Al-Sabr
Definition
Al-sabr — patience — is the quality Musa was warned by al-Khidr that he would be unable to maintain during their journey together: 'How can you have patience with what you have not comprehended?' Despite the warning, Musa questioned al-Khidr after each of the three acts — he could not bear to watch what appeared to be injustice without speaking. Ibn Kathir does not present this as a moral failing but as a human limitation: Musa's objections came from genuine concern for justice, not from selfishness or arrogance. The deeper teaching is that there are realms of divine wisdom so beyond ordinary moral calculation that even the greatest prophet of his era could not maintain patient silence in the face of them — which is itself a form of humility.
As understood in the classical tradition of Ibn Kathir and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Al-Sabr.
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"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."
— Ibn al-Qayyim, Volume Two
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"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."
— Ibn al-Qayyim, Volume Two
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"while the previous one pertains to description and quality. عَلِيّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب, may اللّٰه be pleased with him, said: "Patience is a mount that never stumbles." A man approached الشِّبْلِيّ and asked, "Which type of patience is the hardest for those who are patient?" الشِّبْلِيّ replied, "Patience for the sake of اللّٰه." The questioner said, "No." الشِّبْلِيّ then said, "Patience for اللّٰه." Again, the questioner said, "No." الشِّبْلِيّ continued, "Patience with اللّٰه." The questioner still said, "No." الشِّبْلِيّ asked, "Then what is it?" The man replied, "Patience away from اللّٰه." الشِّبْلِيّ let out a cry that nearly caused his soul to depart."
— Ibn al-Qayyim, Volume Two
Appears in
1 book in the library
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