Ramadan : the month of Patience (Sabr)

One of the great qualities the Muslim  needs throughout his journey in this life is Sabr. Sabr could not be translated into a single word in English. It has a combination of meanings in English.  It could mean : patience, steadfastness, endurance,  forbearance, firmness, self-possession, and self control.

What is Sabr?

Patience or Sabr is not just suppressing our emotions and concealing our negative feelings as some people may think; it is rather developing the ability to handle  hardships and difficulties of life with clear vision, and full preparation to accept the results, while having the hope and confidence that Allah (swt) will reward you, and very soon remove your hardships, or substitute you with something much better for you.

When you exercise Sabr, you are certain that Allah (swt) is constantly taking care of you, and He would indeed make an exit for you from where you do not expect. With Sabr, there is no  place for frustration, desperation, or disappointment in our lives. 

Due to the great spiritual importance of  the virtue of  Sabr, Allah (swt) prescribed upon Muslims fasting the month of Ramadan to learn and practice Sabr. Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said :“Ramadan is the month of  Sabr”.   

Fasting the month of  Ramadan is an unmatched practical  lesson to acquire the skills of  Sabr. Muslims all over the world abstain completely from eating, drinking, intimate sexual contacts and smoking from the break of dawn till sunset. This fast experience teaches us the principle of sincere devotion to Allah, how to attain the skills of Sabr (patience), willpower, and self control.

When we fast Ramadan, realizing the wisdom behind it, and observing its virtues, we are not only learning how to endure hunger and thirst, and control our desires, but rather we are learning how to control and  improve all aspects of our lives, year after year. 

When We need to Practice Sabr

We do not only need to observe Sabr at times of hardships and misfortunes or to control our desires, and resist the temptations of  life, but we also need to seek help in Sabr  in our daily life as Allah (swt) says in Quran :“Seek help in Sabr  and prayers”.

We need  Sabr  to maintain our Islam pure till the last breath in our life by keeping ourselves away from all kinds of disbeliefs innovations, and distractions.

We need Sabr  to perform our religious duties as they should be performed. For example, a great deal of  Sabr  is needed to fulfill the pillars of the prayers: for example: the bowing (Rokooa’), prostration (Sojood), and humbleness (Khoshooa’).

Also we need to observe Sabr when fasting, paying the obligatory charity,  performing Pilgrimage and other Islamic rituals. 

A lot of  Sabr  is needed when we are enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. Sabr  enables us to  advise people in the most appropriate way.

More Sabr  is needed to accept and welcome advice from people with gratefulness and appreciation.

A lot of Sabr  is needed to enable us to conquer ourselves to forgive people, cover their mistakes, and consider their limitations.

We must have Sabr  for bringing up our children in the right way and preparing them to be faithful servants of Allah. Allah advised Prophet Ishmael in Quran saying: “And enjoin upon your family the prayers, and show Sabr therein”.

Sabr is also needed to keep reminding ourselves that all the blessings which we are enjoying in this life such as wealth, children, or knowledge are from Allah; and to give thanks to Him and not to misuse these blessings or take them a means for arrogance and mischief on earth. 

We need  Sabr  when we see that the Muslim  nation –  the best nation ever introduced to mankind –  is being overpowered by its enemies.

We need to observe Sabr so that we will not be deceived by the power and wealth of the enemies of Muslims and to realize that  keeping our duties toward Allah and putting our trust in Him is the only way to restore the position  of this nation.

We need  Sabr  to bear the hardships that we may have to face in the way of  preaching the teachings of Islam, and avoid the impatience which might hinder the progress of the spread of Islam.

At the present time, the true Muslim  has a greater need for  Sabr, because he is like a stranger in this world.  Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said : ”A time would come where he who is sticking to Islam  is like him who is holding a piece of  fire in his hands.” 

Why Sabr is Light

The Prophet (pbuh) said :”Sabr is light”. Sabr  acts like a light for believers. It enables them to see things clearly at the hard times when  other people tend to be blinded by the calamities and misfortunes of life.  Sabr  is a light for  believers because it leads them to the true way of success both in this life and in the Hereafter, as Allah (swt) says:

“O ! You believers show Sabr (patience) and outdo your enemy  in Sabr (patience)  and be ever ready for Allah’s service. And observe your duties toward Allah in order that you may attain success”.           Surat Al-Imran, (3) – Verse 200

No wonder that there is no reward for Sabr but the Paradise. At  the end, we pray to Allah to grant us Sabr and make us among His righteous servants who always exercise Sabr (As-Saberoon).