Hadiths on the Virtue of Patience
Patience is one of the significant acts of worship through which Muslims draw closer to Allah. Allah has specially rewarded those who are patient with immense, limitless, and incomparable rewards. As Allah -the Exalted- stated: “Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.” The virtues of patience in this world and the Hereafter are highlighted in several hadiths:
- The Prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him- said: “No one has been given a gift that is better and broader than patience.”
- He also mentioned: “Amazing is the affair of the believer; all his affairs are good, and this is only for the believer. If he experiences happiness, he is grateful, which is good for him, and if he faces hardship, he remains patient, which is also good for him.”
- Ibn Mas’ud -may Allah be pleased with him- stated: “Patience is half of faith, and certainty is the entirety of faith.”
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- remarked: “Patience is light.”
- He mentioned: “When Allah loves a people, He tests them; whoever is patient, for him is the reward of patience.”
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- also advised: “Know that in being patient with what you dislike, there is much good, and that victory comes with patience.”
Hadiths on Patience in Performing Acts of Worship
Ibn Taymiyyah stated that the rank of patience in performing acts of worship is more complete and superior to the patience of abstaining from prohibitions. The Prophet -peace be upon him- preferred doing acts of worship over avoiding sins, as the loss incurred by failing to act is graver than that of committing a sin. Numerous noble hadiths encourage patience in performing acts of worship and seeking Allah’s assistance. Among these hadiths are:
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- said: “Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward will have their previous sins forgiven.”
- He also stated: “Would you like to strive in supplication? Say: ‘O Allah, help us to remember You, to be grateful to You, and to worship You in the best manner.’”
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- mentioned: “Whoever stands in worship on the Night of Decree in faith and seeking reward will have their sins forgiven.”
- He prayed: “O Allah, I ask You for steadfastness in matters.” This supplication reflects reliance on Allah for patience and perseverance.
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- advised: “If something befalls you, do not say, ‘If only I had done this or that,’ but rather say, ‘This is the decree of Allah, and what He wills, happens.’”
Hadiths on Patience with Desires and Trials
Believers rely on Allah and endure the trials they face patiently. They refine themselves by resisting desires and avoiding prohibitions. Allah promises great rewards in this world and the Hereafter to those who remain patient amidst trials and temptations due to the challenges and loneliness they may encounter along this path. The Prophet -peace be upon him- discussed trials with his companions and encouraged them to endure. Some of his sayings include:
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- said: “Islam began as something strange and will return to being strange; so, glad tidings are for the strangers.” This indicates that Islam emerged amidst ignorance and will again be perceived as strange when ignorance predominates, but the believers who remain patient during trials amid ignorance will be rewarded in paradise.
- He stated: “The believer who interacts with people and patiently endures their harm is better than one who does not interact with others and cannot endure their harm.”
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- remarked: “No one from my community will endure the hardships of Medina except I will be their intercessor on the Day of Resurrection or act as a witness for them.” This shows that those who bear the trials of living in Medina, facing afflictions and hunger, are promised the Prophet’s intercession.
- He said: “Indeed, the fortunate one is the one who is kept away from trials; and whoever is tested and remains patient is also fortunate.”
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- explained that: “A person is tested according to their level of faith; if their faith is weak, their trials will correspond to that, and if their faith is strong, so will be their trials. Trials will continue to afflict a person until they walk the earth devoid of sin.”
Hadiths on Patience in Times of Calamity
This worldly life is filled with trials and tribulations, and individuals face numerous tests. Allah -the Exalted- has said: “Surely, We created man in toil.” What assists them in persevering through these challenges is their faith and certainty in Allah. There are numerous hadiths regarding patience during times of affliction:
- Once, the Prophet -peace be upon him- passed by a woman who was weeping next to a grave. He said: “Have taqwa (fear) of Allah and be patient.” She replied: “Leave me alone; you have not been struck by my calamity and do not know it.” It was said to her: “Indeed, this is the Messenger of Allah.” She approached the Prophet -peace be upon him- but did not find any guards at his door. She said: “I did not recognize you.” He replied: “Indeed, patience is at the first shock of calamity.”
- The Prophet’s daughter sent a message to him saying: “My son has passed away; please come to us.” The Prophet responded by sending his condolences and saying: “Indeed, to Allah belongs what He takes, and to Him belongs what He gives, and every matter has an appointed time. So, be patient, and seek reward.”
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- said: “When Allah afflicts My servant with the loss of two beloved ones and he remains patient, I will compensate him with Paradise.” -referring to his eyes-.
- He added: “Allah -the Exalted- said: ‘When My believing servant is taken from this world, and he remains patient, he is rewarded with nothing but Paradise.’”
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- said: “No servant suffers adversity and then says: ‘Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return,’ and prays: ‘O Allah, reward me for my calamity and grant me better than it,’ except that Allah grants him a reward for his calamity and provides him with something better than it.”
- He also said: “If Allah intends good for His servant, He tests him.” This signifies that Allah tests His servant to help them earn rewards through their patience.
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- remarked: “When a believer’s child dies, Allah tells the angels: ‘Did you take the child of My servant?’ They reply: ‘Yes,’ and He says: ‘Did you take the fruit of his heart?’ They affirm that they did. He then asks: ‘What did My servant say?’ and they respond: ‘He praised You and expressed patience.’ Allah states: ‘Build for My servant a house in Paradise and name it the House of Praise.’”
Hadiths on Patience in the Pursuit of Knowledge
Knowledge holds a significant place in Islam, as Allah -the Exalted- proclaimed: “Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge by degrees, and Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” Many verses and hadiths discuss the merits of knowledge, its esteemed status, and the rewards for scholars and seekers of knowledge in this life and the Hereafter. Here are some hadiths regarding patience in seeking knowledge and its importance:
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- stated: “This knowledge will be passed down by trustworthy individuals among every generation.” This means that knowledge will be preserved by the best and most trustworthy people throughout time.
- Ibn Abbas narrated: “Studying knowledge for an hour at night is better than spending the entire night in worship.”
- Abu Darda reported: “Knowledge comes through learning, and forbearance comes through practicing forbearance. Whoever seeks good will be granted it, and whoever avoids evil will be protected from it.”
- The Prophet -peace be upon him- said: “Whoever travels a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.”
- He also advised: “Ask Allah for beneficial knowledge and seek refuge in Allah from knowledge that does not benefit.”
- Zirr Ibn Hubaysh recounted: “I approached Safwan Ibn Assal Al-Muradi, and he asked: ‘What brings you here?’ I replied: ‘I seek knowledge.’ He replied: ‘It was conveyed to me that the angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge in approval of what he does.’”