Patience is the mother of all virtues

There is so much to write about patience from Islamic point of view that it can take several pages. I wanted to write about it since long time, but from now onwards, will go on write in small parts, different aspects of patience.

In my view, patience and humility are the two most important traits that Quran emphasizes upon. In some ways, patience and humility are dependent on each other. Taqwa (fear and love of Allah, fear to abstain from evil deeds and love to good deeds) is definitely that most important quality to develop for a believer; however, patience is the foundation of taqwa and eeman. Because, unless we have patience, how are we going to believe in the unseen, and bear adversities for rewards in the Hereafter.

Sura Asr is one of the small sura that is often recited in salah. We learn from this sura that patience is one of the four main things that prevent human beings from loss. These four things are: faith, doing good deeds, propagating truth and patience.

Asr 103:2 Verily Man is in loss,

إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ (103:2)

103:3 Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ (103:3

Patience is antidote to several weaknesses, that are as follows:

• Impulsiveness
• Anger
• Greed
• Envy
• Depression

We cannot control the events that happen in our lives, but we can definitely control our reaction to the same. This ability to take a response, is called proactivity. A Muslim's response in case of adverse situations should be that of patience, and Allah puts constant rewards in patience.

Al-Imran 3:200 O ye who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah. that ye may prosper.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اصْبِرُواْ وَصَابِرُواْ وَرَابِطُواْ وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (3:200)