Patience: The Path to Paradise - I

Ramadhaan is the month of patience; and Paradise is the reward of
patience. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
• {And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is
difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allaah]. Who are
certain that they will meet their Lord and that they willreturn to
Him.} [Quran 2:45-46]
• {O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer.
Indeed, Allaah is with the patient.} [Quran 2:153]
Commenting on the last verse, Mujaahid said, "Patience in this verse
means fasting. That is why Ramadhaan is called the month of patience.
Therefore, both fasting and prayer are firmlyconnected in this verse,
since fasting curbs desire and makes one abstinent regarding this
worldly life, while prayer inspires humbleness and submission, removes
arrogance and encourages love for the Hereafter."
It is narrated through an authentic Hadeeth (narration) that the
Prophet said: "Fast the month of patience and three days each month…"
Ramadhaan is the month of patience as the person who observes fasting
is patient regarding acts of obedience and avoiding acts of
disobedience. He abstains from the permissible things he used to enjoy
out of obedience to Allaah The Almightyand in fulfillment of piety.
Meanwhile, he stops himself fromdoing acts of disobedience and forces
himself to do many righteous acts which bring one closer to Allaah The
Almighty, such as observing the voluntary night prayers, giving in
charity, maintaining kinship ties, providing food for the needy and
bearing the suffering of hunger and thirst.
It is also the month of Jihaad (striving in the cause of Allaah The
Almighty), and Jihaad is a form of patience. The Prophet conducted two
battles during the month of Ramadhaan, the ever greatest battles: the
Battle of Badr and the Conquest of Makkah.
The Companions realized thatRamadhaan is the month of patience. They
showed great patience in bearing the responsibility of calling to
Allaah The Almighty, performing Jihaad, obeying Allaah The Almighty,
avoiding acts of disobedience andbeing satisfied with the decree
ofAllaah. The Prophet as well asthe Companions used to reach the
highest degree of patience during the month of Ramadhaan, which is the
month of patience.
Have we learnt this lesson from observing the fast and the night
voluntary prayers during the month of Ramadhaan?
The patient will be given their reward without account:
Allaah The Exalted made the reward of good deeds well-known, all
having the same result, Saying (what means): {Whoever comes [on the
Day of Judgment] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof
[to his credit]} [Quran 6:160]
In another verse, He made the reward of charity for the sake of Allaah
even greater, Saying (what means): {The example of those who spend
their wealth in the way of Allaah is like a seed [of grain] which
grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allaah
multiplies [His reward]for whom He wills. And Allaah is
All-Encompassing and Knowing.} [Quran 2:261]
Nevertheless, He made the reward of the patient without account,
Saying (what means):
• {Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.}
[Quran 39:10]
• {And whoever is patient and forgives - indeed, that is of the
matters [requiring] determination.} [Quran 42:43]
It was said that the patient person in the first verse means those who
fast, for in an authentic Hadeeth, the Prophet narrated that Allaah
The Almighty Says: "Fasting is for Me and I give reward for it…"
[Al-Bukhaari] Here the reward of fasting is not determined, unlike the
case with patience, the reward of which was determined.
The reward of the patient is Paradise:
Allaah The Almighty informed us that His angels confer peace uponthe
patient in Paradise due to their patience in the worldly life. Allaah
The Almighty Says (what means):
• {And the angels will enter upon them from every gate,
[saying],"Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured."} [Quran
13:23-24]
• {And [He] will reward them for what they patiently endured [with] a
garden [in Paradise] and silk [garments].} [Quran 76:12]
• {Those will be awarded the Chamber for what they patiently endured,
and they will be received therein with greetings and [words of] peace.
Abiding eternally therein. Good is the settlement and residence.}
[Quran25:75-76]
Abu Moosa Al-Ash'ari narrated that the Messenger of Allaah,
sallallaahu 'alayhi w sallam, said: "When a person's child dies,
Allaah The Almighty Says to His Angels, 'Have you taken the child of
My slave?' They say, 'Yes.' He Says, 'Have you taken the apple of his
eye?' They say, 'Yes.' He Says, 'What did My slave say?' They say, 'He
praised You and said "Innaa lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji'oon (Verily
to Allaah we belong and to Him we shall return).' Allaah Says, 'Build
for My slave a house in Paradise and call it the house of praise.'"
[At-Tirmithi, Ahmad and Ibn Hibbaan] [Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Anas narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Allaah The Almighty
Says: When Iafflict My slave in his two beloveds (i.e. afflicting him
with blindness) and he shows patience, I Will Compensate him for his
two eyes with Paradise." [Al-Bukhaari and Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
The wording of another narrationreads: "Allaah The Almighty Says: When
I take the two dear things (i.e afflict his eyes with blindness)of My
slave in this worldly life, his reward from Me will be Paradise."
[At-Tirmithi] [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Allaah The
Almighty Says, 'Whosoever his two beloveds I take (i.e. afflicted his
eyes with blindness), yet he shows patienceand hopes for My reward, I
shall be satisfied with no less reward for him than Paradise."
[At-Tirmithi] [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said:
"Allaah The Almighty is not satisfied with a reward less than Paradise
for His believing slave when He takes his dearest one from among the
inhabitants of this worldly life, yet he shows patience and hopes for
His reward." [Abu Daawood] [Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Allaah The
Almighty Says: I Have no reward other than Paradise for My believing
slave who (remains patient) and hopes for My reward when I take his
dearest person from among the inhabitants of the worldly life."
[Al-Bukhaari]
'Ataa' ibn Abi Rabaah said, "Ibn 'Abbaas said to me, 'Shall I show you
a woman of the people of Paradise?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'This
black woman came to the Prophet and said, 'I get attacks of epilepsy
and my body becomes uncovered; please invoke Allaah for me.' The
Prophet said (to her): 'If you wish I could invoke Allaah to cureyou,
or if you wish, be patient and you will obtain Paradise.' She said, 'I
will be patient,' and added, 'but I become uncovered, so please invoke
Allaah for me that I may not become uncovered.' So, he invoked Allaah
for her and she did not become uncovered again.'" [Al-Bukhaari and
Ahmad]
'Attaa' ibn Yasaar narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: "When a
slave (of Allaah) falls ill, Allaah sends him two angels and Says to
them, 'See what he will say to his visitors?' Ifhe praises Allaah and
glorifies Him when they come to him, theywill inform Allaah of that,
and indeed He knows best. Thereupon, Allaah Says, 'It is due upon Me
for My slave if I cause him to die (of his illness) to admithim to
Paradise, and to replace him with flesh better than his flesh and
blood better than his blood and forgive his misdeeds if I cause him to
recover.'" [Al- Bukhaari; Al-Albaani classed it as Hasan by virtue of
corroborating narrations] - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
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