Fajr Thoughts: Juz 2
To bear patiently...
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
يٰأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنُوا استَعينوا بِالصَّبرِ وَالصَّلوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصّٰبِرينَ ١٥٣
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. [Qur’an 2:153]
After Allah commanded that He be appreciated, He ordained patience and prayer. It is a fact that the servant is either enjoying a bounty that he should be thankful for, or suffering a calamity that he should meet with patience.
"Be Patient!" We hear this over and over again. We say it too.
From Ibn Kathir, "There are several types of Sabr ـ patience:
• one for avoiding the prohibitions and sins,
• one for acts of worship and obedience.
• There is a third type of patience required in the face of the afflictions and hardships, which is mandatory, like repentance."
It is so easy to get caught up with the happenings of the world. Things that are prohibited are becoming more acceptable because everyone seems to be doing it. We need to patiently abstain.
Acts of worship and obedience too require patience. I mean, in salah, you cannot just start eating while praying. You also need to patiently drop all you are doing and focus on your prayer when it is time. In Ramadan, you patiently bear hunger and thirst and abstain from so many other things that are halal like a bowl of chicken or maybe just the things you love, say, social media to get more time for Ibadah.
The next time we start to feel like we have sinned too much, we need to patiently ask Allah ﷻ to forgive us and patiently repent to Him.
When the tests come, and Allah ﷻ promises that they will, we endure it understanding that it is Khair (sometimes, the opportunity for even more Khair). It is all Khair for the believer.
During the hard times, everyone reminds you to be patient but what about during the good times?
I heard recently from one of my teachers that, Abdullahi ibn Zayd said, “there is no action greater than patience except being pleased with what Allah ﷻ has decreed.” And that is the highest point of loving Allah ﷻ.
Which begs the question, we believe in Allah ﷻ, but do we believe Allah ﷻ?
And I have seen this in these day in the people of Gaza. Please keep them in your du’a.
Same teacher in his naseeha said there is a level of patience in your actions when you are going through something. It is evident in that your worship of Allah ﷻ is the same. You do not reduce or change your acts of Ibadah.
Take a moment and deep it!
May Allah ﷻ make us among those who truly embody patience.
If you would like to follow through with reflecting on one ayah daily, then go ahead and get your copy of Fajr Thoughts here. It contains a summary of each juz, an ayah from each juz, some notes from tafasir and then some questions to get you started on your reflections.