Hadiths on Patience
The esteemed Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has provided guidance on every noble trait and commendable action that a Muslim should embody. Among these traits, patience stands out as a profound virtue, recognized in the Holy Quran where Allah (Exalted He be) states: (Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account). Below are some of the most significant prophetic traditions elaborating on the virtue of patience and its immense benefits:
General Hadiths on the Virtue of Patience
The following hadiths highlight the importance and rewards of patience:
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: (No one has been granted a gift better or more expansive than patience).
- He also said: (Amazing is the affair of the believer; all of his affairs are good. This is only for the believer. If something good befalls him, he is grateful, and that is good for him; if something harmful befalls him, he is patient, and that is good for him).
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked: (Patience is a light).
- He further explained: (Any harm that befalls a believer, whether it be fatigue, illness, sadness, or even distress, will eliminate some of his sins).
Hadiths on Patience in Adversity
The following narrations emphasize the significance of patience in times of adversity:
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) conveyed: (Allah has said: If I test My servant with his two beloved ones and he remains patient, I will grant him Paradise in exchange for them), referring to his eyes.
- He stated: (Allah says: There is no reward for My believing servant when I take away a portion of his family from this world and he remains patient but Paradise).
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned: (Whenever a calamity strikes a servant and he says, {Indeed, we belong to Allah and indeed to Him, we will return; O Allah, reward me for my affliction and replace it with something better}, Allah will reward him in his calamity and provide him with something better).
- He elaborated: (When Allah wills good for a servant, He tests him).
- He explained: (When a person’s child passes away, Allah will ask His angels: Did you take the soul of My servant’s child? They will reply, Yes. Allah will then ask: What did My servant say? They will reply, He praised You and showed patience. Allah will then declare: Build for My servant a house in Paradise and name it the House of Praise).
- Lastly, he stated: (The greatness of the reward correlates with the magnitude of the trial; and indeed, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, tests a people He loves. Whoever is pleased will have His pleasure, and whoever is displeased will have His displeasure).
Hadiths on Patience in the Face of Harm
The following narrations illustrate the importance of patience when confronted with harm:
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) affirmed: (A believer who interacts with people and endures their harm is better than one who does not interact and does not endure their harm).
- He also mentioned: (No one from my Ummah endures the hardships of Medina except that I will be an intercessor for him on the Day of Resurrection, or a witness).
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: (Indeed, the fortunate one is he who is spared from trials. Indeed, the fortunate one is he who is spared from trials. Indeed, the fortunate one is he who is spared from trials. And whoever is tested and remains patient will achieve great reward).
- According to Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him), he reported: (I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): Who experiences the greatest trials? He replied: The Prophets, then those who are most similar to them, and so on. A person is tested according to his faith; if his faith is strong, he will face stronger trials, and if it is weak, he will face trials in line with that. Ultimately, trials will continue until he walks the earth without sin).