The Art of Waiting
Lessons in Humility and Hope
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
I think one of the hardest things in life is waiting. The stillness it demands can feel unbearable, yet waiting often becomes the most profound teacher we never asked for. It strips away the illusion of control and leaves us face-to-face with our own humanity.
Waiting is humbling!
It is in the moments when time seems to stand still that we are forced to confront our vulnerabilities. Whether it is waiting for the results of an exam (especially those exams), sitting in a doctor’s office with apprehension, pacing outside the labor room while your wife is bringing your newest love into the world, or enduring the excruciating two-week wait to see if you’re pregnant—waiting spares no one.
Life is full of waiting rooms.
Waiting to meet your soulmate. Waiting to be accepted into the school of your dreams. Waiting for a journal to accept your manuscript. Waiting to hear back after a job interview. Even the simple act of waiting to have your blood pressure measured can increase your blood pressure.
In these moments, time stretches, testing the limits of our patience and composure. And yet, beneath the surface of frustration and uncertainty lies an opportunity to grow in ways we never imagined.
When life puts you on pause, it isn’t merely to torment you. Waiting becomes a mirror, reflecting who you are and who you have the potential to be.
Waiting teaches you that what you thought would break you often doesn’t. You discover a strength you didn’t know you had. The disappointment of delays and the discomfort of uncertainty stretch your endurance, showing you that you are capable of holding on longer than you imagined.
When you wait, you begin to understand others. Waiting for news, for answers, for relief. You realize how universal this experience is, and it fosters a gentleness toward yourself and others.
Waiting humbles you. It reminds you that no matter how much you plan, strategize, or wish, you are not in control. There is a power greater than you, orchestrating every moment of your life. This realization is not defeat—it is surrender.
{ إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥۤ أَسۡلِمۡۖ قَالَ أَسۡلَمۡتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ }
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 131]
When his Lord said to him, “Submit!” He said, “I submit myself to the Lord of all the worlds.”
Perhaps the greatest lesson waiting teaches is faith. Faith that the result, whether what you hoped for or not, is precisely what you need. Faith that your Lord knows, sees, and hears you in your silent prayers and restless sighs.
In the stillness, you learn to trust.
It is during the wait that belief is tested and refined. Waiting forces you to believe—believe that the doors will eventually open, that relief will come, that the pain will pass, and that what is meant for you will never miss you.
Waiting draws you closer to the One who controls all outcomes. You pray not just for what you want but for the patience to endure the process.
You whisper…
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَ نِعْمَ الْوَ كِيلُ
“Hasbunallahu wa ni’mal wakeel” (Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs).
Though waiting feels like an interruption, it is actually part of the journey. It is a space where character is built, where your relationship with Allah is deepened, and where your heart is prepared for what lies ahead.
So, if you find yourself in a waiting room—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—know that you are not alone. And remember, every moment of waiting is a moment of transformation.
Believe in the process. Trust the One who is writing your story. And while you wait, let yourself grow.
Waiting may be one of the hardest tests of life, but it is also one of its greatest blessings. For in the quiet pause between now and what’s next, we discover who we are, who we need to be, and the One who is always with us.
There is a power beyond your capabilities, a POWER that transcends everything.
And you should believe. You must believe.
While waiting, you believe!
Warmly, from our shared path,
Umm B
May Allah make our waiting period one of tranquilly and enlightenment 💕.
Such a beautiful message! There is a negative connotation around patience as being equated to being complacent with a lower quality of life. But Islam encourages patience and describes it to be beautiful. I loved the point you made about waiting showing us who we have the potential to be. When we're in hardship it's hard to see a reality beyond the solution we think we will solve our problem, but being patient allows us to rely on Allah and realize that Allah has the capacity to give us so much more than we were willing to settle for. May Allah make it easy for us to be patience and trust His wisdom and guidance.