Patience is Light

First Sermon:

All praise is due and belongs to Allâh. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness and repent to Him. We seek refuge with Allâh from the evils of ourselves and from the wickedness of our own deeds. Whomever that Allâh guides, none can mislead him, and whomever He sends astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allâh alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ )

(O ye who believe, fear Allâh as he should be feared and die not unless you are Muslims) [Al-Imran: 102]

( يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاء وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءلُونَ بِهِ وَالأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا )

(O people fear your Lord, who created you from a single soul. From it, He created its spouse, and from both of them scattered many men and women. Fear Allâh, by whom you ask one another, and (fear) the wombs (lest you sever its relationship). Allâh is ever watching over you). [An-Nisa: 1].

( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا * يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَن يُطِعْ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا )

(O you, who believe, fear Allâh and say sound statements. He will mend your deeds for you and forgive your sins. Whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger shall win a great victory) [Al-Ahzab: 70-71].

Slaves of Allâh!

One of the laws of Allâh decreed upon His slaves in life is the law of trials. It is a heavy thing on the soul, but it has been imposed upon the creation for some wisdom, which Allâh the Almighty mentioned in the Holy Qur'an,

( لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬ )

that He may try you which of you is best in conduct [Tabarak: 2].

The Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, " The Similitude of a believer is that of (a standing) crop which the air continues to toss from one side to another; in the same way a believer always (receives the strokes) of misfortune. The similitude of a hypocrite is that of a cypress tree which does not move until it is uprooted " (Muslim).

The soul is inherent to reject what it does not want, and trials have been decreed by Allâh. Hence, one owns nothing but to be satisfied with it and then exercise over what has been decreed, so that it will be obedient to Allâh and pleased by His predestinations, taking to the legitimate means to avert the predestined destiny of Allâh, which was about to take place, all that by the grace and permission. It was said to Umar, may Allâh be pleased with him, during the plague of Emmaus, when he ordered that people avoid the place of affliction, nor go near to the places where it has plagued. So it was said to him: How do we run away from the destiny of Allâh? He replied, " We run away from the destiny of Allâh to the destiny of Allâh " (Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim ).

The required patience is for one to prevent the soul from the things forbidden by Allâh, restrain it to His obligations, and prevent it from being annoyed of His predestinations.

Patience is of a very high status. It occupies one of the most exalted statuses in religion. It is one of the greatest characteristics of the believers, one of the greatest positions of the righteous, the most prominent branch of faith, and strongest bond of Islam; so much so that Islam made it key to all goodness, and the door to every happiness in this world and the hereafter. The Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), has said, "And whoever remains patient, Allâh will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience. " (Muslim) ".

The hadith indicates the status of patience and that it combines the best noble qualities. Patience is the way to bring about all goodness, and avert all evils. The greatest goodness is paradise and the greatest evil is the Hell-fire. Abu Talib al-Makki said, "Realize that patience is the reason for entering Paradise, and deliverance from the Hell-fire because it came in the hadith, "Paradise is surrounded with difficulties, and Hellfire is surrounded with lusts" (Al-Bukhari).

The slave of Allâh cannot earn the goodness of this world and the Hereafter without patience.

One of the indications of the great status and importance of patience is that it was mentioned in ninety places in the Holy Book of Allâh. These include His saying,

( يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱصۡبِرُواْ وَصَابِرُواْ وَرَابِطُواْ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ )

O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allâh, so that you may be successful [Al-Imran: 200].

He also said,

( إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ أَجۡرَهُم بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٍ۬ )

Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning [Az-Zumar: 10].

The Almighty again said,

( وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ لَمِنۡ عَزۡمِ ٱلۡأُمُورِ )

And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives that would truly be from the things recommended by Allâh [As-Shura:43].

Since patience is of great importance in the lives of the faithful Muslims, Islam has urged to make it their conduct in their lives. Allâh the Almighty said,

( وَٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ‌ۚ وَإِنَّہَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلۡخَـٰشِعِينَ )

And seek help in patience and As-Salâh (the prayer) and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khâshi'ûn [i.e. the true believers in Allâh - those who obey Allâh with full submission, fear much from His Punishment, and believe in His Promise (Paradise,) and in His Warnings (Hell) [Al-Baqarah:45].

The Almighty further said,

(وَٱصۡبِرۡ نَفۡسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ رَبَّہُم بِٱلۡغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلۡعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجۡهَهُ)

And keep yourself (O Muhammad SAW) patiently with those who call on their Lord (i.e. your companions who remember their Lord with glorification, praising in prayers, and other righteous deeds) morning and afternoon, seeking His Face [Al-Kahf: 28].

Al-Hasan Al-Basri, May Allâh have mercy on him, said, "They were ordered to be patient in their faith that Allâh has chosen for them, which is Islam. They should not leave it for some bliss nor calamity, nor for some distress nor prosperity, until they die as Muslims". All the above indicates that a Muslim stands in dire need of this conduct, which will better his affairs in this world and the hereafter. He must grow upon this great conduct, for his affairs to be upright, and earn all the good he desires and hopes for, because without patience, nobody could earn any benefit nor ward off any harm.

The Muslim is distinguished from others that he earns reward in lieu of his patience; because he considers that as an act of worship for which he is rewarded. It is reported in the hadith that the Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, "Patience is Light" (Narrated by Muslim).

It is a light for the believer in all his conditions. He gets guidance through it when an act of disobedience is brought to him and realizes its ominous consequence and avoids it. Similarly, when an act of obedience is brought to him, he realizes its virtue and hastens to do it. He is afflicted by trial but he realizes the virtue of exercising patience over it and he accepts it and submits. Like this he lives upon goodness in all conditions. The Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), was truthful when he said, How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allâh and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him" (Muslim).

O believers! There are three categories of patience:

• Patience over obedience: This is attained when a person restrains himself to worship, and performs it as Allâh the Almighty has commanded, and he does not treat it with negligence. Allâh says,

( وَٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ وَجۡهِ رَبِّہِمۡ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ سِرًّ۬ا وَعَلَانِيَةً۬ )

 And those who remain patient, seeking their Lord's Countenance, perform As-Salâh, and spend out of that which We have bestowed on them, secretly and openly

• (And those who are patient seeking their Lord and establish worship and spend of what We have provided them, secretly and openly) [Ar-Ra'd:22].

The Almighty also said,

( وَأۡمُرۡ أَهۡلَكَ بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱصۡطَبِرۡ عَلَيۡہَا )

 And enjoin As-Salâh (the prayer) on your family, and be patient in offering them [Taha: 132].

When a person realizes the reward in doing some act of obedience its performance will be easy for him. Allâh indeed spoke the truth when He said,

( وَٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ‌ۚ وَإِنَّہَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلۡخَـٰشِعِينَ )

And seek help in patience and As-Salâh (the prayer) and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khâshi'ûn [i.e. the true believers in Allâh - those who obey Allâh with full submission, fear much from His Punishment, and believe in His Promise (Paradise,) and in His Warnings (Hell) [Al-Baqarah:45].

The act of worship became simple and easy for those Allâh has made it so, because they established it humbly and submissively to Allâh, where their humbleness pushed them to perform it with desire. So, they are just like what Allâh said after this verse:

( ٱلَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّہُم مُّلَـٰقُواْ رَبِّہِمۡ وَأَنَّهُمۡ إِلَيۡهِ رَٲجِعُونَ )

(They are those) who are certain that they are going to meet their Lord, and that unto Him they are going to return [Al-Baqarah: 46].

Their humbleness and submissiveness was an impact of their certainty in Allâh, and belief that they would return to Him. That pushed them to doing good deeds with desire and love, hoping for what Allâh has promised to the obedient servants. Hence, they were patient in performing acts of obedience and patient in avoiding vices and acts of disobedience. The result was that they earned the good of this world and the hereafter.

• Patience over sin: This is earned by restraining oneself from committing what Allâh has forbidden, which relates to the right of Allâh or the rights of His slaves, and to restrict oneself to the legitimate and permissible acts. Allâh, the Almighty said,

( وَلِرَبِّكَ فَٱصۡبِرۡ)

And be patient for the sake of your Lord [Al-Muddatthir: 3].

You will not find him except struggling with himself, leading it to goodness, distracting and driving it away from every unlawful thing. Such are the people, about whom Allâh said,

( وَٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَہۡدِيَنَّہُمۡ سُبُلَنَا‌ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ )

As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allâh's religion - Islâmic Monotheism). And verily, Allâh is with the Muhsinûn (good doers) [Al-Ankaboot: 69].

• Patience over the predestinations of Allâh. That is when the slave of Allâh surrenders to the trials, worries and sickness that afflict him, without offsetting that with annoyance and displeasure, but complacency and submission to the judgement of Allâh. It is narrated in the hadith that, "the Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him)  passed by a woman who was weeping beside a grave. He told her to fear Allâh and be patient. She said to him, "Go away, for you have not been afflicted with a calamity like mine." And she did not recognize him. Then she was informed that he was the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) . So, she went to the house of the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him)  and there she did not find any guard. Then she said to him, "I did not recognize you." He said, "Verily, the patience is at the first stroke of a calamity "(Al-Bukhari).

A Muslim should know that there are wisdoms and reasons for the descent of these trials best known to Allâh. Hence, he exercises patience and expects the reward for his patience from his Lord. Allâh the Almighty said,

( وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ * ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتۡهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ۬ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رَٲجِعُونَ * أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ صَلَوَٲتٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡ وَرَحۡمَةٌ۬‌ۖ وَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُهۡتَدُونَ )

but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirun (the patient) (155) Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allâh we belong and truly, to Him we shall return." (156) They are those on whom are the Salawât (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones [Al-Baqarah:157].

Patience over the painful fates of Allâh does not oppose seeking a means to prevent them or get rid of them as previously stated at the beginning of this sermon. I say what you have heard and I ask forgiveness from Almighty Allâh for you and me, so ask for His forgiveness for He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

Second sermon:

All praise is due and belongs to Allâh alone. May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon the final Prophet.

Slaves of Allâh! Patience has so many virtues that distinguish it from other qualities, including the following:

• Allâh is with the patient people and He protects them, as he says,

( يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ )

O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salât (the prayer). Truly! Allâh is with As-Sâbirun (the patient.) [Al-Baqarah: 153].

Again, the Almighty said,

( وَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ )

and be patient. Surely, Allâh is with those who are As-Sâbirûn (the patient) [Al-Anfal:46].

• Atonement of sins and evil deeds. Prophetic texts have been narrated informing so; such as the saying of the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), "Yes No Muslim is afflicted with hurt caused by disease or some other inconvenience, but that Allâh will remove his sins as a tree sheds its leaves" (Abu Dawud).

Al-Bukhari transmitted that the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said to a woman from the Sahaabiyyaat (female companions of the Prophet), "Be glad, for Allâh removes the sins of a Muslim for his illness as fire removes the dross of gold and silver".

The Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), also informed that " no headache nor a prick of the thorn that afflicts a Muslim or anything that causes him discomfort, but that Allâh expiates his sins because of it, and elevates his grade on the day of Resurrection" (Al-Bukhari).

• It is a reason for entering Paradise. Allâh Almighty said about the slaves of Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious),

( أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يُجۡزَوۡنَ ٱلۡغُرۡفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ وَيُلَقَّوۡنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً۬ وَسَلَـٰمًا )

Those will be rewarded with the highest place (in Paradise) because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect [Al-Furqan:75].

Room in the verse means "Paradise" (Ibn Kathir). Allâh also said about the people of Paradise,

( وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ يَدۡخُلُونَ عَلَيۡہِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ۬ * سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيۡكُم بِمَا صَبَرۡتُمۡ‌ۚ فَنِعۡمَ عُقۡبَى ٱلدَّارِ )

 And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): (23) "Salâmun 'Alaikum (peace be upon you) for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home! [Ar-Ra'd: 23-24].

Allâh the Almighty, again said:

( وَجَزَٮٰهُم بِمَا صَبَرُواْ جَنَّةً۬ وَحَرِيرً۬ا )

And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient [Al-Insan: 12].

Moreover, He said,

( أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يُجۡزَوۡنَ ٱلۡغُرۡفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ وَيُلَقَّوۡنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً۬ وَسَلَـٰمًا )

Those will be rewarded with the highest place (in Paradise) because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect [Al-Furqan:75].

The Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, "Allâh, the Glorious and Exalted said: 'When I afflict my slave in his two dear things (i.e., his eyes), and he endures patiently, I shall compensate him for them with Al-Jannah" (Al-Bukhari).

• Allâh based success upon it when He said,

( يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱصۡبِرُواْ وَصَابِرُواْ وَرَابِطُواْ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ )

O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allâh, so that you may be successful [Al-Imran 200].

• Allâh doubled the reward of the patient.

( أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يُؤۡتَوۡنَ أَجۡرَهُم مَّرَّتَيۡنِ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ )

These will be given their reward twice over, because they are patient [Al-Qasas: 54 ].

He also said,

( إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ أَجۡرَهُم بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٍ۬ )

Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning [Az-Zumar -10].

• Allâh based attaining the position of being a leader in religion upon patience and certainty.

( وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ يَہۡدُونَ بِأَمۡرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُواْ‌ۖ وَڪَانُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ )

And We made from among them (Children of Israel), leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) [As-Sajdah:24].

Allâh has prescribed forgiveness and great reward for patience and good deeds. Thus, He said,

( إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٌ۬ وَأَجۡرٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ )

Except those who show patience and do righteous good deeds, those: theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward (Paradise) [Hud: 11].

• Allâh has made patience over misfortunes one of the things recommended by Allâh.

( وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ لَمِنۡ عَزۡمِ ٱلۡأُمُورِ )

 And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives that would truly be from the things recommended by Allâh [As-Shura:43].

• That He, the Most Purified, has decreed His love for the patient ones.

( وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ )

And Allâh loves As-Sâbirun (the patient) [Al-Imran 146].

O God, guide us to the best of morals, no one guides to them but You. Make us among the patient, who shall not fear, nor grieve.

Invoke prayers and blessings of Allâh upon whom you have been commanded when Allâh, the Most Exalted and Glorified said,

( إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا )

Allâh sends His Salah (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet (Muhammad) and also His angels too (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salah on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad), and (you should) greet him with the Islamic way of greeting [Al-Ahzab: 56].