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...And be patient and persevering, for Allah is
with those who patiently persevere.
(Qur'an, 8: 46)
Imam
Ja’far al-Sadiq (a) said:
“Verily,
sabr is to faith what the head is to the body. The body perishes
without the head, and so also when sabr goes, faith also
disappears.”
[Al-Kulayni,
al‑Kafi,
vol. 2, bab al‑sabr, p. 128, hadith # 2]
Merits of the Soul …
Patience
(sabr)
When
Imam ‘Ali (a) was asked about faith (iman), he replied: “The
structure of faith is supported by four pillars: Patience (sabr),
Conviction (yaqin), Justice (`adl) and Struggle (jihad).
Then he explained further: ‘Patience comprises of four attributes:
Eagerness, fear, piety and anticipation (of death). So, whoever is
eager for Paradise will ignore evil temptations; whoever fears the fire
of Hell will abstain from sins; whoever practices piety will easily
bear the difficulties and hardships of the life of this world and
whoever anticipates death will hasten to perform good deeds.’”
[Al-Amidi,
Ghurar ul Hikam wa Durar ul Kalim,
hadith # 2897]
The
definition of Sabr
q
The
famous scholar Nasir al‑Din al‑Tusi said: “Sabr means
restraining the self from agitation when confronted with undesirables.”
q
The
great gnostic (`arif) Khwajah `Abd Allah al‑Ansari said: “Sabr
means restraining the self from complaint about hidden anguish.”
The
Kinds and Degrees of Sabr
There are various degrees and levels of sabr
as indicated by the noble traditions and the reward and merit
vary in accordance with degree and level.
q Imam
'Ali (a) said, "The Messenger of Allah (s) said: “Sabr
is of three kinds: sabr at the time of affliction, sabr
in regard to obedience, and sabr in regard to disobedience (of
Allah). And the third one is superior to the first two kinds.”
[Al-Kulayni, al‑Kafi, vol. 2, bab al‑sabr,
hadith # 15]
q Imam
‘Ali (a) said: “Sabr is of two types: sabr on what you
dislike and sabr on what you like.” [Mizan al-Hikmah, hadith # 10099]
Relationship of Sabr and Ma’ rifah
of God
q
As
long as a person feels inner anguish over the misfortunes and hardships
of life, his ma’rifah (gnosis) of God remains deficient. When a
person achieves contentment (rida) and satisfaction at the
misfortunes and adverse conditions, his soul reaches a higher station
of nearness to God. Sabr in regard to abstinence from sins and
fulfilment of duties (ta'at) is related to
deficient knowledge of the secrets of ‘ibadat (worship) and the
hereafterly forms of acts of sin and obedience.
q
When
a person firmly believes that what he is going to obtain in the other
world after death is a form of his own deeds performed in this worldly
life, he will have no distress while going through hardships and
hostile situations. Rather, such a person becomes happy with the
difficulties encountered in the fulfilment of divine duties. His joy
becomes more than the anguish of a normal person over such
difficulties. His attachment to God increases during adverse
circumstances. A manifestation of such a high station of rida
was exemplified in the personalities of companions of Imam Hussain (a)
in the event of Karbala.
q
Imam
Reza (a) said: (among the exhortations of Prophet (s) to Abu Dharr
(ra): “…If you are able to act for the pleasure (rida) of
Allah with firm conviction, than do so. And if this is not possible for
you than practice sabr on unpleasant matters as it will bring
plenty of blessings.” [Al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar,
vol. 82, p. 136, hadith # 21]
The outcome of Sabr
q
Sabr
produces many good results that include soul's training and discipline.
If a person bears patiently with misfortunes and calamities for some
time and seriously endures the hardships entailed during worship, rites
and the bitterness arising from the renunciation of forbidden
pleasures, and if all this is done for the sake of obedience to his
Lord and Provider, it gradually becomes easy for him to bear with the
hardships and difficulties. The soul of a patient person relinquishes
its earlier uncontrolled state and he develops an enduring luminous
faculty that raises him over the station of sabr to reach other
higher spiritual stations. Practicing sabr while enjoining good
and forbidding evil (amr bil ma’ruf wa nahi ‘anil munkar) makes
a person more steadfast and firm.
q
Anguish,
anxiety and untoward body movements at the time of financial loss,
death, natural disasters etc., are the signs of soul's weakness. They
deprive one's personality of stability and dignity, weaken the
determination, and enfeeble the intellect. At such delicate moments, sabr
is key to the gates of felicity and deliverance. It
strengthens the will and the power of resolution to overcome adverse
circumstances, make rational decisions and act wisely.
q
Sabr in
regard to sins is the source of the self's taqwa (fear of God). Sabr
in regard to obedience (ta'at) is the source of intimacy with
God and His love. And sabr in misfortunes is the source of rida
with divine destiny and decrees.
Higher Levels of Sabr
q
Sabr
fi Allah (sabr in God): It means steadfastness while
endeavouring to get rid of evil habits (eg. lying, slandering,
greed) and ugly traits (eg. egoism, hypocrisy, envy) and practicing
abstinence from the objects of love and attraction (eg. avoiding haram
music, giving up sleep for night prayers, eating moderately) during
self-purification. It is the denial of selfhood in the path of the
Beloved (God). This stage belongs to the wayfarers (ahl al‑suluk).
q
Sabr
ma`a Allah (sabr with God): An ardent wayfarer in
the path of God during his sincere ibadat and endeavours reaches
the state of selflessness such that he from time to time witnesses
intimacy with God. The light of His attributes and names illuminates
his heart and vision. He has to be patient and safeguard himself from
minor traces of self-love, pride, etc. during these phases in order to
witness higher stages.
q
Sabr
`an Allah (sabr from God): It pertains to the
stations of lovers of God who after experiencing His intense love have
to return to their own physical world and bear separation from Him. It
is the hardest and the most difficult of the stations. This sublime
level of sabr is indicated by Imam ‘Ali (a) in the famous Du`a
Kumayl “O my God, my Master and my Lord! Even if I were able to
endure Thy chastisement, how shall I bear Thy separation?!”
Sabr
bi Allah (sabr for God): It is the state
of perfection experienced when one achieves the station of
existing only with God (baqa' bi Allah) and moulds
himself with the norms of Allah (takhalluq bi akhlaq Allah). It
is for those blessed with stability and steadfastness, and is attained
after sabr with God.
The reward of Sabr
q Imam
al-Sadiq (a) said: “Whoever of the believers that bears patiently
with a tribulation that befalls him, has the reward of a thousand
martyrs.”[Al-Kulayni, al‑Kafi, vol.2, bab al‑sabr, hadith #
17]
q Imam
al-Sadiq (a) said: “When the believer enters his grave, salat is
on his right hand, zakat on his left, virtue faces him, with
sabr taking him under its shelter. When the two angels encharged
with questioning enter upon him, sabr says to salat, zakat and
virtue, ‘Take care of your companion, and if you fail to assist
him I will take care of him myself.”[Ibid, hadith # 8]
An advice to attain sabr
This world is a believer’s prison. Gather all
the strength at your command and be patient and forbearing throughout
its ups and downs. With courage and fortitude, stand against
adversities and calamities. Make yourself understand that the agitation
and anguish inside you, aside from involving a great disgrace by
themselves, are futile in confrontation with sufferings and calamities.
Be happy with God and don’t complain in front of creatures about His
irresistible decrees and inevitable ordainments. During the times of
hardships, turn your heart's attention to the focal point of Absolute
Perfection (God) and you will witness its effects in this world itself
and your heart will attain such an expanse that it will become the
realm of the manifestation of God's sovereignty. Richness and
contentment will then pervade your heart such that everything related
to this world will become worthless in your eyes. Sabr, forbearance
and restraint bring fair, plentiful rewards and have sublime and
beautiful forms in the world of Barzakh (purgatory). If you have
faith in God and you believe that all the affairs lie in His mighty
hands, you will not complain before God Almighty of the hardships of
life and the adversities that strike you. Rather, you will accept them
willingly, fulfil your duties and thank Him gratefully for His
bounties. [Adopted from Al-Khumayni, Forty Hadith, chapter 16, ‘Sabr’]
Conclusion:
q Imam
‘Ali (a) said: “The one who practices sabr will never be
deprived of success, even though it may take a long time.” [Nahjul Balagha,
saying # 153]
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