Patience is truly a virtue which only a few have been blessed with. The Arabic word for patience is 'Sabr', which means to prevent, limit or restrain; more specifically, it means to restrain the soul from panic, anger or greed, to limit the complaints of the tongue, and to prevent the body from doing evil deeds.
It is difficult, however, to face calamities with a constant heart, whether it is loss of life, wealth or health. Yet we must try to remember that none of us will pass through this life unscathed. Allah says (what means): "We have certainly created man into hardship." [Quran 90: 4]
Armed with this knowledge, it becomes easier for the true servants of Allah to exercise patience in the face of difficulty. Patience is also required to keep within the limits of Allah and to stay away from prohibitions.
Rewards from Allah are for those who acquire this rare trait. Allah promises when saying (what means): "… Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account [i.e., limit]." [Quran 39: 10]
However, acquiring and practicing patience is no easy task. Because man is inclined to follow his desires, it takes patience to obey Allah and to disobey one's self. We are by our very nature inclined towards comfort and ease. We dislike submission, discipline and hard work. It therefore takes patience to correctly carry out the various duties and obligations that Allah requires of us.
No one wants to put his or her life in danger; accordingly, it takes great patience to fight on the battlefield for the sake of Allah. When the nights are cold, we would rather stay snuggled up in the warm comfort of our beds than get up to perform prayers. Patience is thus needed on a daily basis to establish the prayer in our lives.
Apart from this, sleep, food and wealth are among our other closely guarded treasures. This is why Allah made the paying of the Zakat (alms) obligatory. Left to our own devices, most of us would never part with a red cent of our wealth or give away a morsel of food.
It also takes patience to fight against our basic nature and to evolve to the level for which Allah created us. In this struggle against our lower self, the greatest weapon the servant can posses is patience. We love to hoard wealth, and dislike giving it away, but Allah says (what means): "…But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you know not." [Quran 2: 216]
Patience is also needed to stay away from forbidden things. For those of us living in the West, we know that society is rife with forbidden things that are just a phone call, a car ride or even a mouse click away.
We see our non-Muslim neighbours and co-workers partaking freely in things that Allah has forbidden, and only patience helps us to keep our desires restrained. With regard to this, the Messenger of Allah said: "The world is the believer's prison and the disbeliever's paradise." [Muslim]
This is why we must surround ourselves with other Muslims, because there is truly strength in numbers. If we try to live alone amongst the disbelievers who openly partake in the Haraam, our patience will be severely tested and it will be all the more difficult to keep Satan away. Allah instructs us saying (what means): "And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance…" [Quran 18: 28]
We are also called upon to face calamities with patience and forbearance. When we are told of a loss to ourselves, we must react with patience at the onset, and not with anger, panic or great distress.
The importance of showing patience from the very outset of a calamity is explained in the narration reported by Anas Ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, where he stated that: "The Prophet once passed by a woman who was weeping beside a grave. He told her to fear Allah and be patient. She said to him: 'Go away! You have not been afflicted with a calamity like mine.' She did not recognize him and was later informed that he was the Prophet of Allah . She therefore went to his house; finding no guards outside, she went inside after being granted permission to enter and addressed him, saying: 'I did not recognise you.' He said: "Truly, patience is at the first stroke of a calamity."" [Al-Bukhari]
Calamities are but tests from Allah. It is only through tests and trials that true joy, which is to taste of the sweetness of Eemaan (faith), is found. Withstanding difficulties can also be a source of great reward and a means for removing one's sins.
Allah informs us with (what means): "And we will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient - who, when disaster strikes them, say: 'Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.' Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided." [Quran 2: 155-157]
The Messenger of Allah informed us that: "There is no disaster that befalls the Muslim by which Allah does not remove sins from him, even (for something as minor as) the prick of a thorn." [Al-Bukhari]
As Muslims, we must try to remember that nothing in this life lasts forever. Whatever our difficulties may be, they will pass, because Allah promises (what means): "For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease [i.e., relief]. Indeed, with hardship [will be ease]." [Quran 94: 5-6]
So let us strive to be like those patient ones among Allah's slaves, slaves like the Prophet Ayyoob (Job), may Allah exalt his mention, who cried to Allah saying (what means): "…Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the most merciful of the merciful." [Quran 21:83] In return, Allah promises (what means): "…Those will have forgiveness and a great reward." [Quran 11:11]