Beautiful Patience
by Nazia Janar
Winter— her favourite season of the year. As she walks out of her home she looks to the sky— bright blue, with the sun shining high in the distance and a crisp chill in the air. “Subhan’Allah! I love winter!” she says out loud. She smiles and walks on.
As she walks she sees a beautiful family making their way to the park, the kids running eagerly in front while the mother and father follow slowly behind, beaming at the excitement of their kids.
She feels a twinge in her heart, breathing in as she smiles. She walks on and sees a man walking in her direction, carrying a an armful of groceries. Huffing along beside him is a heavily pregnant young woman, her face glowing from new motherhood to come.
The twinge becomes stronger.
She smiles and turns a corner. A car stops on the side, a young man gets out and opens the passenger door for a woman who appears to be his wife. He takes her hand and they walk together, side by side, laughing away. All the while he gazes into his wife’s eyes, finding in them an excitement regarding a beautiful future ahead.
Her heart sinks. Tears begin to form in her eyes. Then she remembers and tells herself: sabrun jameel. She wipes a tear and she smiles— sabrun jameel: beautiful patience.
Just Try!
Patience at times can be difficult to master, but there is no doubt that if we try to be patient Allah (swt) will make it easy for us. Ultimately patience is a gift from Allah (swt).
Whoever tries to be patient, Allah will make him patient. And nobody can be given a better and greater gift than patience. [Bukhari]
What is beautiful patience? Beautiful patience is when you have full tawakkul— complete trust and reliance in Allah (swt). Complete faith that He (swt) will get you through this calamity, that He (swt) will accept your du’a or replace it with something better. Beautiful patience is knowing that whatever calamity has befallen you, it was part of Allah (swt)’s divine decree. Allah (swt) says:
So be patient with beautiful patience. [Quran, 70:5]
Having beautiful patience does not mean you cannot feel sad or cry, Prophet Ya’qub (as) cried so much for the loss of his son that he went blind, yet he was of those who had beautiful patience. He (as) did not complain to Allah (swt); he cried due to the pain of the loss, but he did not lose hope in Allah (swt).
Ya’qub (as) said, I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah , and I know from Allah that which you do not know. O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allah . Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people. [Quran 12: 86:87]
The Prophet (saw) said: And know that victory comes with patience. [At-Tirmidhi]
When you practice patience, you attain victory. When you are patient during times of anger, you are victorious because you are stronger for not having acted upon your anger— much to the displeasure of the Shaytaan. When you are patient during times of sadness and hardship, you are victorious because you’ve gained control over your emotions and kept a firm faith in Allah (swt). Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an: O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. [Quran, 2:153]
Through patience you are gaining the pleasure of Allah (swt). What greater victory could there be? Have sabrun jameel— beautiful patience.
Nazia is an ambitious marketing professional who aims high. She is constantly on a path of learning and strives to leave behind a legacy for the sake of Allah. Heading up I am Alima Publications, Nazia is enthusiastic about making a difference to the Muslim women of today.
Jazakallah khair, well written, esp meaning of Sabrun Jameel
Beautiful explanation of beautiful patience
beautiful article! i lost my dad this year..then my nephew due to my brain tumour…then both my grandparents…all in one year…it has indeed been a difficult year for me and my family but i have full tawakkul in Allah(SWT). He knows why He did what He did and daily i pray for patience..
sorry i meant due to his brain tumour
May Allah continue to grant you beautiful patience my dear sister, you are very strong…Ameen
Sabruun jameel. I knew that it wasn’t easy..all those loss in the same year. In my case, I lost my father in 2008, then my only brother in 2009, then my husband in 2010, then my mother in 2011. We just have to trust in Allah and have a beautiful patience..Indeed He is with the patient!
masha ALLAH! may ALLAH ( SW) increase our imaan & grant me and you all
sabran jameel.
Ameen
may ALLAH SWT give this beautiful patience to all those parents whose daughters are not yet married and years are just passing by…ameen….
Ameen
MashaAllaah, really ebautiful post, it opens our eyes and our hearts, thansk for sharing!
Ma Sha Allah, May Allah make us among those who have sabrun jameel. Jazakumullah Khair .
Ameen
May Allah SWT give Sabrun Jameel to all of us in every matter of life.
Masha Allah,May Allah sw give us patient in our hearts.
Masha Allah a very beautiful writing. May Allah grant all of us Sabrun jameel, Ameen
Ma Sha Allah, May Allah make us among those who have sabrun jameel. Jazakumullah Khair
jazakallah khair
Masha Allah may Allah subhana wata3la guide and grant us patience in sha Allah.Allahuma Aamyn.
Jazakallah
Thankx Sister.
The first part of the article made me cry…. May Allah Bless Us with Hearts that are steady in faith!!!
An excellent article on patience…May Almighty bless us with the real understanding of patience and help us act accordingly.
Jazaka Allah
Jazakallahu khaira dear sister
Being upset due to a loss in a worldly matter, this article opened my eyes to new horizons and I felt greatly relieved. JAZAKALLAH.
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْراً وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى القَوْمِ الكَافِرِينَ
[البقرة :250]
Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabran wa thabbit aqdamana wansurna ‘alal-qawmil-kafirin
Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance, make our foothold sure, and give us help against the disbelieving folk
[2:250]
Ameen
jazakallahukhair for the beautiful reminder.
Innallaha ma”assaabireen
Subhanallah! as a habit i repeat that dua (2:250) 3 times in my sujood in the morning and evening, the experiences of the sisters above really inspires to be patient and truly there is khair in patience, alhamdulillah.
subhanallah…. the article along with few of our brother’s and sister’s real situation , teaching me a great lesson… subhanallah…. its a time in the history, that muslims are going through a serious situation…our brothers and sisters need to realize it… and the trials are more intense as the darkness in the night . with patience may Allah azza wajal give us tolerance…. tolerance among muslim brothers and sisters…….aameen.