Patience and steadfastness:
The literal meanings of 'Sabr' are to stop and 'to endure'. It means to stop 'nafs' from fear, depression and bear hardships and troubles. 'Istiqlal' means strength and 'stability'. In other words patience and steadfastness are the names of heart's strength, moral greatness and to be steadfast. Patience and stead fastness in the light of Quran:
Patience has so much significance that at many places in Quran, patience has been mentioned:
على مَا أَصَابَكَ اِنّ ذلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ زمان: 17)
Translation: "And be patient over what befalls you. 'Indeed, (all) that is of the matters (requiring) determination".
ان الذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا فَلَا خَوْنُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَاهُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ (الاحقاف : 13)
Translation: Indeed those who have said, "our lord is Allah and then remained on a right course there will be no fear concerning them nor will they grieve.
إن الله مع الخيرينَ ) (البقرة: 153)
Translation: Indeed! Allah is with the patient.
والله يُحِبُّ الطيرين . ( آل عمران : 146)
Translation: And Allah loves the steadfast.
وبر الطيرين في (البقرة: 155)
Translation: But give good tidings to the patient.
i. Patience and steadfastness in light of hadees:
In ahadees, patience and stead-fastness have been emphasized greatly, As, it is revealed from the following ahadees.
واعْلَمُ أَنَّ النَّصْرَ مَعَ الصَّبْرِ
Translation: Be aware, (Allah's) help is with patience.
الصَّبرُ ضِيَاء
Translation: Patience is a light."
الصَّبْرُ رِدَانِي
Translation: Patience is my clothing.
ii. Holy Prophet's pattern of patience and steadfastness:
Holy Prophet's life was the excellent model of patience and steadfastness. He raised alone slogan of tauheed and every one became his enemy. He was brutalized and targeted severely. He was deported from his city but he remained steadfast in the way of truth. It was the result of his patience and steadfastness that within short period of 23 years, all Arabs got convinced of his ideology and entered into circle of Islam, Some events are given from the blessed life of the Holy Prophet.
iii. Patience and steadfastness on brutality of Makkan infidels:
Allah has advised his slaves to be patient in times of trouble and suffering. The life and wealth of man are granted by Allah, therefore, it is must for a person to be patient and calm during the times of trials to please Allah J, When the Holy Prophet announced his prophet-hood, then infidels of Makkah brutalized him severely rejected him and ridiculed him someone would call him a magician (May Allah forbid us all, Ameen) and someone would call him an astrologer(May Allah forbid us all, Ameen) but he would never give up patience and endurance and would never abandon preaching of Islam.
iv. Patience and Endurance on Insolence in Prayers:
One day, Hazrat Muhammad was offering prayer near Ka'abah. There was a group of pagans sitting in Haram at that time. Aqba Bin Abi Mueet was persuaded by Abu Jahl and he threw tripe of camel on the Holy Prophet, On seeing this, infidels started laughing loudly. Someone, told Hazrat fatima about this incident, she came running and removed that waste from back of the Holy Prophet and said harsh prayer for infidels, Then the Holy Prophet said, "Be patient my daughter, May Allah give them hidayat, guidance, they do not know what is better for them."
v. Patience and endurance on the attitude of Abu Lahb and his wife:
Abu Lahb was the uncle of the Holy Prophet. When the Prophet started preaching Islam, then he and his wife became enemy of the Prophet. He stated saying this 'O people' he is in sane, (May Allah forbid us all, Ameen) do not pay attention to his talk. His wife used to throw nettles in Prophet's way sometimes his heels were injured and would bleed but he endured this suffering with great patience and endurance. He never prayed harshly for them but Allah revealed surah Lahb condemning them both on their insolence.
vi. Patience and steadfastness on social boycott:
When enemies of Islam observed that this light of Islam) is spreading everywhere despite of their tricks to stop it, then they did the social boycott with Bani Hashim during the year of Prophet hood in the month of Muharam Al Haram. All tribes were bound to stop. all dealings and abandon connections with Banu Hashim and except Abu Lahb, the whole family of Banu Hashim with Hazrat Muhammad remained seiged. in Sheb-e-la' Talib. During this time, they faced such tribulations which were so inhuman. On this occasion, the Prophet of mercy faced them with extreme patience, courage and steadfastness and he and his companions got engaged in Jihad for pleasure of Allah and endured all sufferings with matchless patience and steadfastness.
vii. The Prophet companions and their patience and steadfastness:
The prophet's companions. faced many difficulties and tribulations due to their belief in true religion but they set the great examples of patience and steadfastness.
viii. Patience and steadfastness of Hazrat Musab Bin Umair:
He belonged to a rich and respectable family of Makkah. When he accepted Islam then his mother stopped giving him food and drew him away form his house. He remained steadfast in path of truth despite of all these troubles.
ix. Patience and steadfastness of Hazrat Bilal
Hazrat Bilal was a slave. When he became Muslim, then his master used to tie him and beat him with sticks and wouldn't give him food as well. He would make him lie down on the hard rocks of Makkah during afternoon and would put heavy stone on his chest and would say to him, "lie down in this state unless you die or you disbelieve in Hazrat Muhammad".. Hazrat Bilal used to say 'Ahad, Ahad' even in this state.
x. Patience and steadfastness of Hazrat Khabab :
Hazrat Summayah, who was the mother of Hazrat Ammar Bin Yasir, Abu Jahl hit into her stomach with barb and she died in that condition. She was the first female martyr in Islam. She sacrificed her life but never gave up patience and steadfastness.
