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There are a few issues like patience which has been repeatedly emphasized in Quran. Patience has been mentioned for 70 times in Quran and most of them addressed prophet Muhammad (PBUH). (Nemuneh, Vol.1, P.518)
Histories of Great men underlines that one or the most important factor of their success is perseverance and patience. Those who do not have this characteristic become disappointed sooner in difficulties; so it could be said that the role of this factor in the individuals and community promotion is more important than the availability of facilities, intelligence and talent. (ibid)
The necessity of patience for believers:
Quran Says: «یا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اسْتَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلاَةِ إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ«
O ye who believe! Seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely Allah is with those who patiently persevere. (Baqara, Verse 153).
Besides commending patience, this holy verse states that one of the factors which strengthen the patience is asking God for help (seek help) because in difficulties human being needs support. Praying join human to the authoritative source, otherwise if a believer in his long way in this world towards a defined target and direction is impacted by any bad incident and lose part of his spiritual vitality, no longer he can continue his way.
Showing tolerance and patience when facing these main incidents help us to maintain mental vitality and strengthen the iron will.
Prophets’ patience:
When Patience is necessary for the believers, naturally it would be more necessary for prophets. Since the main purpose of sending prophets is guidance and reconstruction of the human societies, they must be more tolerant against opponents, astrays, mammonists and... . God speaks about Prophets’ patience to Muhammad (PBUH):
«وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُواْ عَلَى مَا كُذِّبُواْ وَأُوذُواْ...»
And certainly apostles before you were rejected, but they were patient on being rejected and persecuted our help come to them. (Anam, 34)
In fact, this verse mentions a general principle that righteous leaders of societies during their mission to guide masses of peoples with religion and practical plans always face with opposition of some people whose interests are at risk. (Nemuneh, vol.5, p.212)
Obviously, those prophets who had new Sharia and religion were faced with more problems. So to deal with them, they need stronger determination and decision; these prophets are called Resolute Prophets (ulu-al-Azm). (Nemuneh, vol.21, p.378)
Their patience is examplified. So God in Quran says to Muhammad (PBUH):
«فَاصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُوا الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ...»
Therefore patiently persevere, as did [all] messengers of inflexible purpose... (Ahqaf, 35)
You are not the only one who faced with opposition and hostility of the people, the great prophet Noah (PBUH) had been inviting people for 950 years but just a small group accepted his invitation and others hurt and mocked him constantly. They threw Abraham (PBUH) into the fire and threatened Moses (PBUH) with death. Also people wanted to kill Jesus (PBUH) after a lot of harassments but the Lord saved him. (Nemuneh, vol. 21, p. 377)
God commanded Muhammad (PBUH) to be patient like the Resolute Prophets (ulu-al-Azm). Because Islam is a global and public religion, therefore the enemies of this religion are more than other religions to such extent that Muhammad (PBUH) said: none of the prophets had been bothered as much as me.
So, the founder of such religion needs a greater tolerance and patience and because of this, God has commanded his prophets to be patient in many cases. In a general view, most of these verses are in Meccan Suras because during the thirteen years of presence the Prophet`s in Mecca, Quraysh annoyed the Prophet in any form such as torturing, insulting, ridiculing, defaming, economical sanction and depriving from all social rights and also they used all tools to fight with the Prophet and his companions. (Kashf Al-Ghamah Fi Ma'arifat Al-Aiamah, vol. 2, p. 537)
After explaining Noah`s (PBUH) painful history and his people`s opposition, Quran adds:
«تِلْكَ مِنْ أَنبَاء الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهَا إِلَيْكَ مَا كُنتَ تَعْلَمُهَا أَنتَ وَلاَ قَوْمُكَ مِن قَبْلِ هَذَا فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ الْعَاقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ»
Such are some of the stories of the unseen, which we have revealed unto thee: before this, neither thou nor thy people knew them. So persevere patiently: for the End is for those who are righteous. (Hud, 49)
It is said that during the distribution of tools after "Siffin" war, one of the hypocrites said that it was not fair. Muhammad (PBUH) heard this, become sad and said: God blesses Moses (PBUH), he heard more diatribe and showed more tolerance.
Based on God order, Muhammad himself (PBUH) is responsible and should be patient against diatribes and accusations of enemies. Quran says:
««فَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ
Therefore be patient with what they say (Ta Ha, 130)
These accusation are so much that in Quran God repeatedly says:
وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ» »
And be patient with what they say, (Muzzammil, 10)
Obviously God`s attention and grace helps Muhammad (PBUH) to be patient:
وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَ سَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ
Now await in patience the command of thy Lord: for verily thou art in our eyes: and celebrate the praises of thy Lord when thou rise. (Tur, 48)
The sentence" in our eyes “is very subtle interpretation which indicates not only the knowledge of God but also his full support and grace. When a person feels that a great person monitoring him, sees all his activities and efforts and supports him against the enemies, he becomes more robust and responsible. Following the order of being tolerance, God says: when you come out of any assembly, praise and glorify God and get ready to fight the enemy sabotage. (Quran, p 525)
Prophet`s (PBUH) tolerance has great blessings, including attracting friendship and others` love; because he disposed evil with virtue.
«...ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ. وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا».﴿فصلت/34و 35﴾
Nor can goodness and Evil be equal. Repel [Evil] with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as if were thy friend and intimate. And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, - none but persons of the greatest good fortune. ! (Foselat/ Ha Mim, 34 - 35)
It is possible that in some cases agreement cannot be reach by attracting love, rational and emotional arguments and struggle comes up and the enemy wants to invade or violate. Such as the painful situation that prophet saw when the enemy killed his uncle Hamza; they cruelly slited his chest and pulled out his heart and cut off his ears and nose. Prophet became upset this verse was revealed:
.«وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُم بِهِ وَلَئِن صَبَرْتُمْ لَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لِّلصَّابِرينَ. وَاصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلاَّ بِاللّهِ...» (نحل/126 و 127)
And if ye do catch them out, catch them out no worse than they catch you out: But if ye show patience that is indeed the best [course] for those who are patient. And do thou be patient, for thy patience is but from Allah; nor grieve over them: and distress not thyself because of their plots. (Nahl, 126-127)
Although the Hamza death was difficult for the Prophet, and perhaps it was the most painful moments of his life, the prophet again chose the approach of forgiveness which God ordered.
Forgiveness and patience are effective if they will be done without any expectancy; i.e. only done for Allah.
It means that at every stage and level, patience makes human closer to God and cause individuals to rely more on him. When people face with problems and disasters and life challenges hit him and put him under pressure, if he doesn't lose his hope, doesn’t cry and weep, and show tolerance, his relationship with God will become stronger and his heart and soul will become more bright and clear by the presence of God's light in it. The fair enunciation that Allah has given in the Qur'an about patience is this divine promise which says: والله مع الصابرين (بقره/249)
Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere. (Baqara, 249)
This accompany with patients is special accompany which brings them divine the supervision, support and assistance.
After continuous positive bearing of difficulties in the way of faith and stamina against the negative factors human can overcome his self and adversities. So this man who has passed all these stages, and resisted as strong as steel against problems become ready and liable. Stability against adversity and struggle to overcome is productive and strength human.
…»…وَعَسَی أَن تَکْرَهُواْ شَیْئًا وَهُوَ خَیْرٌ لَّکُمْ وَعَسَی أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَیْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّکُمْ»
There are a lot of things that are good for you but you do not like them and vice versa, if we consider two trees, one of them grow beside a river and the other in the desert; the first one will die without water after two days but the tree in a desert will stand against winds, storm and dry air.
If we show tolerance against Problems of life it will be applicable and useful.
شماره نشریه: شمیم نرجس شماره 27