Chapter: On Patience and Gratitude
باب فی الصبر والشکر — صبر اور شکر کے بارے میں
بَابٌ فِي الصَّبْرِ وَالشُّكْرِ — On Patience and Gratitude
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
"O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful." (Al-Imran, 3:200). The author explains: Sabr (patience) has three dimensions — sabr upon obedience to Allah, sabr against sins, and sabr during tribulations. Rabi'ta (remaining stationed) means maintaining vigilance on the spiritual frontiers of the soul against its lower tendencies.
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ
"And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and lives and fruits, and give good tidings to the patient — who, when disaster strikes them, say: 'Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.' Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is those who are the rightly guided." (Al-Baqara, 2:155–157)
The author comments: Tribulation is a test by which Allah distinguishes the patient from the impatient, and a means of raising ranks. The formula of Istirja' (إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ) — 'Indeed to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return' — is the believer's anchor in every calamity.
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ
"And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed: 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favour]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.'" (Ibrahim, 14:7). The author explains: Shukr (gratitude) is not merely uttering Alhamdulillah; it includes using every blessing of Allah — health, wealth, time, faculties — in obedience to Him. Ingratitude brings withdrawal of blessings; gratitude multiplies them.
عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: عَجَبًا لِأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ لِأَحَدٍ إِلَّا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ
Narrated by Suhayb (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'Wondrous is the affair of the believer! All of his affairs are good and this is not the case for anyone except the believer. If good fortune comes to him, he is grateful and it is good for him; if adversity strikes him, he is patient and it is good for him.' (Muslim — Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ)