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What scholars have said about patience

Some scholars have defined patience as a good human characteristic or a positive psychological attitude, by virtue of which we refrain from doing that which is not good. Human beings cannot live a proper, healthy life without patience. Abû ‘Uthmân said: “the one who has patience is the one who trained himself to handle difficulties.” ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthmân al-Makkî said: “Patience means to keep close to Allâh and to accept calmly the trials He sends, without complaining or feeling sad.” Al- Khawwas said: “Patience means to adhere to the rules of the Qur’ân and Sunnah.”

Patience means not seeing any difference between times of ease and times of hardship, and being content at all times. This is too difficult, and we are not instructed to be like this. Allâh has created us in such a way that we feel the difference between times of ease and times of hardship, and all that we can do is refrain from panicking at times of stress. Patience does not mean feeling the same at both easy and difficult times. That is beyond us, and is not part of our nature.

Another scholar said: “Patience means to refrain from complaining.” ‘Alî ibn Abî Tâlib said: “Patience means to seek Allâh’s help.” Is it better to have patience at the time of difficulty, or to be in a situation which does not require patience?

Having an easy time is better for us than having a difficult time. As the Prophet (PBUH) said in his well known du‘â: “If You are not angry with me, then I do not care what happens to me, but still I would rather have your blessings and your favour.” This does not contradict the hadîth which says, “No-one has ever been given a better gift than patience,” because that refers to after a test or trial has befallen a person. But ease is still better.