What Does the Quran Say About Patience? – Muslim and Quran
Patience, known in Arabic as “Sabr” (صبر), is one of the most emphasized practices in Islam. Both the basic sources of guidance in Islam, the Quran and Hadith, have repeatedly advised Muslims to observe patience, even during the worst situations. It is also deeply connected with another very important practice in Islam, known as Tawakkul (تَوَكُّل), which translates to complete trust and reliance on Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. When facing a difficult challenge in life, a Muslim exercises Tawakkul, while sabr (patience) helps avoid panic, complaining, or abandoning responsibilities during that phase of hardship. In simple words, patience helps enhance Tawakkul.
Patience means remaining firm in belief during hardships by controlling emotions and obeying Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, with sincerity. It is a quality that reflects a person’s faith, unwavering trust in Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, and willingness to show perseverance during testing times, while not losing hope. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes that Muslims should observe patience during tough times of life, while explaining its significance in the everyday lives of believers. The same is also repeatedly emphasized and practically exhibited in the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
In short, the Quran says that Allah is with those who are patient (Al-Baqarah 2:153), that patience and prayer are a source of help (Al-Baqarah 2:45), and that the reward for patience is beyond reckoning (Az-Zumar 39:10). This article explains these verses and what else the Quran says about patience.
Patience In Islam
Patience (Sabr) is one of the core teachings of Islam, which demands steadfastness and perseverance during the testing times of life, without ignoring one’s responsibilities or giving up efforts to overcome that hardship. But patience in Islam is not restricted to hardships of life; it also covers some other very crucial aspects of human life in this world. Scholars often describe three different categories of patience, as follows:
- Maintaining Patience in Obeying Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥوَتَعَالَىٰ – Patience in obeying Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ means remaining persistent in the performance of religious obligations, such as prayer (Salah), fasting in Ramadan, charity, and other acts of worship, even when it feels hard or inconvenient. Remaining consistent in obeying Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ during such times is one of the most important forms of patience.
- Observing Patience To Avoid Sins – Life consistently tests a believer with worldly temptations, leading to sinful acts. Similarly, anger can also provoke a person to commit sins. It requires a lot of patience to resist temptations and anger to avoid indulging in sinful acts.
- Practicing Patience During Hardship – It is the most common category of patience, which is directly associated with the worldly affairs of a Muslim. Hardship is a part of human life, which is often seen as a trial and test by most believers. Passing such phases of life with patience, while continuing with physical and personal efforts to overcome this difficult phase of life, is what Islam and the Quran demand from a true Muslim.
All these forms of patience are interconnected; Muslims need patience to remain consistent in worship, be resilient against temptations, and show endurance while passing through tough times of life.
Quranic Verses About Patience (Sabr)
The Quran repeatedly urges believers to observe patience in their lives. The importance given to this concept is clear from the words of Imam Ahmad, quoted by Ibn al-Qayyim, that Allah mentions patience in ninety places in the Quran. Patience has been mentioned in the Quran as one of the most important and basic characteristics of a Muslim. The main purpose of repeated instructions about patience is to urge believers to seek help from Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ during the tough times of life, while maintaining hope and realizing that hardship comes from Him, as a test and trial of His servants.
Some of the Quranic verses mentioning patience (Sabr) are summarized here:
- Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ Helps Those Who Show Patience In Hardships
The 45th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah advises Muslims to practice patience, along with prayers, when difficulties come their way, while also noting that it might be difficult for many except for those who are true servants of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
Translation – Seek help with the Salat and fortitude: no doubt, Salat is a hard task, but not for those obedient servants.
The 153rd verse of Surah Al-Baqarah reemphasizes that patience and prayers are the best options for believers when facing hardships because Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ is always with those who observe patience.
Translation: O Believers, seek help with fortitude and Salat, for Allah is with those who show fortitude.
Similarly, the 125th verse of Surah Aal-e-Imran tells us that Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ help certainly comes for those who observe patience, even though the verse was revealed in the context of battle.
Translation – If you are steadfast and mindful of Allah, even though the enemy should suddenly fall upon you, your Lord will help you even with five thousand marked angels.
- Patience During Trials Brings Blessings And Mercy
The 155th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah says that Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ will surely test His servants with different hardships, and rewards those who remain patient.
Translation – We will surely put you to trial by involving you in fear and hunger and by causing loss of property, life, and earnings. And give good tidings to those who remain steadfast in these trials.
The next two verses (156th and 157th) of this Surah describe the qualities of those who show patience in hardship, and the reward bestowed by Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ on such people.
Translation
156 – When a misfortune comes to them, they say, “We are Allah’s, and we shall certainly return to Him.”
157 – Their Lord will bestow great blessings and mercy upon them; such are the people who are rightly guided.
- Rewards Of Patience Are Not Measured
The Quran describes the rewards of patience as “beyond reckoning” or “without measure”, which means Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ blesses those who show patience without counting. The 10th verse of Surah Az-Zumar puts it this way:
Translation of the relevant part – … Verily those who persevere shall be granted their reward beyond all reckoning.
It also implies that Muslims should not measure the worth of patience merely by instant outcomes; some blessings might not be visible or even recognized by many.
- Patience Brings Strength And Success
Patience among the ranks of Muslims brings collective strength that leads to their success and triumph over the disbelievers. The 65th verse of Surah Al-Anfal describes this concept by urging Muslims to fight in the way of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, giving a comparison between the number of patient believers and disbelievers.
Translation – O Prophet! Rouse the believers to fighting. If they be twenty of you who persevere, they shall vanquish two hundred; and if there be of you a hundred, they shall vanquish a thousand of those who disbelieve, for they are a people who lack understanding.
The next verse (66) eased this burden, saying that a hundred steadfast believers would overcome two hundred, and a thousand would overcome two thousand.
The concept of observing patience individually, and urging others to do so collectively, is also mentioned in the 3rd verse of Surah Al-Asr, as follows:
Translation: Save those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and counsel each other to hold on to truth and counsel each other to be steadfast.
The concept of collective patience is also described in the 250th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah, when the army of Talut sought patience collectively from Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
Translation – Accordingly, when they marched forward to fight with Goliath and his hosts, they prayed, “Our Lord, bless us with fortitude, make firm our foothold and give us victory over the unbelieving host.”
Conclusion
Islam is the ultimate and perfect religion that guides humanity in every aspect of worldly life, as well as for a successful Hereafter. Among its teachings, Islam urges us to show patience during hard and tough phases of life. The Quran declares that the rewards of patience are blessed by Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ beyond reckoning. This shows the virtues of patience in Islam. Patience, along with maintaining Salah (Prayer), is one of those concepts that are repeatedly mentioned in the Quran. The Quran mentions patience as a characteristic of the righteous believers. Hardship might be physical, mental, or spiritual, but those who pass through any of such difficult circumstances with perseverance are blessed by Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ with His help and immeasurable rewards. The Quran also tells us that collective patience by the community brings strength and success against hardships and enemies.
However, patience does not mean that one should discontinue personal and physical efforts to overcome difficulties. Islam and the Quran teach us to keep trying to solve problems within the permissible limits of Islam.
FAQs
1. What is Sabr in Islam?
Sabr is an Arabic word that translates to patience, perseverance, and remaining firm in faith during hardships.
2. How many times is Sabr mentioned in the Quran?
Imam Ahmad said that Allah mentions patience in ninety places in the Quran, as quoted by Ibn al-Qayyim.
3. What is a well-known Quran verse about patience?
The 153rd verse of Surah Al-Baqarah is a well-known verse on patience. It tells believers that Allah is with those who show fortitude.
4. Which Dua can I recite to increase my patience?
A well-known Dua for this purpose is “Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabran wa thabbit aqdamana” (رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا), as mentioned in the 250th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah.
5. Does patience mean one should not cry during hardship?
No, observing patience does not prohibit crying during sadness or hardships, but it urges us to show perseverance while continuing efforts to solve our problems. When his son Ibrahim was dying, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ wept and said, “The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1303).
