What is ṣabr (patience) in Islam?
The classical scholars distinguished three kinds of patience: patience in obedience, patience in restraint from sin, and patience in the face of decree. Each one carried its own discipline.
10 passages from 6 books in the library
Ṣabr (patience) is a spiritual discipline that the classical scholars divided into three forms. As al-Ghazali explains in his Iḥyāʾ, patience comes "in three forms, patience in performing Allah's obligations, patience in refraining from prohibitions," and patience in the face of God's decree. He calls it a pillar of repentance, likens it to enduring the bitter medicine that cures the soul, and notes that fasting is "half of patience." The Sufi al-Shibli is cited distinguishing patience for God from patience with Him.
- Patience in performing Allah's obligations (obedience)
- Patience in refraining from what is prohibited
- Patience in the face of God's decree and affliction
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 6 books by Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"is better than patience with them, and patience with them is better than patience with the fire."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Al-Shibli said, Patience in God, and was told no, Patience for God, and was told no, Patience"
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"It is said of the verse, Persevere, vie for endurance, maintain resilience, to mean persevere"
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"in three forms, patience in performing Allah's obligations, patience in refraining from prohibitions,"
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"Therefore, fasting is considered half of patience, because complete patience involves resisting"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Since patience is one of the pillars of maintaining repentance, it is necessary to explain patience,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"one must endure the bitterness of medicine to cure physical ailments, one must endure the struggle"
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"One should be patient and persevere, for if a person becomes accustomed to forsaking resolve,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"If one can endure it and refrain from retaliation, then enduring and patience are conditions of"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"gentleness in what he forbids, and patience in what he commands, patience in what he forbids,"
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