Ramadan of Victory: Patience in Trials – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
This is the second in a thirty-part series, in which we will explore the keys to attaining that divinely promised victory. Allah (Most High) also tells us, “If you give victory to Allah, He will give victory to you.” [Quran, 47:7]
The second key to Victory is patience and steadfastness in trials.
Allah (Most High) tells us, “O you who believe seek help through patience and the prayer, truly Allah is with those who are unerringly patient.” [Quran, 2:153]
This is a Divine call, a guidance from Allah, and a promise. The call is to seek assistance in patience and the prayer. When tested, these are two sources of strength and two great sources of Victory.
What is Patience (Sabr)?
Patience feels bitter but it is true strength. Patience is to see the test as being from Allah. Patience is to see the test as an opportunity to seek the pleasure of Allah. Patience is then to determine what course of action and response is pleasing to Allah and then to hold oneself firm to the response that is pleasing to Allah without any objection whatsoever.
That is why many scholars suggest referring to sabr as steadfastness: holding oneself firm to the pleasure of Allah (Most High). And if one does so, the Divine promise is: “truly Allah is with those who are unwaveringly patient.”
It is strength which you may not initially see but if you hold fast to this, you will feel the closeness of Allah in this life: “I am indeed near”, as Allah promises in the Quran.
“Grieve not,” as the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) told Sayyidina Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) as they were in the cave, “Grieve not, truly it is Allah who is with us.”
That is a promise in this life: those who hold fast to it find that reality of ‘withness’, of the closeness of Allah in eternity, “those are the ones drawn close by Allah in Gardens of Eternal Bliss.”
That is the ultimate Victory which we attain through steadfastness. Also, by knowing what worldly responses are pleasing to Allah in ourselves, holding ourselves to prayer, to following the Sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), to good character, to taqwa, to gratitude, to service, to seeking knowledge, to consistency in our actions, we find Divine success in the good of this life. But most importantly, we find the eternal good with Allah (Most High).
May we find victory in ourselves, victory in our societies, and victory in the umma.
