Thursday, May 10, 2018

Patience: The Path to Paradise !


Photo

Paradise is the reward of patience. Allah says:

"And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive (to Allah). Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him." [2:45-46]
"O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient." [2:153]
Commenting on the last verse, Mujaahid said, “Patience in this verse means fasting. That is why Ramadaan is called the month of patience. Therefore, both fasting and prayer are firmly connected in this verse, since fasting curbs desire and makes one abstinent regarding this worldly life, while prayer inspires humbleness and submission, removes arrogance and encourages love for the Hereafter.”

It is narrated through an authentic Hadeeth that the Prophet (saws) said: “Fast the month of patience and three days each month…”

Ramadaan is the month of patience as the person who observes fasting is patient regarding acts of obedience and avoiding acts of disobedience. He abstains from the permissible things he used to enjoy out of obedience to Allah and in fulfillment of piety. Meanwhile, he stops himself from doing acts of disobedience and forces himself to do many righteous acts which bring one closer to Allah, such as observing the voluntary night prayers, giving in charity, maintaining kinship ties, providing food for the needy and bearing the suffering of hunger and thirst.

It is also the month of Jihaad (striving in the cause of Allah, and Jihaad is a form of patience. The Prophet (saws) conducted two battles during the month of Ramadaan, the ever greatest battles: the Battle of Badr and the Conquest of Makkah.

The Companions realized that Ramadaan is the month of patience. They showed great patience in bearing the responsibility of calling to Allah The Almighty, performing Jihaad, obeying Allah, avoiding acts of disobedience and being satisfied with the decree of Allah. The Prophet (saws) as well as the Companions used to reach the highest degree of patience during the month of Ramadaan, which is the month of patience.

Have we learnt this lesson from observing the fast and the night voluntary prayers during the month of Ramadaan?

The patient will be given their reward without account:


Allah made the reward of good deeds well-known, all having the same result, saying: "Whoever comes (on the Day of Judgment) with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof (to his credit)." [6:160]

In another verse, He made the reward of charity for the sake of Allah even greater, saying: "The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed (of grain) which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies (His reward) for whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing and Knowing." [2:261]

Nevertheless, He made the reward of the patient without account, saying:
• "Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account." [39:10]
• "And whoever is patient and forgives - indeed, that is of the matters (requiring) determination." [42:43]


It was said that the patient person in the first verse means those who fast, for in an authentic Hadeeth, the Prophet (saws) narrated that Allah says: “Fasting is for Me and I give reward for it…” [Al-Bukhari] Here the reward of fasting is not determined, unlike the case with patience, the reward of which was determined.

The reward of the patient is Paradise:

Allah informed us that His angels confer peace upon the patient in Paradise due to their patience in the worldly life. Allah says:
• "And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, (saying), "Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured.”" [13:23-24]
• "And (He) will reward them for what they patiently endured (with) a garden (in Paradise) and silk (garments)." [76:12]

• "Those will be awarded the Chamber for what they patiently endured, and they will be received therein with greetings and (words of) peace. Abiding eternally therein. Good is the settlement and residence." [25:75-76]

Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘ari narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “When a person’s child dies, Allah says to His Angels, ‘Have you taken the child of My slave?’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He Says, ‘Have you taken the apple of his eye?’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He Says, ‘What did My slave say?’ They say, ‘He praised You and said “Innaa lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Verily to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return).’ Allah Says, ‘Build for My slave a house in Paradise and call it the house of praise.’” [At-Tirmithi, Ahmad and Ibn Hibbaan, Al-Albaani: Hasan]

Anas narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Allah says: When I afflict My slave in his two beloveds (i.e. afflicting him with blindness) and he shows patience, I Will Compensate him for his two eyes with Paradise.” [Al-Bukhari, Al-Albaani: Saheeh]

The wording of another narration reads: “Allah says: When I take the two dear things (i.e afflict his eyes with blindness) of My slave in this worldly life, his reward from Me will be Paradise.” [At-Tirmithi, Al-Albaani: Saheeh]

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Allah says, 'Whosoever his two beloveds I take (i.e. afflicted his eyes with blindness), yet he shows patience and hopes for My reward, I shall be satisfied with no less reward for him than Paradise.” [At-Tirmithi, Al-Albaani: Saheeh]

‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Allah is not satisfied with a reward less than Paradise for His believing slave when He takes his dearest one from among the inhabitants of this worldly life, yet he shows patience and hopes for His reward.” [Abu Dawood, Al-Albaani: Hasan]

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Allah says: I Have no reward other than Paradise for My believing slave who (remains patient) and hopes for My reward when I take his dearest person from among the inhabitants of the worldly life.” [Al-Bukhari]

‘Ataa’ ibn Abi Rabaah said, “Ibn ‘Abbaas said to me, 'Shall I show you a woman of the people of Paradise?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'This black woman came to the Prophet and said, 'I get attacks of epilepsy and my body becomes uncovered; please invoke Allah for me.' The Prophet (saws) said (to her): 'If you wish I could invoke Allah to cure you, or if you wish, be patient and you will obtain Paradise.' She said, 'I will be patient,' and added, 'but I become uncovered, so please invoke Allah for me that I may not become uncovered.' So, he invoked Allah for her and she did not become uncovered again.'” [Al-Bukhari and Ahmad]

‘Attaa’ ibn Yasaar narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “When a slave (of Allah) falls ill, Allah sends him two angels and Says to them, ‘See what he will say to his visitors?’ If he praises Allah and glorifies Him when they come to him, they will inform Allah of that, and indeed He knows best. Thereupon, Allah Says, ‘It is due upon Me for My slave if I cause him to die (of his illness) to admit him to Paradise, and to replace him with flesh better than his flesh and blood better than his blood and forgive his misdeeds if I cause him to recover.’” [Al-Bukhari; Al-Albaani classed it as Hasan by virtue of corroborating narrations]

In ‘Udat As-Saabireen, Ibn Al-Qayyim quoted Imaam Ahmad as saying, “Allah mentioned patience in the Quraan in ninety places.”

Here we will mention the various contexts in which patience was mentioned:

First: The command to be patient; Allah says:
• "And be patient, (O Muhammad), and your patience is not but through Allah." [16:127]
• "And be patient, (O Muhammad), for the decision of your Lord." [52:48]
• "O you who have believed, be patient and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful." [3:200]

Second: Forbidding the opposite of patience; Allah says:
• "And do not be impatient for them." [46:35]
• "So do not weaken and do not grieve…" [3:139]
• "And be not like the companion of the fish…" [68:48]

In general, every forbidden thing is the opposite of patience that is commanded.


Third: Making success contingent on patience; Allah says:
• "O you who have believed, be patient and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful." [3:200]
In the verse, success was made contingent on the mentioned matters.

Fourth: Informing of the multiplied reward of those who are patient; Allah says:
• "Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account." [39:10]
Sulaymaan ibn Al-Qaasim said, “Each good deed has a known reward except patience. Allah says: "Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account." It is like flowing water.”
Fifth: Leadership in religion is made contingent upon patience and certainty in Allah; Allah says:
• "And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and (when) they were certain of Our signs." [32:24]
With patience and certainty, one obtains leadership in religion.

Sixth: Allah is with the patient; Allah says:
"Allah is with the patient." [2:153]
Abu ‘Ali Ad-Daqqaaq said, “The patient won the honor of both worlds because they won the advantage that Allah is with them.”

Seventh: Those who are patient are given three things together from Allah, which are not available for others: His blessings, mercy and guidance. Allah says:
"But give good 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." [2:155-157]
When one of the righteous predecessors was offered condolences for a disaster which afflicted him, he said, “How could I not be patient when Allah has promised me three things for patience, each one is better than this world and what is in it.”

Eighth: Allah made patience a means for seeking help and support; He says:
"And seek help through patience and prayer." [2:45]
This means that a person who is not patient is neither supported nor helped.

Ninth: Allah made victory contingent upon patience and observing consciousness of Allah. He says:
"Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah and the enemy come upon you (attacking) in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks (of distinction)." [3:125]

Tenth: Allah made patience and fear of Him a great means of protection from the cunning and plotting of the enemies. They are the greatest of all refuges. Allah says:
"And if you are patient and fear Allah, their plot will not harm you at all." [3:120]

Eleventh: Allah Says that His angels greet the patient in Paradise with peace due to their patience; He says:
"And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, (saying), "Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home."" [13:23-24]

Twelfth: Allah allowed the patient to punish with an equivalent of that with which they were harmed, then He gave an asserted oath that showing patience is better. Allah says:
"And if you punish (an enemy, O believers), punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient - it is better for those who are patient." [16:126]
The Arabic equivalent of the verse has many signs indicating assertion and affirmation of the oath.

Thirteenth: Allah made forgiveness and great reward the consequence of patience and righteous deeds; He says:
"Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward." [11:11]

Fourteenth: Allah considered patience over affliction and disasters one of the matters which require determination. Actually, determination is required over the noblest and greatest of deeds. Allah says:
• "And whoever is patient and forgives - indeed, that is of the matters (requiring) determination." [42:43]
• "And be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, (all) that is of the matters (requiring) determination." [31:17]

Fifteenth: Allah promised the believers victory and it is part of the glad tidings that will surely fulfilled for them. Allah says that they got that only through patience; He says: "And the good word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of what they had patiently endured." [7:137]

Sixteenth: Allah loves those who are patient. He says: "And Allah loves the steadfast." [3:146]

Seventeenth: Allah Says that the great reward is only for the patient; this is mentioned in two Surahs of the Quraan. In the course of the story of Qaaroon, Allah says: "But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient."" [28:80]

In the other verse in Chapter Fussilat, Allah ordered His slaves to repel evil by that deed which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity will become as though he was a devoted friend. Allah says: "But none is granted it except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great portion (of good)." [41:35]

Eighteenth: Allah informed us that only the patient and grateful people benefit and are deterred by His signs. Allah says:
• "And We certainly sent Moosa (Moses) with Our signs, (saying), "Bring out your people from darknesses into the light and remind them of the days of Allah." Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful." [14:5]

• "And of His signs are the ships in the sea, like mountains. If He willed, He could still the wind, and they would remain motionless on its surface. Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful." [42:32-33]

The verse indicates that only the patient and grateful people draw benefit from the signs of Allah.

Nineteenth: Allah praised His Prophet Ayyoob in the best way due to his patience. Allah says: "Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back (to Allah)." [38:44]

Allah described him as an excellent slave of Allah because He found him patient. This means that when a slave of Allah is put to trial and he is impatient, he is not a good slave of Allah.

Twentieth: Allah generally judged all those who do not believe and are not from the people of truth and patience that they are losers. This means that none of them is successful. Allah says: "By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss, Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience." [103:1-3]

Commenting on the verses, Ash-Shaafi‘i said, “If people contemplate only this verse, it shall be sufficient for them. That is because the Slave of Allah attains perfection when he perfects his two powers: knowledge and practice, which are belief and doing righteous deeds. As one needs to attain perfection, he also needs to help others to attain perfection through exchanging advice with truth and patience.”

Twenty-first: Allah singles out the companions of the right that they are the people of patience and compassion. They acted according to these two characteristics and advised others to do so. Allah says: "And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. Those are the companions of the right." [90:17-18]
This means that the companions of the right are only those who are patient and compassionate. Regarding these two characteristics, people are of four types: those who are patient and compassionate –and they are the best –, those who are neither patient nor compassionate – and they are the worst –, and between them are those who have only one of the two characteristics.

Twenty-second: Allah made patience firmly connected to all the pillars of Islam and to faith in general.

- Prayer: Allah says: "And seek help through patience and prayer." [2:45]

- The righteous deeds in general: Allah says: "Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds..." [11:11]

- Fear of Allah: Allah says: "Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient." [12:90]

- Gratefulness: Allah says: "Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful." [14:5]


- Mercy and compassion: Allah says: "And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion* Those are the companions of the right." [90:17-18]

- Certainty: Allah says: "And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and (when) they were certain of Our signs." [32:24]

- Truthfulness: Allah says: "The truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women..." [33:35]

No comments:

Post a Comment