to teach it what patience entails.
Poem: Exercise Patience When Faced with Anger
Be tolerant when anger befalls you,
And resilient when calamity strikes.
For the nights of life are pregnant,
Expecting to give birth to wonders.
Poem: When Hardship Strikes
When hardship comes your way,
Challenges become vast and overwhelming.
And as other trials follow,
You may grow weary of life and tire of its burdens.
Be patient and wait for your wishes to arrive,
For calamities follow one another, but they pass too.
Poem: Why Should I Not Embrace My Time with Abundance?
Why should I not embrace my time with abundance,
See the fortune I face and whatever comes my way?
For what is life without fortune except torment,
With worries invading me at every hour?
Poem: Be Patient a Little while; After Hardship Comes Ease
By Ali ibn Abi Talib:
Be patient a little while; after hardship comes ease,
For every matter has its timing and careful planning.
And the Most Powerful must have concern for our situations,
And He holds greater plans than our assessments.
Poem: There are indeed Difficulties to Each Youth
Indeed, there are difficulties that may constrict the youth,
Yet Allah holds the way out of all situations.
When the challenges become tight, they eventually ease,
Even when I thought that the relief would not come.
Poem: It Is Obligatory for People to Repent
By Ali ibn Abi Talib:
It is obligatory for people to repent,
Yet forsaking sins is even more necessary.
Time is variable in its course, a curious entity,
And the distraction of people is even stranger.
Patience in trials is indeed hard,
Yet losing out on entitlements is even harder.
And everything we desire is indeed close,
While death hovers closer than all of that.