Patience in islam has great importance as Allah has made patience like a horse that never gets tired, an army that can never be defeated and a strong fortress that can never be breached.
Patience and victory are twin brothers, for victory comes with patience, relief comes with distress and ease comes with hardship. Patience is of more help to the one who has it than men, as it helps without any need for equipment or numbers and its relationship to victory is like that of the head to the body.
In the Quran, Allah has guaranteed those who are patient that He will give them reward without measure.
He tells them that He is with them by guiding and supporting them and granting them a clear victory. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Surely, Allah is with those who are As‑Saabiroon (the patient)”
[al-Anfaal 8:46]
Allah has made leadership in terms of religion conditional upon patience and certain faith, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And We made from among them (Children of Israel), leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)”
[al-Sajdah 32:34]
Allah tells us that patience is better for those who are patient, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“But if you endure patiently, verily, it is better for As‑Saabiroon (the patient)”
[al-Nahl 16:126]
Allah tells us if we are patient and pious, the plot of the enemy cannot do any harm, even if he is powerful, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“But if you remain patient and become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious), not the least harm will their cunning do to you. Surely, Allah surrounds all that they do”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:120]
Allah tells us that the patience and piety of his Prophet Yoosuf brought him to a position of power and strength, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, he who fears Allah with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the Muhsinoon (good‑doers) to be lost”
[Yoosuf 12:90]
Allah has connected success to patience and piety, and the believers understand that. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allah, so that you may be successful”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:200]
Allah tells us that He loves those who are patient, and that is the greatest encouragement. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And Allah loves As-Saabiroon (the patient)”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:146]
Allah has given glad tidings of three things to those who are patient, each of which is better than that for which the people of this world envy one another. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“but give glad tidings to As‑ Saabiroon (the patient). 156. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.157. They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones”
[al-Baqarah 2:155-157]
Allah exhorts His slaves to seek help with patience and prayer when facing calamities that may befall a person. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And seek help in patience and As-Salaah (the prayer) and truly, it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khaashi‘oon [i.e. the true believers in Allah — those who obey Allah with full submission, fear much from His punishment, and believe in His Promise (Paradise) and in His Warnings (Hell)]”
[al-Baqarah 2:45]
Allah states that the victory of attaining Paradise and being saved from Hell will be won only by those who are patient, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, I have rewarded them this Day for their patience; they are indeed the ones that are successful”
[al-Mu’minoon 23:111]
Allah tells us that the desire to earn His reward and to turn away from this world and its adornments is attained only by those who are patient and are believers. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“But those who had been given (religious) knowledge said: “Woe to you! The reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except those who are As‑Saabiroon (the patient in following the truth)”
[al-Qasas 28:80]
Allah tells us that repelling evil with that which is better makes the evildoer become like a close friend. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allah orders the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly) then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend”
[Fussilat 41:34]
Allah has made forgiveness and reward conditional upon doing righteous deeds and being patient, and that is easy for the one for whom He makes it easy. Allah says:
“Except those who show patience and do righteous good deeds: those, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward (Paradise)”
[Hood 11:11]
Allah tells us that patience and forgiveness are among the things recommended by Allah and those who pay heed to this will never lose, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives, that would truly be from the things recommended by Allah”
[al-Shoora 42:34]
Allah commanded His Messenger to wait patiently for His Decision, and told him that his patience is not but from Him, and by virtue of patience all calamities become easy, as He said (interpretation of the meaning):
“So wait patiently (O Muhammad) for the Decision of your Lord, for verily, you are under Our Eyes”
[al-Toor 52:48]
