The Qur’an on Patience, Steadfastness, Resolve, Mindfulness, and Success – 3.200

Surat ‘Ali `Imran] – The Holy Qur’an – القرآن الكريم

“Believers, be patient; outdo others in patience; remain resolute; and be mindful of Allah, in order that you may succeed.” [Qur’an, 3.200]

Tafsir al-Jalalayn:
O you who believe, be patient, in [performing] acts of obedience, in the face of afflictions and in refraining from acts of disobedience, and vie in patience, with the disbelievers, lest they be more patient than you; be steadfast, persist in the struggle; fear God, in all of your circumstances, so that you will prosper, [so that] you will win [(f: the Pleasure of Allah and) admittance to] Paradise and be delivered from the Fire.

Key terms:

Patience (sabr) is to remain firm on what is pleasing to Allah.

Remaining resolute (ribat) is to hold oneself down on those matters that will strengthen one’s faith and help one attain Allah’s pleasure; and to persist in struggling for His pleasure.

Mindulness (taqwa) is to shield oneself from all that displeases Allah. The mindfulness of faith (iman) is to shield oneself from eternal punishment through faith. The mindfulness of submission (islam) is to shield oneself from sin through obedience. The mindfulness of spiritual excellence is to shield oneself from heedlessness and distraction through complete turning to Allah Most High.

Complete success (falah) is attaining unto the good of this life and the absolute good of the next life, in the ways most pleasing to Allah.

And Allah alone gives success.

Faraz Rabbani