Lessons from the Qur’an
The Sweetness of the Hereafter by Jasmin Ali
Day after day, we see people cruising in the coolest cars with their fantastic families who live in beyond humble houses. We see people boasting about their land and families as if Allah is not Ar-Razzaq, the ultimate provider. As outsiders looking in, we can’t help but be a little jealous, most people would want to drive a 2012 Ferrari over a 1970s Nissan. Most people would rather own their own land than live in an apartment. Allah says, “Beautified for men is the love of things they covet: women, children, much of gold and silver, branded horses, cattle, and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life…” But at what cost are we going in order to achieve these things? Why is it that we have Muslims supplying the drugs that haunt a nation? Why do we have Muslims dealing in Ribba to make a quick buck? Why do we have to be more skeptical about getting a car from a Muslim brother, fearing that he will cheat us? It is all about making money but as what cost? At the cost of our Islam? When we are caught in hard economic times, we try to rush to the quickest options to make money which are usually the most un-Islamic in nature. Instead of being patient, and relying on Allah, most of us turn towards haram. Although we are feeding our Dunya, we are starving our Akhira. Why when Allah continues to say,
“but Allah has the excellent return with him: “Shall I inform you of the things far better than those?” For Al-Muttaqun there are gardens with their Lord underneath which rivers flow. Therein (is their) eternal (home) with pure wives, And Allah will be pleased with them. And Allah is All Seer of the slaves.” We have to be patient, and ask ourselves, is displeasing Allah worth the extra money? The Dunya and Akhria are of no comparison, if you combined the sweetest things on this earth, it would not equal a grain in the Akhira. Although we are pulled by things so sweet, the Akhria is far sweeter. 
Morals from the Hadith & Sunnah
Stories from the Prophets
The Art of Patience by Ubah Mohamoud
As Muslims, we are obligated to make da’wah, or, the call to Islam. This da’wah can manifest itself in a number of ways: anything from sitting at an Islam info-booth on a busy street corner to being kind to your non-Muslim neighbors can constitute da’wah – as long as your intention is to do it sincerely for the sake of Allah alone. Furthermore, in accompaniment with our sincere intentions, we must possess sound knowledge (according to the Qur’an and Sunnah) so that we give the correct information to those whom we are advising. Sounds easy, right? Not so fast. I’m sure that in our experience with giving da’wah, we’ve realized that it can be quite difficult. You see, when we put ourselves out there, we make ourselves vulnerable to any backlash from those whom we are trying to advise. Unfortunately, with the whisperings of Shaytan and the evils of our own souls, this constant negativity that our da’wah seems to produce may discourage us from giving da’wah all together – which begs the question: how do we pursue the act of giving daw’ah in the face of our adversaries? One answer is: through patience. The story of Prophet Noah (PBUH) provides vivid examples of how the utilization of patience in da’wah leads, with the will of Allah (SWT), to ultimate success. Patience during the deliverance of da’wah.
“We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, “O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous Day.” (Al-‘A`raf 7:59)
“[Noah] said, ‘O my people, there is not error in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.’” (Al‘A`raf 7:61) In giving da’wah, Noah (PBUH) was clear his purpose; he was able to simultaneously call his people (who were staunch idol-worshipers) to tawheed and warn them of the Day of Judgment, while knowing that they
believed in neither. Despite the stubborn and arrogant of people he was dealing with, Noah (PBUH) patiently defended the call to Allah (SWT) and pronounced who he was (a messenger) with confidence and fear in only Allah (SWT). Here, we learn the importance of not only emphasizing tawheed and delivering da’wah with clarity, but remembering to never allow our emotions to override our patience when calling to the way of Allah (SWT). Patience with loved ones.
And Noah called to his Lord and said, “My Lord, indeed my son is of my family; and indeed, Your promise is true; and You are the most just of judges!” (Hud 11:45)
He said, “O Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant.” (Hud 11:46) I remember a sheikh once saying that the hardest people to give da’wah to are your own family members. This could be because they know a side of you (maybe a more sinful side) that the public does not, and so their perception of you could result in them not taking you seriously at all. Or, while it is sometimes deemed as disrespectful to correct the ways of those who are older than you, correcting the ways of those who are younger than you becomes difficult when they are being influenced by their peers, media, etc. So what do you do? Give up? Noah (PBUH) refused to give up on his son (who was among the disbelievers) even as the punishment had fallen upon his people. Noah (PBUH) tried, until the very last moment, to guide his son to Islam and even supplicated to Allah (SWT) for him; but in the end, he accepted the decree of Allah (SWT) with a beautiful patience (especially as a father).
Patience with those who hurt you.
They said, “O Noah, you have disputed us and been frequent in dispute of us. So bring us what you threaten us, if you should be of the truthful.” (Hud 11:32)
They said, “If you do not desist, O Noah, you will surely be of those who are stoned.” (Ash-Shu`ara 26:116)
The people of Noah denied before them, and they denied Our servant and said, “A madman,” and he was repelled. (Al-Qamar 54:9) We’ve all been attacked, one way or another, during our experiences in giving da’wah. Whether it is through the rude stares, harsh comments, outright rejection, or sometimes physical violence, the feelings of disappointment, frustration, and sadness that follow are one and the same. However, we should find solace in knowing that many – if not all - of the prophets, including Noah (PBUH) went through a chastisement from their OWN people that was far worse. As the verses indicate, Noah’s people belied his message and mocked him by asking him to bring the punishment that he warned of. Furthermore, they threatened to physically harm him and insulted him on a personal level by questioning his sanity. Amidst all of this, Noah was perseverant and continued to call them to tawheed – another excellent display of the power of patience. Patience through reliance on Allah (SWT)
[Noah] said, “My Lord, support me because they have denied me.” (Al-Mu’minun 23:26)
So he invoked his Lord, “Indeed, I am overpowered, so help.” (Al-Qamar 54:10) Despite the anguish, agony, struggle, and difficulty that Noah (PBUH) had gone through with his unyielding people, he remembered to turn to The One who could make all things possible. For him, when all hope seemed to be lost for those whom he had been giving da’wah too, he did not give up. Instead, he turned to Allah (SWT) to sort the affairs between him and his people. From this, we learn that even when our da’wah seems to be unsuccessful, making dua (supplication) to Allah (SWT) with sincerity is a far superior route to take than simply giving up. Patience in time. Finally, from Noah (PBUH), we learn the true meaning of perseverance and consistency. As stated in the Qur’an, Noah (PBUH) stayed amongst his people for 950 years (Al-Ankabut 29:14). That’s 950 years of giving da’wah! How many of us could last even a year without feeling – or being – defeated? Time seemed to only increase Noah (PBUH) in the persistence (as opposed to the dampening) of his act of da’wah. As stated in the beginning, it is only sincerity in the act of da’wah that could propel one to remain as patient (or at least close) as Noah (PBUH). For Noah (PBUH), time did not signify defeat, and instead, it meant a furthering in the opportunity to call the disbelievers to Allah (SWT). Subhaan Allah. Dear brothers and sisters, this is a reminder to myself, first and foremost. We may not have 950 years, nor may we have the patience of a prophet, but in analyzing the way that Noah (PBUH) used patience as a crutch to support himself and his Call, we can begin to learn the art of patience in giving da’wah (bi’ithnillah). And Allah (SWT) knows best.
The life of the Companions
The Virtue of Patience by Habiba Ghanem
Narrated Anas: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity.” [Bukhari Book 23 Hadith 389] In our lives we are going to be faced with many difficult problems. Sometimes we are going to think that our worlds are crashing down. This life is a struggle. What we need to have when facing any adversity is patience. The greatest people to look up to and to use as examples are the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) and his companions. Anâs Radhi-Allâhu 'anhu reports that Nabî Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam has said: "From among the women of the world who have reached perfection and who are worthy of following are: Miryam the daughter of Imrân; Khadija daughter of Khuwailid; Fatima daughter of Muhammad and Asiyah wife of Fir'aun" (Tirmidhi) Do you think that these women were honored with such a title without going through hardships? Of course not. Let’s take a closer look at just a few of the hardships that these women faced. Khadija Daughter of Khuwalid: The night when Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) got his first revelation at mount Hira, he ran back to his house shivering, Khadija was there to console him. She was the first to listen to him and she was the first there to support him as he took his role as the Prophet of our Ummah; she was always there for the Prophet (PBUH). This new responsibility was a heavy load and at night when Khadija couldn’t sleep she would pray to Allah (SWT). To further show her support Khadija became the first person to accept Islam as her deen. When people turned their back on the prophet and gave him a hard time, Khadija was the rock of support. She would support the Prophet (PBUH) and the believers with her wisdom and money. Throughout the course of events that took
place, Khadija’s faith and love for Allah (SWT) kept growing. Khadija’s strong and loving character captured the heart of not only the Prophet (PBUH), but her character touched and inspired many people to enter the faith of Islam (Malik). Asiyah Wife of Farun: Asiyah was married to a cruel man; Farun. She was among the people who announced their faith to Allah and His messenger Moses. Upon declaring her faith, Farun tortured her. He pinned her to the ground in the scorching sun. But Asiyah’s faith was too strong to be shaken and whenever Farun would look away angels would use their wings to shield her from the sun. Her patience kept her strong enough to endure the pain. Her faith made her turn and pray to Allah (SWT) as she dreamt of her home in Jannah. Farun then gave her a choice; she could either she give up her belief or have a boulder end her life. Asiyah refused to give up her belief, she chose to die and asked Allah for a home in Jannah far away from evil (Siham). Maryam Daughter of Imran: Allah provided Maryam with a tough plight. A situation so tough, that her chastity came in to questioning. Her test later became knows as one of history’s greatest miracles; the birth of Eissa. Maryam the daughter of Imran had always been a devout follower. When the angles sent her this revelation, she went in to seclusion. Her faith in Allah never decreased, even when people started accusing her of adultery and Allah didn’t leave her side. When she went to her clan carrying her child, they started questioning her. But Maryam didn’t reply, she just pointed at baby Eissa. At that moment baby Eissa spoke to the people and declared; “I am the servant of Allah who has given me the Book and made me a Prophet." (19:30) (Siham)
Fatimah Daughter of Muhammed (PBUH): After her mother’s death Fatimah took on the role as the beacon of comfort to the Prophet (PBUH). She was also benevolent with the people just as her mother Khadija was. Fatimah was married to Ali son of Abi Talib. They led a life of extreme poverty but despite her circumstances Fatimah never lost her humility. To make ends meet she was a grinder of corn and he was a drawer of water. One day after they both came back from work exhausted Ali suggested that Fatima ask her dad to give her some of the servants that were captured in one of the battles. When Fatimah and Ali went to the Prophet (PBUH) he rejected their request because other people were more in need than they were. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) later came to their house and told them to recite three things after prayer and before they fell asleep; Subhanna Allah (Glory be to Allah), El hamdu Allah (Praise be to Allah), and Allahu Akbar (Allah is great), for the reward and ease provided by those words are much better than having servants (“Fatimah bint Muhammed”). In the face of great adversity these women were confident that Allah would prevail. Their faith surpassed and eased their grave struggles. When you face adversity you need to know that Allah (SWT) will never leave your side, you need to be sure that He will get you through whatever hardships you face. Be patient. Don’t lose faith. This life is nothing but trials; a test that we should aim to pass. "If you see Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, holding back this world from you, frequently trying you with adversity and tribulation, know that you ... hold a great status with Him. Know that He is dealing with you ... as He does with His Awliya’ and chosen elite, and is watching over you" --Al Ghazali
Excerpts from a Follower’s life
Al-Hasan Al-Basree Hajjaj & Patience by Shazad Khan
As salamu alaikum brothers and sisters. I want to present to you a story of al-Hasan al-Basree, one of the most renowned tabi’een. In this story, we will learn about patience, according to the way prescribed by Allah. Ibn Sa'd relates in his Tabaqaat al-Kubraa (7/163-165): A group of Muslims came to al-Hasan al-Basree seeking a verdict to rebel against al-Hajjaaj [a tyrannical and despotic ruler]. So they said, "O Abu Sa'eed! What do you say about fighting this oppressor who has unlawfully spilt blood and unlawfully taken wealth and did this and that?" So al-Hasan said, "I hold that he should not be fought. If this is a punishment from Allah, then you will not be able to remove it with your swords. If this is a trial from Allah, then be patient until Allah's judgement comes, and He is the best of judges." So they left al-Hasan, disagreed with him and rebelled against al-Hajjaaj - so al-Hajjaaj killed them all. Al-Hasan used to say, "If the people had patience when they are being tested by their unjust ruler, it will not be long before Allah will give them a way out. However, they always rush for their swords, so they are left with their swords. By Allah! Not even for a single day did they bring about any good." It is narrated from al-Hasan al-Basree (d.110), as mentioned in Minhaj us-Sunnah of Shaikh ulIslam (4/528): Verily, al-Hajjaaj is the punishment of Allah. So do not repel the punishment of Allah with your own hands. But you must submit and show humility, for Allah the Most High stated, "And indeed We seized them with punishment, but they humbled not themselves to their Lord, nor did they invoke (Allah) with submission to Him." (Al-Mu'minun 23:76).
And also from al-Hasan al-Basree, as occurs in Adaab Hasan al-Basri, of Ibn al-Jawzee, (pp.119120): Know - may Allah pardon you - that the tyranny of the kings is a retribution (niqmah) from among the retributions of Allah the Most High. And Allah's retributions are not to be faced with the sword, but they are to be faced with taqwaa and are repelled with supplication and repentance, remorse (inaabah) and abstention from sins. Verily, when the punishments of Allah are met with the sword, are more severe. And Maalik bin Deenaar narrated to me that al-Hajjaaj (Ibn Yoosuf) used to say, "Know that every time you commit a sin Allah will bring about a punishment from the direction of your ruler (sultaan)". And I have also been told that a person said to al-Hajjaaj, "Do you do such and such with the Ummah of Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihi wasallam)?" So he replied, "For the reason that I am the punishment of Allah upon the people of Iraaq, when they innovated into their religion whatever they innovated, and when they abandoned the commands of the their Prophet (alaihis salaam) whatever they abandoned. Now, I know these days there are a lot of revolutions going on in the Middle East especially, and this is an extremely sensitive topic. If you look at the advice above, we can realize that the answer to any tyrannical ruler is simply patience, and hope in Allah, that He will deliver His justice and mercy upon all of the Muslims. InshaAllah, we can take a message from these stories, and the knowledgeable al-Hasan al-Basree, may Allah bless him. My dear brothers and sisters, the answer to all our problems lie in trust in Allah, doing things according to His way, as practiced by our prophet Muhammad (SAWS), and the first two generations after him. May Allah guide us all, inshaAllah.
A Scholar’s Insight
The way to Patience and Gratitude by Drina S.Sallah
Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, referred to as “the scholar of the heart” is the author of many books, and in one book, he delved into patience in The Way to Patience and Gratitude. Filled with verses from Al-Quran as well as narrations of hadiths, Ibn al-Qayyim defines patience, its rulings and talks about the difference between the patience of noble and ignoble people, factors that support patience, and the hardest form of patience. He included a chapter (22) on a debate about the superiority between the grateful rich and the patient poor with textual proofs in the chapters that follow. He also raised the question on level of priority of patience and gratitude; which deserves more. In Chapter One, Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah defined sabr (patience) as restriction and detention. “In Islam, it means to prevent one’s soul from reaching the point despair and panic, and to refrain from tearing one’s clothes out of grief.” Ibn al-Qayyim opined that there are different degrees and levels to patience and the differences; the depth of the emotion varies “during times of ease and times of hardship”. Therefore there is no one level of patience. He outlined the ways one is allowed to express one’s affliction without complaining or despairing that does not contradict patience.When you complain of your distress to Allah SWT (if it does not conflict with the elements of patience), you are still being patient. There is another type of complaining which does contradict patience, and that is airing grievances to people, particularly if it is about Allah SWT. However, if one does so with the right niyyah (intention), such as getting advice, for example, when a patient talks about his illness to his doctor, then it does not violate the rule of patience. Ibn Qayyim talks about the two forces that exist in each person; one that drives a person towards
something that benefits him, and the restraining force which holds him back from what may harm him.According to the scholar, a person may be patient with situations that benefit them in the end, but when it comes to those that harm him, “they become weak”. “They might have enough patience when performing acts of worship, but have no patience in suppressing their desires. On the other hand, there are some people who have a lot of patience in controlling their desires but fail to keep patient when performing acts of worship. Some other people have no patience in either.” The best of people, Ibn Qayyim said, are those who are able to master patience in worship and in suppressing desires. “The battlefield is one’s heart, patience, courage and steadfastness.” Patience also go by different names, such as forgiveness, chastity, forbearance, discretion, according to the situation that it refers to in which Ibn al-Qayyim elaborates in Chapter 3: Connotative Meanings of Patience. He also mentioned “perfect patience” which is being patient in the face of Allah SWT’s judgment. “Patience in what is ordered and what is forbidden is the patience of the followers of the Prophets. The best of them is the most patient.” Two editors and five translators were involved in producing the English version of this book. Altogether it has 26 chapters and 507 pages. The author’s real name is Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr. He was a famous Sunni Islamic jurist, commenta-
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Mother of Patience by Nada Bedwihy
Can you imagine a mother with a 26 year old son who is physically and mentally retarded? It is a kind of story for motherhood and satisfaction (Al Reda & Sabr.) They are living alone at her dad’s house after her husband refused to take this gift from ALLAH and left them both after discovering that his boy is sick. That boy can’t talk or hear anything. I was sitting there watching him when he made a sound along with signaling his hands for his mum to come. His mum runs to him, kisses his head, and hugs him. He then makes another sign teling her that he wants her to touch the chair he is sitting on. I tried a lot not to watch him but I couldn’t hold myself. I watched this miracle and this love story between the mother and her only son. She loves him more than anything even if he never told her MUM, he never brought her a gift, and he never gave her a kiss. Allah (SWT), the mighty Lord, gave her love in her heart the moment she saw her son. How does she have all of that patience? Everytime I see this woman, she is always laughing out loud. I even get curious, why would she laugh and smile that hard when she is constantly burdened with this test from Allah (SWT)? She always spread laughter and joy all over the place she lived in. She has a talent in designing napkins and she used that talent to make a small business for life. Allah (SWT) has granted her success. Lessons from this story: It’s not about what one looks on the outside, but what is ones heart and belief. Don’t judge people with their appearance. Look always to the bright side in your life. You will be much more content and happier. Don’t stare at retarded person.Thank Allah (SWT) for all graces you have.Be satisfied with what you have and with what you dont have. Patience is way to Jannah.When Allah (SWT) closes a door, He just opens a window. Be patient. This young man will stand with his mum inshaAllah, hand in hand, walking through Jannah, talking, and smiling. He will be everything she ever had dreamed of seeing in a son.