In Islam, patience—known as sabr (صبر)—is far more than mere endurance. It encompasses perseverance, steadfastness, restraint from complaint, and complete trust in Allah’s divine wisdom during trials. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized sabr as one of the greatest virtues, describing it as a light that illuminates the believer’s path and a gift unmatched in its vastness.
Sabr is repeatedly highlighted in the Sunnah as a means of expiating sins, elevating spiritual ranks, and earning Allah’s pleasure. Authentic hadiths from collections like Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim portray sabr not as passive resignation but as active faith: controlling anger, bearing hardships gracefully, and persisting in obedience to Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) exemplified this through his own life—facing persecution in Mecca, loss of loved ones, and battles—yet responding with unwavering composure and reliance on Allah.
This article explores the profound teachings on sabr through authentic hadiths, explaining their meanings, contexts, and practical applications. By reflecting on these narrations, believers can cultivate sabr to navigate life’s challenges and attain eternal reward.
The Greatest Gift: Patience as the Best Provision
One of the most celebrated hadiths on sabr comes from Sahih al-Bukhari:
Narrated Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him): Some Ansari persons asked for (something) from Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him) and he gave them. They again asked him, and he gave them. This continued until all he had was spent. Then he said: “If I had anything, I would not withhold it from you. (Remember:) Whoever abstains from asking others, Allah will make him contented; whoever tries to make himself self-sufficient, Allah will make him self-sufficient; and whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1469)
In this narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) links sabr with contentment and self-sufficiency, presenting it as the ultimate divine gift. Scholars like Ibn al-Qayyim explain that patience is “vast” because it encompasses relief from anxiety, strength in trials, and proximity to Allah. Unlike material blessings, sabr is inexhaustible—it grows with use and brings multifaceted rewards.
This hadith encourages believers to view sabr as empowerment from Allah. When afflicted, the patient one receives divine assistance to endure, turning weakness into resilience.
True Patience at the First Strike of Calamity
A recurring theme in hadiths is that genuine sabr manifests immediately upon hardship:
Narrated Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1302)
This is illustrated in another narration: A woman came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) grieving a loss, not recognizing him initially due to her distress. He advised her: “Verily, patience is at the first stroke of a calamity.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 23, Hadith 372)
Here, the Prophet (peace be upon him) teaches that the highest form of sabr is controlling one’s reaction at the moment of shock—refraining from complaint, despair, or anger. Delaying patience until emotions subside diminishes its virtue. Imam al-Nawawi comments that this “beautiful patience” (sabr jameel), as exemplified by Prophet Ya’qub (Jacob, peace be upon him) upon losing his sons, involves accepting Allah’s decree without outward lamentation that implies dissatisfaction.
In modern life, this applies to sudden losses—financial ruin, illness, or bereavement—urging immediate recourse to prayer and trust in Allah rather than panic.
Patience Expiates Sins and Elevates Ranks
Hadiths repeatedly affirm that sabr transforms suffering into purification:
Narrated Abu Sa’id al-Khudri and Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with them): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Never a believer is stricken with discomfort, illness, anxiety, grief, mental worry, or even the pricking of a thorn, but that Allah will expiate his sins on account of his patience.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim; Riyad as-Salihin, Book 1, Hadith 37)
This comprehensive narration covers minor annoyances to major calamities, showing Allah’s mercy in using trials for forgiveness. Another hadith states: “If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5645)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said regarding plague: Whoever remains patiently in a town afflicted by it, knowing nothing befalls except what Allah decreed, receives the reward of a martyr. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 7, Hadith 616)
These teachings reframe hardships as opportunities for spiritual cleansing, encouraging believers to respond with sabr rather than resentment.
The Believer’s Affair is Always Good Through Patience
A profound hadith highlights the unique blessing for believers:
Narrated Suhaib (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good… If something good happens to him, he is grateful, and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him.” (Sahih Muslim 2999)
Paired with gratitude (shukr), sabr ensures every situation benefits the believer. This holistic outlook fosters resilience, as the patient one sees trials as divine tests leading to growth.
Patience in Social Interactions and Obedience
Sabr extends to interpersonal relations:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The believer who mixes with people and bears their annoyance with patience has a greater reward than the one who does not mix with people and does not bear their annoyance.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 4032; graded authentic)
This encourages community engagement despite frustrations, promoting tolerance and forgiveness.
In obedience: “Do not wish to meet the enemy, but if you meet them, be patient.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim)
And for loss of loved ones: Allah says (in a hadith qudsi), “I have no reward other than Paradise for My believing servant who remains patient when I take away his beloved one.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Types of Sabr and Practical Cultivation
Scholars derive three types of sabr from hadiths and Quran:
- Patience in trials (e.g., illness, loss).
- Patience in obedience (persisting in worship despite difficulty).
- Patience against sins (restraining desires).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught practical steps: seeking Allah’s help through prayer (as in Quran 2:153: “Seek help in patience and prayer”), remembering greater afflictions (e.g., the Prophet’s trials), and supplicating for sabr.
In anger: “The strong is not the one who overcomes people by strength, but the one who controls himself in anger.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6114)
Prophetic Examples of Sabr
The Prophet’s life abounds in sabr: The Year of Sorrow (loss of wife Khadijah and uncle Abu Talib), Ta’if’s rejection where he prayed for their guidance despite stoning, and Uhud’s defeat where he remained steadfast.
Prophets like Ayyub (Job, peace be upon him) endured prolonged illness with sabr, earning Allah’s praise.
Rewards of Sabr: Divine Company and Unlimited Reward
Allah promises: “Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (Quran 2:153, echoed in hadiths).
The patient receive reward without account (Quran 39:10), leadership in faith, and Paradise.
A hadith qudsi: For the patient in losing eyesight or loved ones, Paradise is compensation. (Sahih al-Bukhari 557)
Modern Applications: Sabr in Contemporary Challenges
In today’s world—stress, mental health struggles, social media pressures—hadiths on sabr offer timeless guidance. Patience in traffic, workplace conflicts, or family disputes builds character. During global crises like pandemics, the plague hadith reminds of martyr-like rewards for patient endurance.
Mental health: Sabr combats anxiety by fostering tawakkul (reliance on Allah), turning despair into hope.
Conclusion: Embracing Sabr as a Way of Life
The hadiths on patience reveal sabr as the cornerstone of faith—a shield against despair, a purifier of sins, and a path to Allah’s love. The Prophet (peace be upon him) declared it the best gift, urging us to seek it earnestly.
By internalizing these narrations, believers can transform trials into triumphs. As Ibn al-Qayyim said, the patient “fly on wings of patience and gratitude to gardens of delight.”
May Allah grant us all beautiful patience, make us among the patient, and reward us with His infinite mercy. Ameen.
