007-RFP.doc
Islam takes pride in having always encouraged mankind to attain noble
characteristics. One of these virtues is patience. God has ordered us to seek
patience for our own benefit. God sent down Prophets to encourage this noble
quality in man.
God has promised the patient person reward in the after-life by stating
in the Holy Koran:
"Say: O my servants who believe! Be careful of (your duty to) your Lord; for those who do good in this world is good, and God's earth is spacious; only the patient will be paid back (in the hereafter) their reward in full without measure." (39:10)
Also, God has promised
victory for the patient and demise for the impatient: "I (God) swear by
time, Most surely man is in loss, Except those who believe and do good, and
enjoin on each other truth, and enjoin on each other patience."(103)
Faith, according to Islam, has two halves, one being gratitude (being thankful)
and the other being patience. This paper will deal with the following: true
patience and its meaning, the three pillars of patience and man's essential
need for patience.
Islam sees patience as a noble human characteristic. He who posses it
will reach joy and inner peace. Islam also views patience as a strength and the
key to fixing all matters of one's self, and as the path to happiness and
righteousness. The patient person is he who trains him/herself to fight back
against all evil thoughts and actions. Man is the one who steers his/her soul
into either eternal Paradise or eternal Hell-Fire. This harness which man uses
for steering his soul is patience. Islam encourages people to seek dependence,
help, and salvation from God. God alone is the Creator, the Sustainer and
therefore is alone the Savour.
The first pillar is patience with the duties and obligations towards
people and God. Some examples of this are praying the five daily prayers,
charity, pilgrimage to Mecca, respecting one's parents, marriage, and respect
towards one's spouse. The second pillar is patience in abstaining from all that
God has made forbidden. Some examples here are: stealing, cheating, lying,
backbiting, etc. The third pillar is patience with what may befall man from
natural disasters, illness, and death. God says in the Koran:
"O my dear son! Establish worship
and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity, and persevere whatever may befall
thee." (31:17)
Islam also teaches man to be patient when he has health, money,
happiness, and all the good in his life. In order to refrain from pride and
arrogance and from becoming ungrateful to the Bestower of these blessings and
bounties, one needs patience. Fulfilling one's duties towards God and not to
become arrogant also require patience. Trying not to use blessings in evil
ways, and abstaining from what God has labelled as forbidden also require
patience.
Patience is also needed with illness and death. In illness one must be
patient in seeking a cure and must be thankful that they are not in a worse
position. In Death one must remember that death is simply a doorway to
eternity, and that the true winners are the ones that earned a places in
Paradise through their deeds.
"And We most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruit; and give good news to the patient, who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: Surely we are God's and to Him we shall surely return. Those are they on whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord, and those are the followers of the right course." (2:155-157)