What is ṣabr (patience) in Islam?

"even if it destroys me with longing. It suffices me that you are pleased, even if my patience consumes me." There are said to be five levels of those who are patient: the patient (ṣābir), the enduring (muṣṭabir), the persevering (mutaṣabbir), the steadfast (ṣabūr), and the exceedingly patient (ṣabbār). The patient is the most general, the enduring is one who has acquired patience and is full of it, the persevering is one who forces themselves to be patient, the steadfast is one whose patience is greater than others, and the exceedingly patient is one who is abundant in patience."

"Patience is of three types: patience by اللّٰه, patience for اللّٰه, and patience with اللّٰه. The first type is patience through seeking help from Him, recognizing that He is the one who grants patience. As اللّٰه says in the القُرْآن: "And be patient, and your patience is not but through اللّٰه." This means that if He does not grant you patience, you will not be patient."

"It is obligatory by the consensus of the community and is considered half of faith. Indeed, faith is composed of two halves: patience and gratitude. Patience is highlighted in the القُرْآن in sixteen different ways. The first way is the command to be patient. اللّٰه says: "O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer" and "And seek help through patience and prayer." He also says: "Be patient and persevere" and "And be patient, and your patience is not but through اللّٰه.""

"He—may اللّٰه have mercy on him—has a work on this subject, in which he elaborated on it in about twenty different ways, but this is not the place to mention them. The purpose here is to discuss patience, its reality, its levels, and its rank. And اللّٰه is the one who grants success. §§U0007§§ Chapter: Types of Patience Patience by اللّٰه, for اللّٰه, and with اللّٰه Chapter: Types of Patience Patience is of three types: patience by اللّٰه, patience for اللّٰه, and patience with اللّٰه."

"It is said of the verse, "Persevere, vie for endurance, maintain resilience," to mean persevere in God, endure for God, and maintain resilience with God. Additional interpretations state patience for God brings enrichment, patience with God entails loyalty, and patience from God is ingratitude. And it is said, "Patience away from you yields disreputable outcomes... patience in all other matters is commended." It is also said, "Patience is fitting in all situations..."

"Al-Shibli cried out such that his spirit almost departed. It is said of the verse, "Persevere, vie for endurance, maintain resilience," to mean persevere in God, endure for God, and maintain resilience with God. Additional interpretations state patience for God brings enrichment, patience with God entails loyalty, and patience from God is ingratitude."

"loss of wealth, illness, blindness, disfigurement, and various forms of tribulation. Patience in these situations is considered one of the highest forms of patience. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, explained that patience in the Qur'an appears in three forms: patience in performing Allah’s obligations, patience in refraining from prohibitions, and patience upon receiving calamity at the first blow."

"Fear God in abandoning it - meaning do not abandon patience, for goodness and safety lie in patience - and the Prophet, may God's peace and blessings be upon him and his family and companions, said: "Patience is to faith as the head is to the body." And it was said: Everything has a reward in proportion, except the reward of patience, for it is boundless and immeasurable. As He, the Exalted, said: "Indeed, the patient will be given their reward" "Patience is to faith as the head is to the body," because patience is involved in every aspect, indeed in every matter of religion, so it is to faith as the head is to a person."

"God Almighty said: "O you who believe, be patient, and vie in patience, and remain steadfast, and fear God so that you may succeed." Surah Al Imran 3:200. He commanded you to be patient, O believer, then to persevere and remain steadfast, to maintain and adhere to it, then warned you against abandoning it, then said: Fear God in abandoning it - meaning do not abandon patience, for goodness and safety lie in patience - and the Prophet, may God's peace and blessings be upon him and his family and companions, said: "Patience is to faith as the head is to the body." And it was said:"

"Certainty is the settling of faith in the heart, in knowledge and in deed. A servant's knowledge may be excellent, yet his soul has no patience when calamities come; rather it flies about. Al-Hasan al-Basri said: "If you wish to see a man of insight who has no patience, you will see him; and if you wish to see a patient man who has no insight, you will see him. But when you see a man of insight who is also patient — that is the man." God the Exalted said: "And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command, when they were patient and had certainty in Our signs." For this reason the soul is likened to fire in the swiftness of its movement and its ruinous effect,"