THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENCE
The Quran states that those who are patient will be rewarded by God without measure (39:10). Patience is the path followed by the steadfast Messengers (46:35). According to a hadith, the Prophet of Islam said:“No one has been given a gift better and more expansive than patience.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1469; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1053)
The Quran makes it clear that both worldly and eternal success are built upon the foundation of patience. The following are just a few examples from the Quran:
• Paradise is promised for patience (76:12)
• Salvation and success come through patience (23:111)
• Victory is achieved through patience (8:65)
• Leadership (imamat) is granted through patience (32:24)
• Divine protection is ensured through patience – (3:120)
Why is patience given such great importance? Because patience is the foundation upon which all noble human traits develop. It is through patience that moral character is cultivated—and moral character is the only true ladder to all forms of human excellence. Without patience, there can be no ethics; and without ethics, there can be no success.
Human beings naturally appreciate good character. However, two forces often pull them away from the path of ethics: internal desires and external provocation. Sometimes a person is misled by their inner self; at other times, an external situation provokes them into abandoning good behaviour. Patience acts as a safeguard against both. The quality of patience and forbearance keeps a person within ethical limits and prevents them from crossing those boundaries.
Patience is the completion of human character. It is what makes a person whole. Whoever possesses patience, possesses all virtues. But whoever lacks patience will, in the end, be deprived of all noble qualities.
