Hardest Form of Patience

"O you who believe! seek help with patient perseverance...” 2:153

Sabr is an Arabic word which comes from a root meaning to detain, refrain and stop.

There are two factors that influence the degree of difficulty in patience. First, is the degree of motivation when a man wants to do something, and second, how convenient the intended action is for the man. If both factors exist [ie. the motivation and convenience for performing the act are high], patience reaches its utmost difficulty and vice versa, while if one of the two factors disappears, it becomes difficult on one hand and considerably convenient on the other.

Thus, if man has no motive to kill, steal, drink wine, or commit atrocities, and these actions are inconvenient for him, then he is able to ward them off easily. Whereas a man whose desires are powerful and finds it convenient to act accordingly, then he will hardly be able to show constant perseverance.

Hence, the ruler who abstains from injustice, the young man who stays away from indecency, and the rich who gives up worldly pleasures, will have the highest status before Allah. On the other hand, the adulterous old man, the untruthful ruler, and the arrogant poor are severely punished by Allah because it is more convenient for them to overcome such unlawful desires. Consequently, giving up patience in such situations sheds light on their disrespect and rebellion against Allah.

Source:
Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya, Patience and Gratitude ('Uddat As-Sabirin wa Dhakirat ash-Shakirin), Ed. Jeewan Chanicka, Salma Cook, pp. 66-7, Umm al-Qura