THE SUPERIOR APPROACH

Nearly 200 verses in the Quran directly relate to patience (sabr), and many others refer to it indirectly. In essence, the Quran’s teachings are rooted in the spirit of patience. It is entirely accurate to say that the Quran is a book of patience.

Direct commands regarding patience are clear, such as:

•     “Seek help through patience and prayer.” (Quran, 2:45)

•     “Endure patiently whatever may befall you.” (Quran, 31:17)

•     “Exhort one another to steadfastness.” (Quran, 103:3)

•     “Ignore their hurtful talk.” (Quran, 33:48)

These are verses where patience is explicitly mentioned. But many other verses are deeply connected to the idea of patience. For example, the Quran opens with:

“All praise is due to God, the Lord of the Universe.” (1:2)

This verse shows that God desires His creation—human beings—to express gratitude and praise Him.

Yet in the real world, no human being is free from unpleasant experiences. According to the Quran, human life is created in hardship (90:4). Under such conditions, living a life of constant ease and joy is not possible.

So how can someone truly become grateful in the
face of trials?

The answer lies in patience. When a person shows patience during adversity, only then can they sincerely express words of gratitude. That is why the Quran often links gratitude with patience (31:31).

Patience enables a person to discover superior, empowering solutions to problems. If someone becomes agitated and confrontational when facing opposition, they lose the ability to think clearly and respond wisely. But if they remain calm and composed, they become capable of thinking strategically and taking well-planned actions instead of reacting impulsively.

And history has shown again and again that impulsive reactions lead to failure, while thoughtful responses bring success.

Patience is the superior solution to every kind of problem.