As-Sabr (Patience & Perseverance)

A Muslim requires belief in Allah and the hereafter and purity of intention for Allah Most High.  After that, a believer requires patience, perseverence and acceptance.  Without these qualities, a Muslim cannot succeed in his interactions with Allah nor in his interactions with others according to what Allah commanded (such as enjoining right and forbidding wrong). 

Allah directed us to the source of all the strength we need:  sabr and salat.  But those who Allah has not decreed for success cannot even benefit from these because they will view them as a burden and as a hardship, not as great sources of the strength we need so badly.  Allah said:

أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنْسَوْنَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ (44) وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ (45) الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُمْ مُلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ (46)

{So, do you order the people with righteousness and you forget yourselves while you recite the book - have you no sense? (44) And seek strength from patience and prayer - and it is surely something difficult except for those in submission. (45) Those who expect that they will meet their Lord and that unto Him is their return. (46)}  Al-Baqarah:44-46

Types of sabr:

1. Perseverence in fulfilling what Allah has ordered
2. Steadfastness in avoiding what Allah has prohibited
3. Acceptance of what Allah has decreed even when it is bitter
4. Patience in times of difficulty and trial by acceptance of Allah's decree and maintaining obedience
5. Patience in times of wealth and ease by remembering to show gratitude for Allah's bounties and maintaining obedience.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (200)

{O you who believe, persevere, overcome (through perseverence), stick together and beware of Allah that perhaps you may be successful.}  Aal 'Imraan:200

"Stick together" (raabitoo) has two meanings clearly stated in hadith:

1. The encampment of dedicated Muslim soldiers in the thughoor (weak points) of the borders of the nation guarding the nation from any military attack or incursion.
2. The coming together of the Muslims in the masajid awaiting the prayer guarding themselves and one another from the division, confusion and hatred which shaitaan constantly trys to sow among us.

وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا (68) يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًا (69) إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا (70) وَمَنْ تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَإِنَّهُ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَتَابًا (71) وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا كِرَامًا (72) وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا (73) وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا (74)

In Sura Al-Furqaan, Allah spoke about those who:

• repented to him
• believed
• did righteous acts
• do not witness nor participate in falsehood
• pass by foolishness with dignity
• when they are reminded with the signs of Allah they don't insist on a state of deafness and blindness
• they ask Allah "Give us from our wives and our children peace of mind and make us an example to the pious."

Then, Allah said:

أُولَئِكَ يُجْزَوْنَ الْغُرْفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَيُلَقَّوْنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَامًا (75) خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا حَسُنَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا (76)

{Those are rewarded with the highest levels for their patience and they will be met therein with greetings and peace. (75) Eternally therein and what a good resting place and abode. (76)}  Al-Furqaan:75-76

Allah will send His peace and his greetings upon them.  The angels will greet them with peace and welcome and they will extend the greeting to one another in the perfect harmony and brotherhood of janna.  As Allah said elsewhere:  {We will remove all traces of ill-will from their hearts...}.