The Real Definition Of Sabr

Sabr is a word that I'm sure we've all heard many times. We need to know what it means and we need to know what the Quran says about Sabr and we need to know what is required of us as Muslimeen, when it comes to the term Sabr. Some translate it as patience, but let me inform you, patience is only a part of Sabr. 

Patience is only a very small part of Sabr, and its amazing and surprising how many people do not realize the extent of this word. It includes forbearance; It includes endurance; It includes steadfastness; It includes perseverance and it includes restraint. All these terms together make the one word Sabr in the Arabic language. Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala) created us, He brought us into existence and He put us onto this earth in order to test us. The reason why we are here at this moment is to pass the test that Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala) has decided to put us through by the mere fact that He created us, and we need to be conscious of this at every moment of our lives. Every minute is a test from Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala). We need to pass it and we need to protect ourselves from failure, and Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala) warns us and He reminds us and He continues to remind us. He asks us to seek assistance through bearing Sabr, which means being patient, practicing restraint, being forbearant, persevering and so on. 

So let us listen to what Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala) says. He says, in Surat ul-Bakarah: "Wastaeenu bisabri wassalaah..." [2:45] - Seek assistance through sabr, through bearing patience, through restraining yourselves and through prayer - SubhanAllah. Seek assistance to achieve whatever you want, to pass the tests of Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala). Seek assistance to do that by bearing Sabr and by engaging in salah. And Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala) says: "...wa innaha lakabeertun illa a'lal khashi'een" [2:45] - Indeed, it is very difficult to do this except for those who are pious, those who are humble, those who will adopt the laws of Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala) wholeheartedly, for them it will be simple to engage in Sabr. Also Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala) tells us: "Ya ayyuha allatheena amanusta'eenu bissabri wassalah. inna Allaha ma'as sabireen" [2:153] - O you who believe, seek assistance. You need help? Seek help through bearing patience, bearing Sabr and through salah and Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala) says He is definitely with those who bear patience. Then Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala) says at the end of Surat Ale-Imran: "Ya ayyuha allatheena amanu isbiru wasabiru warabitu wattaqu Allaha la'allakum tuflihoon" [3:200] - O you who believe, bear patience and endure and protect the limits of Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala) in order that you may succeed. We ask Allah (Subahaanawa Ta'ala) to grant us success. 

by Mufti Ismail Menk