On Patience

Patience is a virtue

I can recall myself having often cited this adage when doing simple things like waiting in a queue at a petrol pump or shop. However there is a deep wisdom behind these four words that stems in the realm of the acquisition of moral qualities.

Our brains are naturally finely tuned to develop habitual responses and programs, and where one is determined to harness the potential of our minds; patience plays a great role and seems like a good place to start.

I believe The Holy Qur’an, among many things, to be a book of neurology. I believe that The Holy Qur’an presents the perfect way to nurture one’s mind both physically and spiritually from birth until ripe old age.

The Holy Qur’an speaks of steadfastness and patience as being one of the hallmarks of belief and that one must go through a period of suffering and if he is patient, God will reward him.

The Holy Qur’an speaks of Prophet Job (Ayyub) as being adversely affected by suffering but he never lost his faith in God. God consequently rewarded him on account of his patience and bestowed upon him increased spirituality and divine favors.

I would like to share a small incident which is related to patience. I am currently in the middle of filming a theological documentary series. About a month ago my brand new Sony digital camera decided to stop working. I was unable to even connect it to my computer to retrieve my files! Now I was stuck in a dilemma. Do I send it back to the manufacturers and lose my precious files or do I wait it out to or do I try to open it up and see if I can fix it?

After contemplating, I decided that my video footage was too precious to lose so I busied myself in prayer and life in general. I tried on the odd occasion to switch it on but to no avail. Two days ago I had the feeling that I need to do something about it otherwise my project will be stuck in limbo for donkeys years. As I tried once more to switch it on, to my astonishment it worked and I breathed a sigh of relief!

For me, having faith throughout this time enabled me to grow in my belief and conviction of God. Whether or not my camera was going to switch on anyway is a different issue. What is important is that I tried to exercise true patience and on account of it I feel that God allowed my camera to work and in doing so drew me closer to Him.

Sometimes at the stroke of a calamity ones faith can be put into a menacing trial but we must always remember that God doesn't give us what we can not handle, however, patience and perseverance withholds the test of time and eventually comes out on top.

In Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad’s, the worldwide spiritual head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, most recent Friday Sermon he emphasised the virtue of patience and instructed all the community members to acquire this moral gem. Hence, members of the Ahmadiyya Community in particular strive to attain this fundamental aspect of our moral character and try to reflect the light of the moral excellence shown by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). He is described in The Holy Qur’an as one who possesses the highest moral character.

The Holy Qur’an couldn’t have said it more concisely…

"O ye who believe! be steadfast and strive to excel in steadfastness" [Holy Qur'an, 3:201]

On Repentance

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Qur’an:

“O ye who believe! turn to Allah a sincere turning; maybe your Lord will remove from you your evil and cause you to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, on the day on which Allah will not abase the Prophet and those who believe with him; their light shall run on before them and on their right hands; they shall say: Our Lord! make perfect for us our light, and grant us protection, surely Thou hast power over all things.”

In this verse, God Almighty refers to the act of repentance as something we are required to do for our own good. Allah mentions that the type of repentance would have to be sincere and true. I find it interesting that Allah has mentioned it this way because so many a time have I sought forgiveness simply by saying ‘sorry’ without actually divulging into a detailed thought on it. Here, I will try to present my understanding of the term “Taubatun-Nusuuh”- or True Repentance.

In Arabic, Taubah (repentance) means 'returning', and that is why in the Holy Quran God's name is also Al-Tawwab, which means, He Who is Oft-Returning with compassion. This means that when a person discarding sin turns to God with a sincere heart, God Almighty turns even more to him. 

In a well-known Hadith Qudsi, related also by Bukhari it is written, “The Holy Prophet said: Allah said: If the servant draws near to Me a hand span, I draw near to him an arm’s length; and if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I come to him running.”

This shows how God is receptive to the effort of His servant. This is also in accord with the law of nature. God Almighty has made it part of human nature that when a person turns to another with a sincere heart, the latter's heart is also softened for him. This is what we all experience when we are asked for something from a dear friend; our hearts begin to experience a sense of warming in the direction of the subjects intentions. Then, how can reason accept that when a servant turns towards God Almighty with a true heart God should not turn to him?

It should be borne in mind that there are three conditions for repentance, without fulfilment of which true repentance is not achieved.

The first condition is to get rid of wicked desires which arouse evil propensities. Desires have great influence. Every action is preceded by a desire. This is something which the verse “And every man has a goal which dominates him” (2:149) alludes to. Thus the first condition for repentance is that evil thoughts and desires should be discarded. For instance, if a person has an illicit relationship with a woman and desires to repent, it is necessary that he should conceive of her as ugly and should call to mind all her low qualities. As desires and fancies exercise a powerful influence; the practice of conception is elemental to the success of true repentance.

The second condition is remorse. Everyone's conscience admonishes him over every evil, but an unfortunate person leaves his conscience suspended. Indeed we read in a hadith (from Tirmadhi No 1311) that a sin is that which pricks at your conscience.This is true as we all know that we have an inherent system of right and wrong embedded with our very nature. We know when we have done wrong because we feel the guilt that sin places in the heart. Therefore, remorse serves as the driving key of repentance and serves as a gateway to the last stage.

The third and final condition is a firm resolve that he will not revert to those vices ever again in the future. If he adheres to this resolve, God will bestow upon him the strength for true repentance and he will be rid altogether of his vices which will be replaced by good morals and praiseworthy actions. This is a moral victory. It is for God Almighty to bestow the power and strength for it for He is the Master of all power and all strength, as He has said: All power belongs to Allah (2:166)

Topics researched in these books of The Promised Messiah-

Spiritual Treasures, vol. 23. pp. 125-126

Malfoozat, Vol. I, pp.132-134