Patience is one of the greatest moral virtues advocated by Islam, elevating its status and making it a sign of perfect faith and a characteristic of the pious. A patient person is one who controls himself when angry. He does not respond to evil with evil, nor does he succumb to a fit of emotion. Rather, he responds to ignorance with wisdom and to wrongdoing with forgiveness.
Islam came to build the human being from within, refine his instincts, and elevate his morals. Patience is one of the values urged by the Holy Qur’an and emphasized by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in his biography and Sunnah. God Almighty praised His prophets for their forbearance. He said of Abraham, peace be upon him: “Indeed, Abraham was most compassionate and forbearing.” He also said of Ishmael, peace be upon him: “So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy.” Thus, the Qur’an presents forbearance as a great quality, one that only the most perfect of men possess.
As for the Prophetic Sunnah, the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, was the best example of forbearance. He was often harmed, insulted, and assaulted, yet he would forgive and pardon, responding to evil with kindness. One of the most remarkable examples of this is what happened to the Bedouin who pulled his cloak until it left a mark on his neck, then said rudely, “Give me some of the wealth of Allah that you have!” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned to him, laughed, and then ordered that he be given a gift. What kind of character is this? What kind of heart is that which is not moved by humiliation or provoked by ignorance?
Patience in Islam does not mean weakness or submission; rather, it is a sign of true strength. The strong person is not the one who overcomes others, but rather the strong person is the one who controls himself when angry, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained. It is self-control, transcending instinctive impulses, and a desire to maintain friendship and avoid temptation.
Patience has great benefits in the life of an individual and society; it brings respect, wins hearts, extinguishes the fire of enmity, and closes the doors to evil. It is a reason for Allah’s love for the servant, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah loves the forbearing, patient, and forgiving.”
However, being forbearing requires self-discipline, struggling against desires, and constant supplication. Whoever wants to be forbearing must train themselves to be patient, realize the reward, and remember the positive effects of forbearance on oneself and others.
Today, in a time when conflicts are rife and anger and rashness are prevalent, we are in dire need of forbearance. This is to preserve what remains of our bonds and live with tolerant hearts, realizing that kind words and self-control are greater than angry reactions.
Conclusion
Forbearance is not a passing trait; rather, it is a manifestation of human and faith-based maturity. It is the characteristic of the prophets and great people, and the adornment of the believing soul. Let us strive to adorn ourselves with it, emulating the morals of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), seeking God’s pleasure, and striving for a life of peace and mercy.
