Saying 55 - Two Important Branches Of Patience
﷽
In the Name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful
Patience. Forbearance. A lot has been said about this trait and its virtue from an Islamic perspective. Imam Ali (as) presents it simply in Saying 55 of Nahjul Balagha:
الصَّبْرُ صَبْرَانِ: صَبْرٌ عَلَى مَا تَکْرَهُ، وَصَبْرٌ عَمَّا تُحِبُّ
“Patience is of two kinds, patience over what pains you, and patience against what you covet.”
In reality, the first type refers to patience in facing the difficulties of worship or facing afflictions in life, and the second type refers to forbearance in refraining from sin.
What some commentators have said, that the first type is harder than the second, is not necessarily a correct view, as it depends on the situation. At times, patience in worship or during trials are more difficult than the patience needed to stay away from sin, and vice versa.
Patience means restraining the self, self-control, and resistance in the face of difficulties. On this path there are obstacles. If a person’s patience and resistance are weak, encountering these obstacles will cause him to halt and prevent him from reaching his destination.
For this reason, patience and steadfastness are the most important means of a person’s success in this world and the Hereafter. The Glorious Qur’an says:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
Indeed those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah!’ and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them, saying,‘Do not fear, nor be grieved! Receive the good news of the paradise, which you have been promised. (41:30)
Thus, the descent and support of the angels for the believers is, in the first place, conditional upon patience and steadfastness. Elsewhere, the Glorious Qur’an says:
جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ ۖ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ
the Gardens of Eden, which they will enter along with whoever is righteous from among their forebears, their spouses, and their descendants, and the angels will call on them from every Door:
سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ
‘Peace be to you, for your patience.’ How excellent is the reward of the ultimate abode (13:23–24)
The Qur’an immortalizes the patience of Prophet Ayyub (as), whose name has become synonymous with endurance in the face of calamity. His trials were multifold: the loss of wealth, the death of sons, the collapse of his home, and a disease that left him physically paralyzed.
And yet, as immense as the ṣabr of Ayyub (as) was, it pales in comparison to the ṣabr of Abu ‘Abdillah al-Husayn (as). For it is narrated in Ziyarat Nahiya:
لَقَدْ عَجِبَتْ مِنْ صَبْرِكَ مَلَائِكَةُ السَّمَاوَاتِ
“Indeed, the angels of the heavens were amazed at your patience.”
The patience of Imam Husayn (as) while he was surrounded by betrayal, grief, starvation, and the sight of his own sons, brothers, and companions being butchered one after another.
Sayyid Haidar al-Hilli captures this in his powerful lines:
له الله مفطوراً من الصبر قلبهُ
ولو كان من صمّ الصفا لتفطَّرا
“By God, his heart was fashioned from the very essence of patience; had it been made of stone, it would have melted from the anguish.”
What sort of ṣabr is this, where the cries of thirsty children reach your ears, where the beloved Akbar falls and you must cradle his lifeless body, where the arms of ‘Abbas are severed — yet your lips remain in dhikr, your posture remains in sujūd, and your heart remains with Allah?
Imam Husayn (as) demonstrated the highest form of ṣabr: not only in enduring calamities, but in upholding truth, preserving the deen, and surrendering to divine will even when it demanded the ultimate sacrifice. It was ṣabr not driven by helplessness, but powered by purpose.
Indeed, it is this kind of patience, that draws the heavens to weep, that shakes the conscience of mankind 1,400 years later, and that continues to ignite the warmth in the hearts of the faithful.
How to Build the Sabr “Muscle”
Like physical strength, ṣabr can be trained:
Start Small
Bear little difficulties: wake for fajr, resist backbiting, hold anger. Each one is a rep in your spiritual gym.
Understand the Goal
We fast, resist temptation, not for hardship’s sake, but for Allah:
فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًۭا صَـٰلِحًۭا
“Whoever hopes to meet his Lord — let him do righteous deeds.” (18:110)
Use the 3 T’s
Tafakkur: Reflect — Why is this struggle worth it?
Tazakkur: Remember — What does Allah promise the patient?
Tashakkur: Be grateful — Even hardship can be a gift.
Seek Help from Ṣalāh
وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ
“Seek help through patience and prayer.” (2:45)
Let your external action (ṣalāh) meet your internal strength (ṣabr).
Accepting The Reality Of Life: The foundation of sabr is accepting the reality of this world - it has trials, imperfections, and moral tests.
The Imam of the Patient Ones
Imam al-Mahdi (‘aj) is the Imam of the ṣābirīn, those who do not lose faith in his absence and who do not become consumed by dunyā.
In Du‘ā’ al-Nudbah, we weep for his separation. But the truest proof of love is not only in du‘ā’, it is in discipline through ṣabr.
Imam al-Riḍā (‘a) said:
«ما أحسن الصبر وانتظار الفرج، أما سمعت قول الله عز وجل: ﴿وَارْتَقِبُوا إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ رَقِيبٌ﴾؟ فانتظروا إني معكم من المنتظرين»
“How beautiful is patience and awaiting relief. Have you not heard the word of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: ‘So watch, indeed I am watching with you’? So wait, for indeed I am among those who wait.”
During the ghaybah (occultation) of Imam al-Mahdi (‘aj), the test is greater:
The eyes do not see.
Hearts feel lost.
Doubts spread.
Yet the true ṣābir keeps the flame of loyalty alive, with steady faith, pure intention, and action that prepares the soul for his return. Inshallah soon.