WHAT IS THE gift that our Messenger ﷺ said is better and most comprehensive?
It is sabr.
Commonly translated as patience, its complete meaning, like many Arabic words, becomes lost in translation.
The word patience comes from the Latin patientem, meaning ‘suffering’. As such sabr would suggest accepting hardship without taking action or believing that nothing can be done.
In Arabic, the root word of sabr means to confine, detain, retain, restrain, restrict or withhold something. Far from passivity, sabr is active as we strive to control or restrain our nafs from its whims and desires. Being positive and dynamic, sabr pushes us forward and makes us determined and persevering come what may.
It is easier to understand when we consider three scenarios.
Sabr in doing good.
Whether it is waking up for fajr in the cold dark winter mornings, persisting with the fast in the heat, continuing to present Islam in a hostile environment, or not remaining silent when we see evil, we can see how sabr is needed to continue with good actions as we seek Allah’s pleasure.
Sabr in restraint from evil
Just as sabr is needed to persevere with good actions, it is the same sabr that is needed to persistently stop oneself from haram actions.
Sabr in accepting the Divine Decree.
The above two combine in accepting whatever trial Allah has decreed upon us, continuing the good actions and staying away from the evil whilst having good thoughts of Allah in the difficulties that we face.
Sabr is thus a mix of perseverance, endurance, persistence, steadfastness and patience. If understood and applied in life, it is truly a magnificent gift that distinguishes us in the dunya and the akhirah.
وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
Have sabr! Surely Allah is with those who have sabr. (al-Anfal 46)
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