In a recent live session within Awakenings Academy, we explored a profound concept rooted in the Qur’an, where Allah Almighty declares, “Verily, God is with the patient” (Qur’an 2:153). This session delved into the deep spiritual significance of patience, offering insights into how it serves as a roadmap for believers navigating the trials and tribulations of life. Patience, or sabr, is more than just a passive state of waiting—it is a path to transcendence, an ascent beyond the material world and its associated problems, into a deeper connection with our Lord and Creator.
Verily, God is with the patient.
Surah al-Baqarah, 2:153
God is with the Patient
As discussed during the session, hardships and difficulties are not meaningless; they serve a divine purpose. These challenges are the very means by which we are guided to our true selves and to the sacred potential within us as servants and vicegerents of the Divine. They present opportunities for growth, for developing the capacity to be truly present with God, and for realizing our divine purpose. When we focus on the world and its problems, we become overwhelmed and trapped by it. However, by shifting our focus onto Allah Almighty through patience and worship, we begin to awaken spiritually.
Patience as a Path to Transcendence
Patience is the key to rising above the lower consciousness that ties us to the material world. It is through patience that we begin to transcend the very source of our problems, entering into a new realm of possibilities—a reality that is free from the limitations of the lower world. This is the essence of what it means when Allah says He is with the patient. Although God is always with us, it is through patience that we develop the ability to be with Him, to rise above our circumstances and enter into a state of higher consciousness where the problems of the lower world no longer hold power over us.
As we explored in the session, when we exercise patience, we are not merely enduring difficulties; we are actively rising above them. Our spirit, our soul, begins to ascend, and we start to perceive our challenges from a higher perspective—a perspective in which those challenges diminish in significance and eventually become non-existent. This shift in consciousness is a direct result of patience, which allows us to enter a new state of being, a new reality that is more closely aligned with the Divine.
The Reward for Patience
The reward for patience, as discussed, is not just relief from hardship but also a deepened spiritual connection with Allah. This reward is not limited to those who are learned or scholarly; rather, it is available to anyone who can embody patience and good character. As the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “I was sent but to perfect good character.” The true measure of a believer’s success is not how much knowledge they have accumulated but how well they have cultivated a sound heart and good character.
Patience is a manifestation of good character, and it is through good character—through adab (proper conduct)—that we honor the presence of Allah Almighty in our lives. This good conduct must be consistent, not just in the presence of others but also in the solitude of our own hearts. It must be evident in our interactions with everyone, from our closest family members to strangers we meet in passing. This is the path of excellence that leads to true spiritual success.
“I was only sent to perfect good character.”
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (al-Muwatta of Imam Malik)
Conclusion
In conclusion, patience is far more than a passive acceptance of difficulties; it is an active process of transcendence. By embracing patience, we rise above the challenges of the material world and draw closer to our Creator. It is through this divine connection, cultivated by patience, that we fulfill our true purpose as believers and servants of Allah Most High. Let us strive to embody patience in all aspects of our lives, knowing that through patience, we ascend to a higher state of being, closer to the Divine, and ultimately, to the realization of our sacred potential.
2 Responses
Brother Ihsan,
It is easy for those of us from a place of comfort to espouse the ethos of “this too shall pass.”
Would one feel genuine espousing this ideology to a mother in Gaza, who is told to “wait and stay patient”…. who does so….and finds her children bodies in a thousand pieces under rubble the next morning?
Or as I see everyday in my career, to tell weeping parents that “be patient, this is Allah’s will” for your child to die of an untreatable, crushingly-painful bone cancer?
I wrote a rather strongly worded comment to a so-called “sheikh” on his YouTube channel who had the brazen audacity to say celebrate if your child has died, because “Allah has chosen you for greater challenges”.
I wrote [sic] “ While I am sure it’s genuine, for you to say ‘be grateful’, to a mother holding the body bags of her five dead children in Gaza is not only absurd…. but utterly cruel.”
Some human pain simply cannot be solaced by words, meditation or even prayer . I even have troubles with A. Helwa’s phrase to see pain not as an “interruption “, but an “intervention “ to be sycophancy candy for deep, existential suffering.
Peace and blessings brother.
Nader
Peace and light, dear brother Nader. Far be it from us to advise those who are undergoing hardships and difficulties that we ourselves have not borne nor able to imagine, such as the suffering of so many mothers and fathers currently under the worst of conditions afflicted by tyrants and devils.
Nevertheless, the truth is that it is only faith that can provide us each the strength and fortitude necessary to withstand our own personal trials. We must also remember that Allah Almighty does not try those with a burden greater than they can bear [2:286], and that His promise is true.
May Allah give us the strength individually and collectively to enjoin good and prevent evil, and may He Almighty alleviate the pain and suffering of the innocent. The events of the day are a wake-up call for us as believers and as human beings. We must purify and prepare ourselves, for peace and justice must be established, and divine anger will be severe to they who oppress and abuse.