Patience in the Quran

Patience in the Quran is a recurring topic on which God lays great emphasis. Patience is a very important trait for a person to be successful in life and to be prosperous in the Hereafter. Patience has been praised very much in the Quran and several prophets of God have been named as being among the patient, especially Prophet Job or Ayyub (ایّوب). In this article, we will take a look at:

Patience in the Quran: Why Patience Is Necessary

Being patient and not being hasty and taking unwise decisions is one of the praised qualities in the Quran. If a person wants to be Godwary, he must be patient in the sense that he must resist the urge to commit sins. If a person wants to be a practicing Muslim, he must be patient and consistently maintain his prayers and carry out his religious duties. In short, patience is the foundation and subsistence of every other good trait. However, what is important is being patient for the sake of Allah and in the way of God. That form of patience entails reward.

Patience in the Quran: Taking Recourse in Patience and Prayer

God Almighty says in the Quran:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ ﴿153﴾

O you who have faith! Take recourse in patience and prayer; indeed Allah is with the patient.

This verse shows the importance of patience for believers. If a believer wants to keep his faith he must be patient before the difficulties ahead of him. He might be bothered by other people for his faith, so he must be patient. He must perform many acts of worship, so he must be patient and continuously perform them every day. He must fast in the month of Ramadan which requires a great deal of patience. So as you can see, patience plays an important role in the life of a practicing, pious, Godwary believer and Muslim.

Patience in the Quran: God Loves the Patient

God Almighty has said in the Quran:

وَكَأَيِّن مِّن نَّبِيٍّ قَاتَلَ مَعَهُ رِبِّيُّونَ كَثِيرٌ فَمَا وَهَنُوا لِمَا أَصَابَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ وَمَا ضَعُفُوا وَمَا اسْتَكَانُوا ۗ وَاللَّـهُ يُحِبُّ الصَّابِرِينَ ﴿146﴾

How many a prophet there has been with whom a multitude of godly men fought. They did not falter for what befell them in the way of Allah, neither did they weaken, nor did they abase themselves; and Allah loves the steadfast. ¹

This verse clearly indicates that prophets of God and those who followed them were patient. The verse concludes by saying that God loves the patient ones. Muslims during the early days of Islam were also very patient. They would be persecuted by the polytheists of Quraysh but remained patient in the way of God and kept their faith. They fought battles against the polytheists. As a reward for their steadfastness and patience, God aided them with three thousand angels in the Battle of Badr. God says in the Quran:

بَلَىٰ ۚ إِن تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا وَيَأْتُوكُم مِّن فَوْرِهِمْ هَـٰذَا يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِخَمْسَةِ آلَافٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ ﴿125﴾

Yes, if you are steadfast and Godwary, and should they come at you suddenly, your Lord will aid you with five thousand angels sent in [to the scene of battle]. ²

Just see how effective patience can be that God promises warriors of a battle that if they remain patient, He will assist them with five thousand angels! Indeed, God loves the patient.

Patience in the Quran: Compete With Others in Patience

God Almighty says in the Quran:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿200﴾

O you who have faith! Be patient, stand firm, and close [your] ranks, and be wary of Allah so that you may be felicitous. ³

This is the last verse of surah Āl-i ‘Imrān. The word ṣābirū (صابروا) can mean competing with others in patience or enjoining patience. Once again, we are witness to the importance and significance of patience in the sight of God. It is so important that it is one of the key elements of felicity and success in this world and the Hereafter. So let us all exercise patience and reap its benefits in this world and the next.