This Is What Real Patience (Sabr) Looks Like. ⏳️

This Is What Real Patience (Sabr) Looks Like

When you experience loss, when you experience sadness, when you experience anger, when you experience pain, just watch yourself. That reaction, that's who you really are. As the Prophet ﷺ says, your true character it shows in that initial reaction, that initial response.

The Trial of Yaqub ﷺ

Yaqub ﷺ — his son's return. They tell him, look, your second son Binyamin is gone. Yaqub ﷺ is just consumed with sadness.

And it is in this moment he says:

"I will only complain about my sorrow, my sadness of what has passed, and my anxiety for what is to come — I will only complain to Allah."

But people quote this ayah, this part of the ayah, but they don't realize — the remaining part of the ayah is far more important:

وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ — "I know Allah. That's what he's saying. And you don't know him well enough."

You may ask, what is it that allowed Yaqub ﷺ to show this patience? What is it that gave him this fuel, this strength? It is the last part of this ayah.

The Source of His Strength

My creator is the one — when he promises me, he fulfills his promise. My creator is the one — when he closes one door, he opens another. My creator is the one — when he takes one son, he will give him back.

He showed me the dream, he promised me, and I trust him.

The Tafsir of Ibn Jarir al-Tabari

Ibn Jarir al-Tabari رحمه الله in his Tafsir, he says — قَالَ قَتَادَةُ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ — Qatadah رحمه الله said:

(Tafsir al-Tabari, commentary on Quran 12:86)

Whenever Yaqub ﷺ would be hit with a difficulty, he would react by saying: "No, Allah is going to give me the best. I think positive of Allah."

I am optimistic of Allah. I think Allah is going to return what he took, open what he closed, give what he seized. He is my creator.

I know him better than you. And this is what allows him to always be in good thoughts of Allah, having a good expectation of Allah.