By Ammar Awais – Team writer Hiba magazine
Sabr is among the core concepts discussed in the Quran, which urges the believers to remain patient and steadfast at all times. It informs us that “Allah loves the sabireen” (Ale Imran 3:146). Moreover, He has promised His eternal reward for those who adopt Sabr as a principle:
“And We will surely give those who exercised sabr their reward according to the best of what they used to do.” (An-Nahl 16:96)
It is important, however, to understand the meaning of Sabr which is sometimes misconstrued as “doing nothing” in the face of adversity.
No doubt, Sabr is about enduring calamities without becoming ungrateful to Allah (swt); it implies forbearance and restraint in difficult circumstances instead of allowing our anger to dictate our actions.
However, there is much more to this beautiful concept of Sabr than just patience or restraint. Sabr includes remaining steadfast and persistent in times of difficulty. It requires resilience and determination, taking concrete measures to end one’s hardship, rather than meekly surrendering to the circumstances. Several incidents from the life of the Prophet ﷺ prove this point.
Sabr and dealing with persecution in Makkah
When the Prophet ﷺ and his followers were persecuted in Makkah for professing Islam, they not only exhibited patience but also undertook measures to end the oppression. This included seeking the customary tribal protection, appealing to people’s conscience, physically fighting back when feasible, and migrating first to Abyssinia and then to Madinah to escape torture.
Sabr and action taken during slander against Aisha (rta) in Madinah
Another notable incident involved a slander against the Prophet’s ﷺ beloved wife, Aisha (rta), which grieved him immensely. While he patiently waited for Allah (swt) to reveal the truth, he simultaneously tried to rectify the situation as part of his portrayal of Sabr. For example, he publicly defended Aisha’s (rta) honour from the pulpit of his mosque, sought action against those who had initiated the slander, and consulted his closest companions regarding Aisha’s (rta) conduct.
In the same way, it is incumbent upon us to exercise true Sabr by striving to end our ordeal. No doubt, for tragedies such as the death of a loved one, patience and reliance upon Allah (swt) might be the only available remedies.
However, for most types of hardships we encounter, there are other practical steps that we can take to lessen our pain, improve our conditions, and emerge successful from the trial we have been subjected to.
For example, someone diagnosed with a painful disease must try to patiently bear the agony, but at the same time, seek the best possible medical treatment to regain their health. A man who loses his job must actively seek an alternative means of livelihood rather than merely grieving over his loss or waiting for something extraordinary to occur.
A woman who suffers domestic abuse must disclose her situation to obtain help and use all relevant means to alleviate her suffering instead of tolerating violence in the name of patience.
Sabr and Prophet Yusuf’s (as) defence against his honour
Similarly, if someone casts aspersions upon us, we must reject the blame and firmly clarify our stance. This was perfectly exemplified by Prophet Yusuf (as) who, when falsely accused of making advances upon a woman, boldly defended himself and declared, “It was she who sought to seduce me.” (Yusuf 12:26) When Yusuf (as) was later imprisoned on the same malicious charge, he combined patience with efforts to prove his innocence and secure an honourable release.
To sum up, someone who embodies Sabr not only remains patient and thankul, but also demonstrates a fighting spirit, deriving motivation from the fact that no difficulty lasts forever. Such a person prefers hope over despair, and perseverance over surrender, thus following the footsteps of the prophets.
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