Tick. Tock. Only a few more minutes to go. You’ve been patiently waiting to break your fast. Through the heatstroke that day and the exhaustion you’ve felt along with thirst and hunger, you’ve finally come to the moment to quench your appetite. A plate full of food lies before you, calling you.
Life itself is a fast. We go through each day with our ups and downs, with our patience being tested. Through our gains and losses, our joyous occasions and hardships, and our success and failures, life goes on. But it isn’t what is thrown at us that defines us, but how we react to those situations that defines us.
“Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or fruits, but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.” (2:155)
The key is sabr, which goes beyond just patience to an enduring persistence despite any difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement that we may face. Sabr itself has many layers to it; the first of which is sabr in what Allah (SWT) decrees upon us, including steadfastness at the worst of times. This refers to when we remain spiritually strong through our hardships and turn to Allah (SWT) in trust that He will help us get through our challenges, no matter how helpless we ourselves feel. Our losses in life, for instance, are an example. Whether we lose a dear friend, a family member, our wealth, or our health, we can either see it as punishment or in turn, view it as an opportunity. To have those things that bring us joy for even a mere second in our lives are a mercy and a gift from God, even if they are later taken away. People, wealth, and possessions come and go because they were never really ours to begin with. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. It is through sabr that we can reap this reward of patience.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "Strange is the affair of the mu'min (the believer), verily all his affairs are good for him. If something pleasing befalls him he thanks (Allah) and it becomes better for him. And if something harmful befalls him he is patient (sabir) and it becomes better for him. And this is only for the mu'min."
Sabr also goes beyond patience through trials to patience in refraining from sin so as to not disobey our Creator (SWT). Living in the society we do today, there are many things that may not necessarily be encouraged in our deen. When temptations to go down a path which we shouldn’t are thrown at us, how do we refrain? Fasting our eyes from what we should not see, our ears from which we should not hear, and our tongues from what we should not speak; all of these require a sense of steadfastness in what we believe in. All of these acts of patience we will be rewarded for in sha'Allah.
Lastly, sabr also refers to perseverance in obeying Allah (SWT). From fasting in Ramadan, to following the sunnah, to paying zakat, to merely just making the five prayers a day: all of these are struggles that require determination in which our efforts are not overlooked.
Thus, sabr has an encompassing definition and through it, Allah (SWT) provides many opportunities for us to gain rewards for patience and draw near to Him. Some people approach Allah (SWT) through constant good deeds and acts of worship. This drives them to the point to gain nearness to their Creator. Someone else may not have the strength to do that, and in turn, Allah (SWT) might send difficulties on them throughout which they are constantly patient. In this way, Allah (SWT) purifies and rewards them in a way equivalent to those who do good deeds. A third person might not be able to bear these difficulties nor have the strength to do good deeds. Yet, this person may have the sense and strength to avoid sin, and Allah (SWT) uses this lack of performing sin as a means of drawing that person near Him.
So what is the final sabr of the believer? That is sabr in this life, for the hereafter. It is in recognizing that this life is passing and that those bounties that we lose in this life will be replaced in the next, do we find the strength to patiently persevere every morning we wake up.
Tick. Tock. Only a few more minutes to go. You’ve been patiently waiting to break your fast. Through the struggles and the heartbreaks you’ve felt along with trials and tribulations, you’ve finally come to the moment to quench the thirst of your soul. Jannah lies before you, calling you.
If we can practice sabr now, in sha'Allah we will be among those to whom angels will say: “Peace be upon you for the sabr you practiced. Excellent indeed is the final home.” (13:24)
Life itself is a fast. We go through each day with our ups and downs, with our patience being tested. Through our gains and losses, our joyous occasions and hardships, and our success and failures, life goes on. But it isn’t what is thrown at us that defines us, but how we react to those situations that defines us.
“Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or fruits, but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.” (2:155)
The key is sabr, which goes beyond just patience to an enduring persistence despite any difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement that we may face. Sabr itself has many layers to it; the first of which is sabr in what Allah (SWT) decrees upon us, including steadfastness at the worst of times. This refers to when we remain spiritually strong through our hardships and turn to Allah (SWT) in trust that He will help us get through our challenges, no matter how helpless we ourselves feel. Our losses in life, for instance, are an example. Whether we lose a dear friend, a family member, our wealth, or our health, we can either see it as punishment or in turn, view it as an opportunity. To have those things that bring us joy for even a mere second in our lives are a mercy and a gift from God, even if they are later taken away. People, wealth, and possessions come and go because they were never really ours to begin with. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. It is through sabr that we can reap this reward of patience.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "Strange is the affair of the mu'min (the believer), verily all his affairs are good for him. If something pleasing befalls him he thanks (Allah) and it becomes better for him. And if something harmful befalls him he is patient (sabir) and it becomes better for him. And this is only for the mu'min."
Sabr also goes beyond patience through trials to patience in refraining from sin so as to not disobey our Creator (SWT). Living in the society we do today, there are many things that may not necessarily be encouraged in our deen. When temptations to go down a path which we shouldn’t are thrown at us, how do we refrain? Fasting our eyes from what we should not see, our ears from which we should not hear, and our tongues from what we should not speak; all of these require a sense of steadfastness in what we believe in. All of these acts of patience we will be rewarded for in sha'Allah.
Lastly, sabr also refers to perseverance in obeying Allah (SWT). From fasting in Ramadan, to following the sunnah, to paying zakat, to merely just making the five prayers a day: all of these are struggles that require determination in which our efforts are not overlooked.
Thus, sabr has an encompassing definition and through it, Allah (SWT) provides many opportunities for us to gain rewards for patience and draw near to Him. Some people approach Allah (SWT) through constant good deeds and acts of worship. This drives them to the point to gain nearness to their Creator. Someone else may not have the strength to do that, and in turn, Allah (SWT) might send difficulties on them throughout which they are constantly patient. In this way, Allah (SWT) purifies and rewards them in a way equivalent to those who do good deeds. A third person might not be able to bear these difficulties nor have the strength to do good deeds. Yet, this person may have the sense and strength to avoid sin, and Allah (SWT) uses this lack of performing sin as a means of drawing that person near Him.
So what is the final sabr of the believer? That is sabr in this life, for the hereafter. It is in recognizing that this life is passing and that those bounties that we lose in this life will be replaced in the next, do we find the strength to patiently persevere every morning we wake up.
Tick. Tock. Only a few more minutes to go. You’ve been patiently waiting to break your fast. Through the struggles and the heartbreaks you’ve felt along with trials and tribulations, you’ve finally come to the moment to quench the thirst of your soul. Jannah lies before you, calling you.
If we can practice sabr now, in sha'Allah we will be among those to whom angels will say: “Peace be upon you for the sabr you practiced. Excellent indeed is the final home.” (13:24)