When the Soul Is Besieged by Fierce Outward Pain and a Far Fiercer Inner Battle

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Sa’eed Bin Jubayr, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Patience is a person’s acknowledgment that what has afflicted him is from Allah, seeking reward from Allah and hoping for Allah’s good recompense. Indeed, a man maybe in a state of distress whilst he is being whipped, but you see nothing from him except patience. [1]

Regarding the statement: “Patience is a person’s acknowledgement that what has afflicted him is from Allah”.

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him,  said: It is as if this statement is an explanation of the statement “Innaa lil laah – to Allah we belong”. Thus, the person acknowledges that he belongs to Allah and his owner does whatever He wants with him.

Regarding the statement: “Seeking reward from Allah”.

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said: It is as if this statement is an explanation of the statement “Wa Innaa Ilayhi Raaji’oon – and to Him (i.e. Allah) we shall return”. Meaning, we shall return to You, so that you reward us due to our patience and the reward for being patient during calamity will not be lost”.

Regarding the statement: “Indeed, a man maybe in a state of distress whilst he is being whipped, but you do not see from him except patience”.

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “Patience is not that one bears the whip, rather it is to restrain the heart from getting angry with Allah’s decree and to restrain the tongue from complaining about Allah. Whoever is whipped and his heart is displeased with Allah, he is not one who is patient”. (2)

[1]  As-Sabr  Wath-Thawaab Alayhi. By Ibn Abee Dunya page 113

[2] Iddat As-Saabireen pages 183-184