What is Patience?

[Authentic Sunnah]

What is Patience?

Bismillaah, wal-Hamdu lillaah, wa Sallallaahu ^alaa Rasoolillaah, Thereafter;

Allaah eternally willed for the human life on the surface of this earth to be a combination of belief and sometimes blasphemy for some, to be a combination of facility and misery, to be a combination of health and sickness, etc. So it is unlikely to see health that is not clouded with sickness, and enjoyment that is not tainted with pain, and meeting that is not followed with departure.

In order to face the changes in this life in the best way, i.e. the afflictions and calamities that hit one, one should observe patience. And the definition of patience is restraining oneself and forcing oneself to endure something that it does not like, or to endure departing/moving away from something that it likes. The person blocks himself and holds himself back, and endures whatever he doesn't like, and also endures being moved away from whatever he likes.

For example, a person does not like to wash his body with very cold water, but the Muslim who is seeking the reward from Allaah goes over this, endures it, and makes wuDoo' with isbaagh, i.e. a perfect wuDoo', as per the hadeeth of the Prophet (isbaaghul wuDoo'i ^indal makaarih)

An example of enduring departing something one likes, is like when Fajr comes in and someone is asleep. They would like to remain sleeping, however, the good Muslim departs that pleasure of sleeping and gets up and prays Fajr in obedience to Allaah.

In both cases the person displays patience for the sake of Allaah.