Patience is a trait that is highly encouraged in Islam. It is the ability to endure difficulties and be calm in the face of adversity. It is also considered a virtue that will reap great rewards. Allah made it permissible to treat our enemies no worse than they treat us, but He has made it clear that practising patience is better angels will salute the people of patience in Jannah. Allah says:

وجعلنا منهم أئمة يهدون بأمرنا لما صبروا وكانوا بآياتنا يوقنون

“And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and [when] they were certain of Our signs. “ (Surah As-Sajdah 32:24)

Patience or Sabr is an attribute to which Islam attaches great importance. Islam is a complete code of life and it guides and teaches us in every sphere of life. So it teaches us we have to do patient in our difficult situations in this way we have a strong belief in Almighty Allah that He will never leave us alone. Allah made patience and right actions a condition for forgiveness and great reward. Allah says:

إلا الذين صبروا وعملوا الصالحات أولئك لهم مغفرة وأجر كبير

“Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward.” (Surah Hud 11:11)

There is a great reward only for those among us who are patient with the Decree of their Lord. In this world, we face many difficulties or trials and sufferings but we have to be patient because Allah Almighty loves those who did Patience (Sabr) in a difficult time. Allah has made patience a standard of courage and determination in the conduct of one’s affairs. Allah says:

وإن تصبروا وتتقوا لا يضركم كيدهم شيئا إن الله بما يعملون محيط

“…And if you are patient and fear Allah, their plot will not harm you at all. Indeed, Allah is encompassing of what they do.…” (Surah Al ‘Imran 3:120)

Patience is the ability to endure difficult circumstances such as perseverance in the face of delay; tolerance of provocation without responding in annoyance/anger or forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. Allah has mentioned that only those who practise patience and gratitude will benefit from the Signs of Allah.

Here are some great virtue and significance of patience:

1. Patience and taqwa are conditions for Allah’s help and support
2. Patience is made a condition of success and prosperity
3. Patience is the way to earn the companionship of Allah
4. Patience is a central Islamic value and teaching
5. Patience tells us to learn the art of problem
6. Patience is a means of seeking Allah’s help
7. Patience is a distinct moral of a Muslim
8. Patience is a condition of prosperity
9. Patience brings power and strength
10. Patience is enjoined upon believers
11. Patience brings guidance
12. Patience is enjoined upon believers
13. Patience is one of the best qualities
14. Patience brings power and strength
15. Patience and taqwa are great protection
16. Patience is made a condition of success
17. Patience is a means of seeking Allah’s help
18. Patience also brings an amazing source of support
19. Patience and Eemaan are prerequisites for leadership
20. Patience and Eemaan are prerequisites for leadership in religion

Patience has a great status in the sight of Allah and in Islam. Patience is of best from deeds and has the great reward with no limit. Allah has given a general ruling that whoever does not have faith and does not belong to the people of truth and patience, is in a state of loss.  Allah has mentioned patience alongside the pillars of Islam and Eemaan, as He has mentioned it alongside salah. Allah says:

واستعينوا بالصبر والصلاة وإنها لكبيرة إلا على الخاشعين

“And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah ]…” (Al-Baqarah 2:45)

Patience is a huge act of worship and is reserved only for those who are tested with adversity. Do not let your suffering go to waste, learn and extract maximum reward from it. See it as an opportunity to build your character and toughen your mind. So in times of hardships and difficulties when you think all is lost and there is no hope, remember to have patience. Allah says:

ولمن صبر وغفر إن ذلك لمن عزم الأمور

“And whoever is patient and forgives – indeed, that is of the matters [requiring] determination.” (Surah Ash-Shura 42:43)

In due time Allah will relieve you of all worries, and you will receive rewards a million in multitude for bearing it with patience. It is a virtue that enables us to proceed towards worthy goals and remain unaffected by difficult situations. Allah says:

أولئك يؤتون أجرهم مرتين بما صبروا

“These shall be granted their reward twice because they are steadfast…” (Al-Qasas 28:54)

Patience with a steadfast belief in Allah is called sabr, one of the best virtues of life in Islam. Through sabr, a Muslim believes that an individual can grow closer to God and thus attain true peace. Allah has promised the believers His support and victory and has said that they deserve this because of their patience. Allah says:

وتمت كلمة ربك الحسنى على بني إسرائيل بما صبروا

“…And the good word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of what they had patiently endured.…” (Surah Al-A’raf 7:137)

Patience is a good, praise-worthy and desirable character. Allah has made patience a condition of His love. Every believer who believes in Allah will be tested. Such tests can come in the form of fear, hunger, illness, some loss of goods or lives or similar provisions. No one can have a completely blissful life without hardships. Complaining is the opposite of patience. Allah says:

إنما يوفى الصابرون أجرهم بغير حساب

“…Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.” (Az-Zumar 39:10)

Patience is our belief and faith that Allah Alone can protect us from all harms and ease our difficulties. Therefore, patience is obligatory in such panic situations and hardships in all that Allah had decreed for us. Keeping yourself with a group of people whose main priority is Allah and whose main focus is to obey Him is a great source of patience. Allah has made patience a condition of receiving many blessings. Allah says:

وما يلقاها إلا الذين صبروا وما يلقاها إلا ذو حظ عظيم

“But none is granted it except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great portion [of good].” (Surah Fussilat 41:35)

Patience has many graceful effects, good benefits and generous consequences. Patience provides us resistance against weakness and endows us with a steadfastness in obeying Allah. It is the best tool of firmness against tribulations and temptations. Moreover, it is the weapon of a Muslim through which he will be successful both in this world and in the Hereafter.

Patience is a great virtue, here are some Quranic verses about patience:

• “And Allah loves the steadfast.” (Ali ‘Imran, 3:146)
• “So be patient with gracious patience.”  (Ma’arij Ayah 5)
• “And Allah loves As-Sabiroon (the patient).” (Al-Imraan 3:146)
• “…and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (Al-Anfal 8:46)
• “And be patient for your patience is but by Allah…” (An-Nahl 16:127)
• “And for the sake of your Lord, observe patience.” (Muddaththir Ayah 7)
• “And seek assistance through patience and prayer…” (Al-Baqarah 2:45)
• “… So be patient; indeed, the [best] outcome is for the righteous}.” (Hud 11:49)

In this Dunya, all of us will face many storms. Some of us during the storms will make an attempt to try and control the weather, they will curse, scream and shout but once they are done wailing about they will have no choice but to respect the fury of nature. They fail to realize that it is poured over all of us. They single this event as something that only happened to them. But this is not true, see it rains on all of us. Allah says:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

“O believers! Seek comfort in patience and prayer. Allah is true with those who are patient.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:153)

The one who learns to embrace the storms as part of life, but who also has the sabr (patience) and courage to not be disappointed with Allah will be among the ones who earn paradise. It is the one who can say, Alhamdulillah (all praise be to Allah) in any circumstance that Allah rewards. Allah says:

إلا الذين آمنوا و عملوا الصالحات و تواصوا بالحق و تواصوا بالصبر

“…Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience. “ (Surah Al-‘Asr 103:1-3).

Patience or Sabr is the biggest Blessing and Mercy of Allah that He has bestowed upon us. As we can see in the above Quranic verses about patience, it is not just a matter of willpower. Instead, patience is a virtue in Allah’s Gift for us. Allah says:

‏وَٱصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا تَكُ فِى ضَيْقٍۢ مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ

“Be patient ˹O Prophet˺, for your patience, is only with Allah’s help. Do not grieve over that ˹who disbelieve˺, nor be distressed by their schemes.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:127)

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. The rewards of being patient are immense. As such, being patient is one of the best ways to seek Allah’s Mercy. Allah says:

والصادقين والصادقات والصابرين والصابرات

“…the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women…” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:35)

Patience is a quality that needs to be nurtured. Glorifying Allah and praising him in the heart, expressing that by the tongue, and showing it in practice is a great source of patience. Allah will reward those who have patience with a threefold reward: blessings, mercy and guidance.