5. Patience at times of Fitnah when Muslims are fighting

Muslims. Patience in abstaining from fighting at such a time, when Muslims are killing Muslims, is Mubah (permissible), indeed it is Mustahabb (liked and preferred). When the Prophet ~ was asked about this, he said: "Be like the better one of the two sons of Adam."f. 231 In other, similar, reports he said, ."Be like the slave of Allaah who was killed, and not like the one who has killed,'1 241 Allaah has told us the story of the better of the two sons of Adam, and how he surrendered himself and did not fight back, and how Allaah commended him for that.l25l This is different from the case when Muslims are fighting kufaar (unbelievers): in that situation the Muslim has to defend himself, because [23] Abu Dawood. [24] Tareekh, vol.8, p.64. [25] [A/-Maidah(S):27-31] And Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas ,;;, narrated : "I asked : 'Messenger of Allaah! tell me if someone enters my house and extends his hands to kill me (what should I do?) The Messenger of Allaah ~ replied : 'Be like the two sons of Adam. The narrator Yazid (bin Khalid) then recited the Verse: 4-sYi:! .!1~ Ji ,-: 1/1 ~" "If you stretch your hand against me to slay me ... " (Abu Dawood) the meaning of jihad is to defend himself and lslaam.

Disliked (Makrooh) patience 1. Patience in abstaining from physical appetites (food, drink, sex) to the extent of causing damage to one's health. 2. Patience in doing a Makrooh deed. Permissible {Mubaah) patience Patience in abstaining from Mubah deeds. Bad patience Bad patience means having patience in keeping away from Allaah and His love and His will, because this prevents person from fulfilling his potential of attaining perfection and doing what he was created for.

This is the worst type of patience, and the most difficult, because there is no type of patience stronger than that of the person who willfully keeps away from his Creator, as apart from Him there is no life at all. No one is as careless as the person who has no interest in what Allaah has prepared for His friends in the Hereafter, that which no eye has ever seen nor ear has ever heard, and has never been imagined by any person .l26l (26] Sahl bin Sa'd As-Sa'idi ~ narrated : " I was in the company of Allaah's Messenger ~ when he gave a description of Paradise and then Allaah's Messenger ~ concluded with these words: o,,, ,, ,,, ~ ,, ..... ,, ~ 0 ~ µ. ~J - ~ 0~i ~J -~i~ ~ '1 ~ "There would be bounties which the eye has not seen, the ear has not heard and no human heart has ever perceived them." (Saheeh Muslim) 49 Once a man who admired a Zahid (one who abstains from the pleasures of the world) for his zuhd (abstinence) and lack of interest in this world said to him, "I have never seen a man who has as much Zuhd as you do." The Zahid told him, "Your zuhd is much stronger than mine, for my Zuhd concerns this world, and this life is short and unstable, but your Zuhd concerns the hereafter, which is eternal."(271 Good Patience Good patience consists of two types: patience for the sake of Allaah ~ and patience by the help of Allaah ~ - Allaah ~ said: d'.t-:./j, ~~ ~ / ~ . ·,/ ~ ' ,,, _ ;,, ~ /0 ,,,, ... ~:Jr "Now await in patience the command of your Lord: for verily you are in Our eyes ... " [At-Toor (52): 48] It is impossible to have patience for the sake of Allaah without patience by the help of Allaah . This is attested to by the saying of Allaah ~ thus: '°'~t ~\ _lj'• / ~/0 ~1..)"f" , .... ,_ ~ ~ . ·f~ "And be patient, for your patience is but by Allaah ... " [AnNahl (16):127] This Ayah tells us that patience cannot be achieved without the help of Allaah, which means that in addition to the help of Allaah we need the companionship of Allaah ~ , as in the Hadeeth: ~i;~,4.J} o} lJ\} ...-/n 4..,} / 0/, <'"lJ\~,:.~.5 -;.._/ /;, ..r;'-':!.

I..? / 0 .,r'2:.J ' /;, ~ '-? / ~ J~:! ;1 (27] 'Uddat As-Sabirin Wa Dhakhirat Ash-Shakirin by lbn Qayyim AI-Jawziyyah. "I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes. JJf_2 s1 The help of Allaah is bestowed upon the believer and the wrongdoer alike both of whom receive blessings and Rizq. This Hadeeth describes something more, the companionship of Allaah, which the believer will attain when he performs Nafl (supererogatory) acts of worship until Allaah loves him. When he reaches that status, and Allaah is his hearing with which he hears and his seeing with which he sees, he does not move or do anything but for Allaah's sake and he endures severe hardship to please Him.

The person who does not reach this level will not have this degree of patience; his level of patience will be in accordance with his share of Allaah's companionship. The believer who enjoys Allaah's companionship will reach levels of patience that are impossible for others. Those who have patience are winners in this world and the next, because Allaah ~ is with them: "For Allaah is with those patiently persevere." [AI-Baqarah (2):153] (28] AI-Bukhaaree. 5 52 Patience at All Times At any given moment, a person is in a situation where he has to obey a command of Allaah, or he has to stay away from something which Allaah has prohibited, or he has to accept a decree of Allaah, or he has to give thanks (show gratitude) for a blessing which he has received from Allaah . All of these situations demand patience, so up until the time of death, no one can do without patience. Allaah ~ says : "And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death)." [AI-Hijr (15):99] Whatever happens to us in life is either in accordance with our wishes and desires, or against them.

In both cases, patience is required. If a person enjoys good health, security, power, wealth and fulfillment of his physical desires, he should not assume that this time of ease will last forever, and he should not devote all his time, money and energy to the pursuit of physical pleasure, because too much pleasure results in pain. He should take care to pay what is due to Allaah in the way of Zakat and Sadaqah otherwise Allaah might take away His blessings. He should also abstain from spending money in a Haram way, and be careful to avoid spending it in a Makruh way. All of this takes patience, and nobody can exercise patience at a time of ease except people of very strong faith (AI-Sidiqoon).

Patience at times of trial and adversity At the time of test and trial, patience is the most fitting reaction. This kind of patience is demonstrated in the story of Prophets Ya'qub 8'f§\ and Yusuf 8'f§I. The brothers of Yusuf had dropped him into a well in order to eliminate him and concocted the story of a wolf. r:-~,:: ~ ,1:..~ ~)~ ~:~:i r- ~~~ GL l~~ i}~~ "They said: "O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Yusuf by our belongings and a wolf devoured him; but you will never believe us even when we speak the truth. And they brought his shirt stained with false blood." [Yusuf (12) : 17-18] If Yusuf ~\ was wearing his shirt while the wolf ate him, it would have been torn.

If he took off his shirt to play with his --------------- - brothers, it would not have been stained with blood. Ya'qub ~I understood from this proof the situation - a diabolical plan hatched by brothers who were overwhelmed by boiling envy. Ya'qub ~I acted wisely, he prayed for a noble patience which is free of doubt and trusted in Allaah for what they had plotted against him and his son. Allaah ~ says: t1:-: ~:.H ~t 1;.. ~ ~ ~ ~ a~ J. j~~ '*;:,_;a j, t: ~ "He said: "Nay, but your ownselves have made up a tale. So (for me) patience is most fitting.

And it is Allaah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that which you assert.'' [Yusuf (12): 18] Yusuf ~I also demonstrated this sort of patience later when he was invited to adultery by the wife of his master who was madly in love with him . She threatened him with prison term if he chose not to surrender to her desire. She said: "I did seek to seduce him, but he refused. And now if he refuses to obey my order, he shall certainly be cast into prison, and will be one of those who are disgraced.'' [Yusuf (12) : 22] Yusuf ~I gave a response that demonstrated his great patience over unfavourable events that are unfolding in his life: / > ,:,,/ / / > /,. > ., ., .,~ ~f~. ~/ Q\~ ~ -·· . I ~. ,,,\ _:,,__'.") J\; ~#-1 ~ s~ ~~ .~.;,1 ~;r "He said: "O my Lord!

Prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one (of those who commit sin and deserve blame or those who do deeds) of the ignorants." [Yusuf (12): 32] According to lbn Katheer, he spent seven years in prison without losing patience .l2 9l Patience for steadfastness in faith Sometimes, the believers may be subjected to trials because of his faith. At this time, the fitting reaction is patience. The Prophet ~ underscored this in a narration by Khabbab lbn al-Araat ~ , "We complained to Allaah's Messenger ~ (about our state) while he was leaning against his sheet cloak in the shade of the Ka'bah. We said, "Will you ask Allaah to help us?

Will you invoke Allaah for us?" He ;:i said: [29] Tafseer lbn Katheer. "Among those who were before you a (believer) used to be seized and, a pit used to be dug for him and then he used to be placed in it. Then a saw used to be brought and put on his head which would be split into two halves. His flesh might be combed with iron combs and removed from his bones, yet, all that did not cause him to revert from his religion. By Allah!

This religion (Islam) will be completed (and triumph) till a rider (traveler) goes from San'a' to Hadramout fearing nobody except Allah and the wolf Jest it should trouble his sheep, but you are impatient." [3o1 During the early days of Islam, the unbelievers of Makkah tortured the Muslims greatly in order to make them recant their faith. One of those who bore this oppression was the family of Ammar bin Yasir ~ - He and his father and mother accepted Islam, and they were dragged by the idolaters into the hot sands of Makkah in the blazing midday heat and they were tortured. One day, the Prophet ~ passed by them in this state and he said: & JI . r5 ''~·/ .J-4/ 0\i• ~ ~ G JT (· / ..r:-4' / " "Patience, family of Ya sir, for your rendezvous is Paradise." Yaasir~ died of the torture . His wife, Sumayyah ~ ' shouted curses at Abu Jahl (one of her torturer); he stuck a spear into her heart and she died. She was the first Muslim female to die (30] AI-Bukhaaree (Both San'a' and Hadramout are cities in present day Yemen). for her faith.l 3 1l Patience at performing acts of worship Human beings have a natural aversion to carrying out acts of worship, like Salaah, because of our inherent laziness.

If a Muslim does an act of worship, he requires patience to be constant upon it. The Prophet ~ said: "Do (good) deeds which is within your capacity (without being overtaxed) as Allaah does not get tired (of giving rewards) but (surely) you will get tired and the best deed (act of worship) in the sight of Allaah is that which is done regularly." [32l Patience in Jihad: Jihad is one of the most important aspects of lslam P 3l And in Jihad, the believers suffer trials. Sometimes they get injured or even get killed some other times. At this time only those who are patient can prosecute a Jihad without turning [31] Fiqh-us-Seerah by Muhammad AI-Ghazaalee and with the authentication of Shaykh AI-Albaanee. [32] AI-Bukhaaree. [33] Narrated by Mu'adh bin Jabal 4;;,, " I said to Allaah's Messenger ~ : Inform me about an act which would entitle me to get into Paradise, and remove me away from Hell-fire. He (the Prophet ~ ) said : J'~ .~ ~I ~/~/ ~ / 1;: " /1 ~\ / ~.!;~ ~ / ·-IL ~ . /" ..r-'- 0'4 ~ ~ µ ~ if ~ 0~~ f~ 3 glSjll ~~3 bL~JI rj;3 ~ ~ - i1_;; 'I:, 41JI 'You have asked me about a matter (which ostensibly appears to be) difficult but it is easy to those for whom Allah, the Exalted, has made it easy.

Worship Allah and do not associate anything with him, establish prayer, pay the Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan and perform Hajj to the (sacred} House (Ka'bah}.' He again said: "Should I not direct you to the gateways of good? Listen to me: The fasting is a shield against evil, the charity extinguishes (the fire of sin) just as water extinguishes fire and the prayer of a person during the middle of the night.'' Then he recited: ~.,,,..>>:,,> /~// ~0__,•~·! ~__j_) '(Those) who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of what We have bestowed upon them. No soul knows what is kept hidden for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.' [As-Sajdah (32): 16] Then he said : ~~ ~_,j}_, ~~;..:._, J5 ;~1 '!"1~ il~i ':If "Should I not direct you to the highest level of this matter, to the pillar on which (it rests) and its top?'' I said: Allaah's Messenger yes, (do tell me).' He said: ;~1 ~~ ~_,j}_, ~~I~;_,:..:._, f-J.:.,~1 ;~1 IYt "The uppermost level of the matter is al-Islam. Its pillar is the prayer and its top is Jihad." He then said: their back to the enemy in flight Y 41 J5 ~~ ~~ ~~1 'it "Should I not inform you of the sheet anchor of all this?'' I said : 'Allaah's Messenger (of course do it).' He took hold of his tongue and said: 1...... ~....il "Exercise restraint on it." I said : 'Messenger of Allaah, would we be held responsible for what we say with it?' Thereupon he said : "Mu'adh, may your mother be bereaved. Will anything else besides (irresponsible) talk cause the people to be thrown into the Hell-fire upon their faces or on their nostrils?" (Tirmidhee) [34] Abu Hurayrah "*" narrated that the Prophet ~ said : .:.;Li, , 'i 1 e::. ~ I\ I~ ;..r-' 0 ' .:: I "Avoid the seven great destructive sins." They (the people) asked, "O Allaah's Messenger!

What are they?" He said: _.. ,... 0 ,,,. } 0 ..;-,~W I s-, ~µ1 "To join partners in worship with Allah; to practice sorcery; to kill the life which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause (according to Islamic law); to eat up usury (Riba), to eat up the property of an orphan; to give one's back to the enemy and fleeing from the battlefield at the time of fighting and to accuse chaste women who never even think of anything touching chastity and are good believers." (AI-Bukhaaree) Allaah ~ says: '~nd don't be weak in the pursuit of the enemy; if you are suffering (hardships) then surely, they (too) are suffering (hardships) as you are suffering, but you have a hope from Allaah (for the reward, i.e. Paradise) that for which they hope not, and Allaah is Ever AllKnowing, All-Wise:' [An-Nisaa (4): 104] Patience in Du'aa': Du'aa' is an important part of lbaadah . lnfact, the Prophet ii said it is worship in its own right: , . 0;~1 ), Hill\ ~ "Supplication (Dua a') is itself the worship." (He t hen rec ited:) Cc ~:>3 ~ Z}~~ r{::: ~~ J~_.,~ "And your Lord said: Call on Me, I will answer you ... " (AIGhaafir (40): 60] [35 l Sometimes, the result of our Duaa' may be delayed but Allaah ~ always answer our Duaa' as long as we do not lose patience and despair of Allaah's mercy. The Prophet ~ said: ~ I~ : .. -, iL.S·r~; l; :J~ !~:-· 1~:~ :h; ~.i;. \t ~~ ~ , r ~ ~ .. - [35) Abu Dawood. 61 "You will be responded to as long as you are not hasty, meaning that (a person) says, 'I have prayed and prayed, and my prayer has not been answered!'" [36l Patience at the loss of loved one The loss of a loved one is a time when a person may be overwhelmed with grief, and many customs surrounding bereavement reflect the depth of the feeling of loss. Reaction to this sudden event varies largely according to the degree of a person's knowledge and fear of Allaah.

Some would meet th is situation with discontent, panic and complaint. However, the best reaction is patience, for the sake of Allaah and being contented with t he situation . Anas bin Malik ~ narrated that the Prophet ~ passed by a woman who was weeping beside a grave. He told her to fear Allaah 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 ~ - So she went to the house of the Prophet ~ 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." [37l Allaah has prepared noble reward for a noble patience demonstrated at the death of loved ones. Abu Said Al Khudree ~ narrated that some women requested the Prophet ~ to fix a day (36] AI-Bukhaaree and Muslim. (37] AI-Bukhaaree. for them as the men were taking all his time. On that he promised them one day for religious lessons and commandments.

Once during such a lesson the Prophet ~ said: 0l5 11 ~* Li+Jj ~ ~~ ~ flz tt;1 !A ~ -?. 81 ~ : G'~ 1-:1 •• ~ ~ ''A woman whose three children die will be shielded by them from the Hell fire." On that a woman asked, "If only two die?" He replied : "Even two (will shield her from the Hell-fire) ." [3s1 Some reactions at the loss of a loved one are contrary to t he virtue of patience and have been forbidden in Islam. These include: Wailing Wailing in grief over the dead is Haraam (forbidden). How could it be otherwise, when it indicates discontent with one's Lord and contradicts patience? Behaving this way harms oneself too: when one slaps one's face, pulls out one's own hair, prays to Allaah ~ to take one's soul, wastes possessions by tearing one's own clothes, complains of injustice from Allaah ~ and praises the deceased with qualities that he did not possess. Any one of these would be sufficient ground for the total prohibition of wailing and eulogizing. [38] AI-Bukhaaree.

There are several texts that prohibit wailing. From them are: Abdullah bin Mas'ud ~ ' narrated that the Prophet ii said: ~ W I / • .1J Is-; / ..:., _. ! tI "" -;. / ; ~ I ..:., / /. ~ / ~ / ·1 /"/ / . <.Sy ;, .) . ~ !,.)-"-"'.) .) • .r' ,y / r....r-::' "He is not one of us who strikes himself on the cheeks, rends his garment and behaves like the people of Jahiliyyah."!39l Umm Atiyyah ~ said: "When we gave our allegiance to him, the Prophet ~ asked us never to wail (at the time of bereavement)"l40l In another hadeeth, the Prophet ~ said that if a woman practices the custom of wailing, and does not repent before she dies, on the Day of Resurrection she will be raised with clothes of tar and a shield of scabs .l41 J Finally, Abu Musa ~ narrated that the Prophet :,:i said: \~ :~81 sJLi \~~ 0)1 ~~ ~~ l~.:J1 ~1 : ~/ 1 \ -: _. 1" 1/ ,.;:. \/ I"\/ ,:- \/.) 1" 1 /· L; \/ I"( -'./ ~ ~ .o~u .) .o ~ u .o~ .) .o ~ ! ~~f ~41s-f ! ~~f ~ :LSf ! ~~f ~~Gf : j J& 'The deceased person suffers because of the wailing of the living. When the wailing woman says, "What a great loss! I have lost my right arm, the one who clothed me'~ the deceased will be pulled up sharply and asked: ''Are you her right hand? Are you her support?

Are you the one who [39] AI-Bukhaaree and Muslim. [40] AI-Bukhaaree and Muslim. [41] Muslim. 4 clothe her?"[421 Weeping is Permissible Crying is permitted both before and after death. The evidence for this is the Hadeeth narrated by Jabir lbn Abdullah ~ in which he said: "My father died at the battle of Uhud, and I began to weep. The people told me to stop, but the Messenger of Allaah ~ never asked me to stop. Then my aunt Fatimah began to weep too, and the Prophet ~ said: \ '>__,- ,.._° ~- t ~/ ~')\.J\ / / ..:..3( / ) t; <o; ~; of <o; '){; ~ / .J~ ~ ~ "It does not matter whether you cry or not, the angels kept shading him until they ascended with his soul"f.43 1 A number of sound Ahadeeth describe the Prophet ~ weeping on a number of occasions when someone he loved had died. When the Prophet ~ visited the tomb of his mother he wept, and caused others to weep,l44l Similarly, When his son lbraheem died, the Prophet ~ said: ,,,, ., ,,,, ,,,, ,.... .;; 0 · ~...° '.' I > I/ 0 G ~ I .

GI / Y.J~ ~ ..r.~ ~ \ /~ µ "We are very sad for your death, O lbraheem."[45 1 [42] Ahmad. The hadeeth was graded Da'eef (weak) by Al-Alba anee in Da'eef Al-Jaami' As-Sagheer. [43] AI-Bukhaaree & Muslim. [44] Muslim. [45] AI-Bukhaaree. 65 Saying a few words It is permissible to say a few words when crying over a deceased person, so long as these words are true, and are not accompanied by wailing or expressions of discontent with the decree of Allaah. Such brief words do not contradict patience, and are not Haraam (prohibited). Anas ~ reported that Abu Bakr ~ entered upon the Prophet ~ after he had passed away, put his hands on his temples, kissed him between the eyes and said: "O my Prophet, 0 my dearest friend, 0 my beloved." [461 Anas ~ also reported that when the Prophet ~ became very ill, he started to lose consciousness. Fatimah ~ said, "How great is the distress of my father?" He said: .~,1 i;,;. ~J i .r.:' 1; w < 'l 0 ~ ~;. ~ . .r ~ "There will be no more distress for your father after today." When the Prophet ~ passed away she said, "O my father who answered the call of his Lord, 0 my father whose destination is Paradise." After the Prophet ~ had been buried, she said, "O Anas, how could you bear to bury the Prophet ~ and cover him with dust?" [471 This does not indicate discontent with the decree of Allaah or complaining against Allaah .

Such statements are no more than crying or weeping. Patience at the time of illness The first duty upon a sick person is to submit to Allaah's decree [46] Ahmad. [47] AI-Bukhaaree. and bear his illness with patience. Many often ask: 'Why me?' particularly when the illness either becomes intense or is slow in going. A Muslim must realise that his illness couldn't have afflicted someone else. Every matter has been ordained before they come to pass.

Allaah ~ says: "No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (AI-Lawh AI-Mahfuz), before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allaah. In order that you may not be sad over matters that you fail to get, nor rejoice because of that which has been given to you. And Allah likes not prideful boasters" [AIHadeed (57):22-23] Ata bin Abi Rabah .Ji1 "--->-J narrated : lbn 'Abbas ~ said to me, "Shall I show you a woman of the people of Paradise?" I said, "Yes." He said, "This black lady came to the Prophet ~ and said, ' I get attacks of epilepsy and my body becomes uncovered; please invoke Allah for me.' The Prophet ~ said (to her), ((~~ 0f 4'.il ~~; l: ~; 0µ 't; J1~.J s-,;.;,i.;. ~ ~~ 0in ' If you wish, be patient and you will have (enter) Paradise; and if you wish, I will invoke Allah to cure you.' She said, ' I will remain patient,' and added, 'but I become uncovered, so please invoke Allaah for me that I may not become 67 uncovered.' So he invoked Allaah for her." (4 sJ Sometimes when the illness gets worse, the demand for patience is even heightened. Whatever the pains we may be going through during the period of illness, one should have the patience not to pray for death or put an end to one's life through suicide.

Qais bin Abi Hazim narrated: "We went to pay a visit to Khabbab bin AI-Arat ~ and he had got himself branded at seven spots over his body. He said, "If Allaah's Messenger ~ had not forbidden us to invoke Allaah for death, I would have invoked for it."[49l Patience with the tyrannical Muslim rulers One of the periods when patience is required from a Muslim is when he faces tyranny and oppression from Muslim rulers. On the authority of Hudhayfah AI-Yaman ~ who said: "O Messenger of Allaah ;:i ! No doubt, we had an evil time (i.e. the days of Jaahiliyyah or ignorance) and Allaah brought us a good time (i.e. Islamic period) through which we are now living.

Will there be a good time after this bad time? He said: "Yes". I said: "Will there be a good time after this bad time? He said: "Yes". I said : "Will there be a bad time after good time?

He said, [48] AI-Bukhaaree. [49) AI-Bukhaaree. "Yes". I said: "How?" Whereupon he said: "There will be leaders who will not be led by my guidance and who will not adopt my ways. There will be among them men who will have the hearts of devils in the bodies of human beings." I said : "What should I do, Messenger of Allaah ~ , if I happen to live in that time? He replied: ? :Jli ~~~ -.:..5J;f 0k ~1 J_.,..:J~ ?f L,;,:s : bf, J eL; 2J ~ j;_ fJ, iJ,~ 0 0 , 0 ~ 1~ 1.::./ ,. 0I' , , ~ I ~ .b~ , . r' µ ~ c:::37.J "You will listen to the Amir (leader) and carry out his orders; even if your back is flogged and your wealth is snatched, you should listen and obey." rsoJ In another narration by lbn Abbas ~ , the Prophet ~ said: "Whoever disapproves of something done by his ruler then he should be patient, for whoever disobeys the ruler even a [SO] Muslim. 69 little (a span) will die as those who died in the Pre-Islamic period of Ignorance.

(i.e. as rebellious sinners)."f.51l Even when the leader deprives you of your rights, you should be patient and adhere to the command of the Prophet ~ - Abdullah lbn Mas'uud • narrated that the Prophet ~ said: ~_J~ 1~;b ,~)fl?~ 0_'.;~ ~k "Soon others will be preferred to you, and there will be things which you will not like." The Companions of the Prophet ~ asked, "O Allaah's Messenger! What do you order us to do (in this cas~)?" He said, "(I order you) to give the rights that are on you and to ask your rights from Allaah.'1 52 1 Az-Zubair bin 'Adi narrated: "We went to Anas bin Malik ~ and complained about the wrong we were suffering at the hand of AIHajjaaj. Anas bin Malik said, "Be patient till you meet your Lord, for no time will come upon you but the time following it will be worse than it. I heard that from the Prophet ~ -"[531 Patience at the time of adversity is easier than at the time of ease One of the Salaf said: "Believers and unbelievers alike may have patience at time of adversity, but only people of strong faith can [51] AI-Bukhaaree. [52] AI-Bukhaaree. [53] AI-Bukhaaree. have patience at a time of ease."(541 Therefore Allaah ~ warned against the Fitnah of wealth, wives and children: i;:( 6.J1 Lil:4} ~~_J~~, µ "O you who believe! Truly, among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves: so beware of them!" [At-Taghabun {64) :14] The enmity referred to in these Aayaat is not that which results from hatred and conflict, but that which results from love and care that might prevent parents from religions duties such as Hijrah, Jihad, seeking knowledge and giving Sadaqah.

Once, when the Prophet ~ was delivering a Khutbah (sermon), he saw Hasan and Hussain walking and stumbling, so he interrupted his speech and went to pick them up, and said: "Indeed, Allaah has spoken the truth when He said: "... among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves: so beware of them!" I saw these two little boys stumbling and I did not have the patience to continue my Khutbah, so I stopped and picked them up."f.55 1 The Prophet ~ did so because of his love for children, and in (54] 'Uddat As-Saabireen Wa Dhakhirat Ash-Shakirin by lbn AI-Qayyim AIJawziyyah. (55] At-Tirmidhee. this way he set an example for his Ummah to show mercy and kindness towards children. Developing patience at times of trial and adversity Patience during difficult times may be achieved by: I. Thinking of the good reward that lies ahead. The more you believe in the rewards that are waiting for you, the easier it becomes to have patience.

If it were not for the anticipation of the reward, no goals or objectives pertaining to this life or the hereafter would have been achieved. Allaah will fulfill his promise of reward for those who exercise patience. ,.(~~ ~~ .&1 :;;; C:,1 ~t '1'~ / !:- / "So be patient. Verily, the Promise of Allaah is true.'' [Ghaaftr (40): 55] Human nature loves instant gratification, but reason and maturity make us think of the long term outcome, which helps to strengthen our patience in enduring whatever faces us. II. Expecting and hoping for a time of ease.

This hope in itself offers a measure of immediate relief; Allaah ~ says: " ... and never give up hope of Allaah's Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allaah's Mercy, except the people who disbelieve." [Yusuf (12): 87] Ill. Thinking of Allaah's countless blessings. When we realize that we cannot enumerate the blessings of Allaah, it becomes easier for us to exercise patience in facing the current adversity, because the present troubles are like a raindrop compared to the vast ocean of Allaah's blessings and favours. Allaah ~ says: 1 ~\ .~.--.~ G~ W~.J ~~ ~L:: c: ~ .; ~\~~ ~ ~h->:.a1 "And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you count the blessings of Allaah, never will you be able to count them." [lbraheem (14): 34] IV.

Thinking of previous blessings of Allaah. This will remind us of Allaah's care, and strengthen our hopes and expectations of time of ease to come. 73 Developing the Quality of Patience If a person does not naturally possess the characteristic of patience, he can attain this characteristic by acting as if he does possess it, until it eventually becomes his second nature. This is what the Prophet ~ has told us in the hadeeth : "Whoever tries to be patient, then Allaah will help him to be patient." [561 An example of this is a person's control of his sexual desire and his lowering of the gaze until these too become second nature. The same applies to all other desirable characteristics such as steadiness, generosity and courage . [56) AI-Bukhaaree. Steps in strengthening patience As patience is Fard (obligatory), Allaah has provided us with ways and means of obtaining and strengthening the quality of patience, for He has never instructed us to do something without providing us with help and support to do it, and ways and means of achieving it.

Even so, patience is difficult, but it is not impossible to attain. Patience consists of two elements: knowledge and action, and from these two elements are derived the remedies for all spiritual and physical troubles. Knowledge and action, combined are always essential. Knowledge Knowledge here means the knowledge of the benefits, happiness and fulfillment that accrues from following the commands of Allaah and the harm, imperfection and evil that stems from disobedience. With this beneficial knowledge, it becomes easier to exercise patience.

Prophet Ya'qub ~ \ demonstrated great patience at the loss of his sons. He said: "' ~~\~ :ji ~t 4 ~~ "So (for me) patience is most fitting. And it is Allaah (Alone) Whose help can be sought." [Yusuf (12):18] Even when his sorrow became heightened, his knowledge still moderated his reaction: "He said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allaah, and I know from Allaah that which you know not." [Yusuf (12):86] When the fruits of his patience became ripe and his sons were reunited with him, he said of his knowledge: "Then, when the bearer of the glad tidings arrived, he cast it (the shirt) over his face, and he became clear-sighted. He said: "Did I not say to you, I know from Allaah that which you know not.'' [Yusuf (12) :96] So, when a man combines knowledge with a strong will-power, then it becomes easy for him to attain the quality of patience. The bitterness of patience will become sweet and the pain of patience will become joy.

Action As we have already seen, patience is a constant battle between the motives of reason and religion on the one hand, and the motive of whims and desires on the other. If a person wants reason and religion to overcome whims and desires, then he has to strengthen the former and weaken the latter, just like promoting good health and reducing the risk of illness. For example, a person who has a strong desire to commit · adultery can take steps to combat it. He may have such strong sexual urge that he cannot stop committing adultery; or he may not commit the act itself, but is unable to stop looking at women; or he may be able to stop looking at women but he cannot stop 77 thinking of sex, to the extent that all his thoughts are devoted to this subject, and he never gives any thought to things which could benefit him in this life and in hereafter. If he is really serious about finding a cure for this disease, then the following steps are recommended: 1.

He can find out what types of food increase sexual desire, then he can reduce his intake of them, or avoid them altogether. If this does not work, then he can fast, as fasting reduces sexual desire, especially if the food eaten when he breaks his fast is moderate. The Prophet ~ said: a;.. .J ~ ~~~ iY--' '-1~ /1j 0 . /- ~ ~ // / - r-1/ ~ 0-0 / .J / / / / "He who cannot afford to marry is advised to fas t, as fasting will diminish his sexual power.'1 571 2. He should lower his gaze and avoid looking at women, as looking at women may provoke sexual desire. Al laah ~ says: "Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.).

That is purer for them.'' [An-Nur (24):30] Looking (at women) is one of the arrows of the Shaytaan . Shaytaan aims his arrows at the heart of man, and there is [57] AI-Bukhaaree. nothing to stop this arrow from reaching its target unless one lowers one's gaze. But if a person keeps looking, he is exposing his heart to these arrows, any one of which may be fatal. 3. He should enjoy permissible sex (i.e. within marriage), because any natural desire that Allaah has created in us has a permissible outlet. This is the best cure, as the Prophet :i has indicated.l5 8l