PATIENCE

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          Allah (swa) will weigh all our good deeds except for being patient in this transient life due to trials, for being patient due to trials is something that which Allah (swa) will give the reward to that person. It is said that the people of the Paradise will see the rewards given to the people who were patient in this world and they will ask why they are given superior rewards than them. Then they will be told that they are given superior rewards because they were patient to the different trials they faced in this world. Then these people will feel sad because they didn’t go through similar trials in the world of those who were given superior rewards in the Paradise due to their patience. If you read the Quran you will come across different verses that spoke about being patient and its benefits.

QURAN

            In the Mohsin Khan's Quran translation the word patience appears 33 times in 33 verses. These verses shows us that patience is quality a pious person should possess and also these verses indicates that in this worldly life we will face trials  and the cure for this is having strong faith in Allah (swa), performing prayers and bearing the trials with patience.

            And seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer) and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashi'un [i.e. the true believers in Allah - those who obey Allah with full submission, fear much from His Punishment, and believe in His Promise (Paradise) and in His Warnings (Hell)]. 
(  سورة البقرة  , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #45)

         Verily I have rewarded them this Day for their patience: they are indeed the ones that are successful. 
(  سورة المؤمنون  , Al-Mumenoon, Chapter #23, Verse #111

           Those will be rewarded with the highest place (in Paradise) because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect. 
(  سورة الفرقان  , Al-Furqan, Chapter #25, Verse #75)

            "O my son! Aqim-As-Salat (perform As-Salat), enjoin (on people) Al-Ma'ruf - (Islamic Monotheism and all that is good), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief in the Oneness of Allah, polytheism of all kinds and all that is evil and bad), and bear with patience whatever befalls you. Verily, these are some of the important commandments (ordered by Allah with no exemption). 
(  سورة لقمان  , Luqman, Chapter #31, Verse #17)

            And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives, that would truly be from the things recommended by Allah. 
(  سورة الشورى  , Ash-Shura, Chapter #42, Verse #43)  

 FROM SUNNAH

         Then the Prophet (PBUH) said "Whatever wealth I have, I will not withhold from you. Whosoever would be chaste and modest; Allah will keep him chaste and modest and whosoever would seek self-sufficiency, Allah will make him self-sufficient; and whosoever would be patient, Allah will give him patience, and no one is granted a gift better and more comprehensive than patience".
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

          The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said "How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him".
[Muslim].

        The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said "Allah, the Exalted, says: 'I have no reward other than Jannah for a believing slave of Mine who remains patient for My sake when I take away his beloved one from among the inhabitants of the world".
[Al-Bukhari].

       

STORY OF AYOUB (AS)

         The Prophets who delivered the revelations of the Almighty Allah (swa) to the mankind are the perfect examples of the people who were patient in the face of calamities. If you look at the story of Ayoub  (as) you will see that Ayoub (as) was among most patient Prophets of Allah (swa).

         It is said that Ayoub (as) had everything that a Human being wants in this worldly life. Ayoub (as) had an obedient wife, children, gardens, slaves, health and wealth. But Allah (swa) took everything from Ayoub (as) within a short period. It was said that Satan heard the Angels talk about the piety of Ayoub (as) and the Angels proclaimed Ayoub (as) as the most pious person in the world at that time. Due to jealousy the Satan invoked Allah (swa) saying that if Allah (swa) removed all the wealth of Ayoub (as) that he will not be loyal to Allah (swa). So Allah (swa) wanted the Satan to see the piousness of Ayoub (as). So Ayoub (as) wealth was taken form him within no time. Then Satan came in a form of a man and tried to mislead Ayoub (as) and said; 

"All your wealth is lost, some people say that it is because you gave too much charity and that you are wasting your time with your continuous prayers to Allah (swa). Others say that Allah (swa) has brought this upon you in order to please your enemies. If Allah (swa) had the capacity to prevent harm, then He would have protected your wealth." To this Ayoub (as) said "What Allah has taken away from me belongs to Him. I was only its trustee for awhile. He gives to whom He wills and withholds from whom He wills." Next Ayoub (as) prostrated to Allah (swa). The Satan didn't give up and invoked again to Allah (swa) by saying that if Allah (swa) take Ayoub (as) children he will disobey Allah (swa). So all fourteen children of Ayoub (as) died within one day due to an accident. Again the Satan came to Ayoub (as) in a form of a man and gave condolence to Ayoub (as) and said "The circumstances under which your children died were sad. Surely, your Lord is not rewarding you properly for all your prayers." Ayoub (as) again told Satan  "Allah (swa) sometimes gives and sometimes takes. He is sometimes pleased and sometimes displeased with our deeds. Whether a thing is beneficial or harmful to me, I will remain firm in my belief and remain thankful to my Creator." Then again Ayoub (as) prostrated to Allah (swa).
          The Satan was very irritated, but the Satan didn't give up yet. This time Satan invoked Allah (swa) to take away Ayoub (as) health. So Ayoub (as) was afflicted with a skin disease which disfigured Ayoub (as) and was bedridden. All his family members, friends and slaves deserted Ayoub (as ) except for Ayoub (as ) wife. But it didn't stop there ! Ayoub (as ) was exiled from the town too. But yet Ayoub (as) persevered and was firm on the path of Allah (swa). Ayoub (as) who lived a prosperous life for eighty years went through this hardship for eight years.
            It is said that Ayoub (as) wife  labored to feed Ayoub (as) after all their wealth was lost. But the people of the town stopped giving her work. In this desperate moment the Satan  tried to mislead Ayoub (as) wife by reminding of her the prosperous times she had when they were not afflicted by these trials. This made her depressed and the wife of Ayoub (as) complained to Ayoub (as) by saying "How long are you going to bear this torture from our Lord? Are we to remain without wealth, children or friends forever? Why don't you call upon Allah (swa) to remove this suffering? Ayoub (as) was very angry with her and said "In that case I am ashamed to call on my Lord to remove the hardship, for I have not suffered longer than the years of good health and plenty. If I ever regain health, I swear I will punish you with a hundred strokes! From this day onward, I forbid myself to eat or drink anything by your hand.Leave me alone and let my Lord do with me as He pleases."  These words hit her very hard and she left Ayoub (as). In this bitter moment Ayoub (as) invoked to seek Allah (swa) mercy but not to complain.The words which came out of Ayoub (as) mouth were  " Verily ! distress has seized me and You are the most merciful of those who show mercy."  Then Allah (swa) removed all his afflictions. It is said that Ayoub (as) got his health back, his wife came back, he got wealthier than before and Ayoub (as) wife bore fourteen children after the trials were lifted. So my Brothers and Sisters if we are inflicted by trials try to remember the trials Ayoub (as) went through and the rewards he achieved by being patient.

 NOW 

     Statistics says that every 40 second  a person commits suicide in the world. If you look at the statistics of number of suicides for the countries and the statistics of atheists living in that countries you will be amazed to find out that most of the suicide are occurring in countries were there are dense populations of atheists. Since the  atheist doesn't believe in the Hereafter they tend to get depressed easily when their dreams and ambitions die in this world.So they are more likely to commit suicide. That is the reason why Islam pays a huge importance for spirituality. If a Muslim is afflicted with hardship he believes that it is a test from Allah (swa) and that this world is a temporary resident. He believes that there is a better life after death and if he was patient in the path of Allah (swa) he will be rewarded with everlasting blessings with all his dreams full filled. So improve your spirituality by constantly  remembering Allah (swa).

LAST WORDS

      My brothers and sisters be firm in the path of  Allah (swa). Hold on to the Quran and the Sunnah. That is the only cure for satisfying your soul. If you choose a path other than this, you will fail miserably. Be mindful that Paradise comes with a cost. That cost is being afflicted by trials and hardship in this world. Allah (swa) tests those who Allah (swa) loves. This is to check their firm belief in Allah (swa) and how thankful they are when they are deprived of their worldly blessings. When these people are afflicted by hardship and deprived of their worldly blessings they will praise Allah (swa) and be patient. If they are given any blessings they will thank Allah (swa). These are the qualities of a true believers ! For a pious person this world is a prison, he will be freed from this prison when Allah (swa) takes his soul away from his body and pass it on to the world of the unseen. So brothers and sisters be patient and praise and thank Allah (swa) when faced with hardships. May Allah (swa) shower all of you with patience and steadfastness ! Ameen !