We’ve all heard of this term Beautiful Patience - ‘Sabrun Jameel’. But have you ever heard of this term being a superpower? Wait! What? Like a superhero-superpower? The answer is an astounding HEAVEN YESSS!!! 

Let’s check this scenario out. Say 2 brothers, sharing a room, are arguing about a misunderstanding of sorts, perhaps one was late for work because someone forgot to set the alarm, or perhaps one had accidentally eaten the last piece of cake in the fridge, not knowing the other was trying to save it for later. In this situation, one brother is yelling on top of his lungs and the other is just keeping quiet, taking it all in and letting him blow off some steam. So which of the two do you consider having more strength?

Sometimes, we have this idea that when a person is not saying anything as someone who is not responsive, having no emotion, a weakling or even a coward. But how true is this? Perhaps because their outer state is as if they are portraying the character of someone who is ‘submissive’, but it does not actually mean any of the things we mentioned earlier of being weak or cowardice. In fact, it shows super strength and this is the superpower we are referring to called Sabr! SubhanAllah. 

Recall this famous hadith to explain the above: 

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger." (Sahih Bukhari 6114).

Controlling one’s self is not a sign of weakness but of beautiful strength in character and patience. It is foolish to think that the brother who is not saying anything is not “doing” anything as in actual fact, he is practicing self-control at the highest level!

Studies in the West have shown that patience actually lead to success and some of the benefits from practicing patience are such as follows:

- positive rewards

- smart decision-making

- builds reputation 

- Self-possession

- Tolerance

- Hope 

- Positive team culture 

- Excellence 

Wow! Isn’t that amazing that all that is just from being patient? But what is patience? Oxford Learner’s Dictionary has defined patience as follows: the ability to stay calm and accept a delay or something annoying without complaining.

So how do we know the beauty of our patience? Well, Allah sends us tests for us to really amplify whether we sincerely have this noble character or we may need to work a little harder towards it. Just open the most beautiful of books to tell you the most beautiful stories of the best of people, yakni the Prophets and Messengers of Allah SWT, and every time, Allah’s help came as a result of the level of patience and steadfastness they all had in facing their tests.

In Surah Yusuf, Verse 3, Allah says ”We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an although you were, before it, among the unaware.” And Allah mentioned ‘Beautiful Patience’ twice in verses 18 and 83 in this Surah. 

And we all know that the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad SAW, who is the best of mankind, was tested the most and that he was sent as a mercy from Allah SWT to mankind to not only to teach people the ways to worship Allah SWT, but along side that is to reform their character. The Messenger of Allah SAW, said, "I was sent to perfect good character." (Muwatta Imam Malik, Kitab Husnul Khuluq: 8)

So what is Beautiful patience? 

Let’s get to know your superpower a bit more. It is a patience with:

1. No complaining
2. No wailing
3. No upsetness with Allah SWT or asking Why Allah?
4. From beginning to the end - from the on set of the hardship and it continues on
5. Accepting the situation
6. Turning to Allah SWT
7. Having Ihsaan in that situation

Can this really be done? In shaa Allah! Well here is the connection to your ‘SuperPower’, it is Allah SWT. Allah says in Surah Hashr, verse 23, “He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection,  the Grantor of Security, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.”

So the next time somebody tells you to have Sabr, just remember that Allah sent them to remind you to use your superpower here are are top 8 reasons why

1. Allah’s Love - And Allah loves As-Saabirun (the patient).” [Al ‘Imran 3:146]
2. The best life - The best life is attained by the blessed through patience, and they rise to the highest degrees through their gratitude. So they fly on the wings of patience and gratitude to gardens of delight (i.e., Paradise). That is the bounty of Allah that He bestows upon whomsoever He will, and Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.”  (Ibn al-Qayyim)
3. Replacement better than it - Sahih Muslim (918) narrated that Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “There is no Muslim who is stricken with a calamity and says what Allah has enjoined – ‘Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return. O Allah, reward me for my affliction and compensate me with something better’ – but Allah will compensate him with something better.” 
4. Forgiveness and great reward - Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward. (Hud 11:11)
5. Protection from losses - Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.(Surah Al-Asr: 3)
6. Success in this dunya- O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful. (Surah Ale Imran 3 : 200)
7. Allah’s help - And be patient, [O Muhammad], and your patience is not but through Allah. And do not grieve over them and do not be in distress over what they conspire. (Surah an-Nahl: 127)
8. Jannah- Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah says, 'I have nothing to give but Paradise as a reward to my believer slave, who, if I cause his dear friend (or relative) to die, remains patient (and hopes for Allah's Reward). Sahih Al-Bukhari 6424

Tell me that isn’t motivation to use this superpower for the ultimate success of Jannah!

3 Steps Tips in hardship

Well, here are 3 tips in facing any difficulties in life, ask yourself these 3 questions:

1. Can I remove it/ overcome it? Yes or No? If you cannot, then:
2. Can I lessen it? Yes or No? If you cannot, then:
3. Adopt a beautiful patience.

Your Life is About to Change for the Better!

Remember that Allah does not burden a soul more than what he can bear! (Surah Baqarah: 286)  And this difficulty actually matures the believer and trains him to face greater trials with much success. Imagine an athlete or an astronaut, it requires intense training and years of endurance before one reaches his ultimate level. So the journey may be rough, but keep on going with your superpower and remember that Allah has greater plans for you and success is near so do not despair because Allah will soon change it! 

Your Lord Laughs!

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah laughs at the despair of His slaves although He soon changes it.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, does the Lord laugh?' He said: 'Yes.' I said: 'We shall never be deprived of good by a Lord Who laughs.'" (Sunan Ibn Majah 181)

I really love this hadith! It is truly encouraging and it gives me tonnes of hope that Allah indeed is very aware of our situation and His love for the believers is truly unique. So give yourself permission to have this superpower and own it! 

Let’s make sincere du’a to Allah for His Divine Help and for Him to shower us with His Mercy to grant us Beautiful Patience and for us to hold on tightly to the rope of Allah till the end. Aameen.

Your sister, 

Tisha