Central Khutbah: “The Degrees and Forms of Patience (Sabr)”

When we speak of sabr, we speak of the foundation of spiritual stability. Sabr is not mere resignation, but the conscious acceptance of Allah’s decree and disciplined adherence to His limits. It is a strength that manifests itself in daily choices, in moments of trial, and in the struggle against one’s own self.

Sabr can be understood through three essential forms.

The first form is patience in fulfilling what is commanded. It is perseverance in worship and good deeds, even when the soul feels tired and circumstances are not favorable. The Most High says:
“And enjoin prayer upon your family and be steadfast therein. We do not ask you for provision; We provide for you. And the good end is for piety.” (Ta-Ha, 132)
‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud was known to rise for the night prayer even in great fatigue, saying: The night prayer is the joy of the heart and the remedy of the soul, and sabr is its key.

The second form is patience in avoiding what is forbidden. It is the struggle against one’s passions and the avoidance of that which corrupts the heart and deeds. Allah says:
“But as for he who feared standing before his Lord and restrained his soul from [unlawful] desire, then Paradise will be his refuge.” (An-Nazi‘at, 40–41)
An example is the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him), who, when tempted by the wife of the governor of Egypt, exclaimed:
“My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me.” (Yusuf, 33)
This example inspired many among the early generations who preferred losing worldly benefits over falling into sin.

The third form is patience in facing trials. It is accepting Allah’s decree with trust and without complaint. Allah says:
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.’ It is they upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is they who are rightly guided.” (Al-Baqara, 155–157)
When the Prophet ﷺ’s son Ibrahim died, the Prophet wept and said:
“The eyes shed tears, the heart grieves, but we will not say except that which pleases Allah.” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Ibn al-Qayyim said: Sabr in fulfilling obligations is more virtuous than sabr in avoiding prohibitions, because Allah prefers the performance of good deeds over the mere abandonment of evil. (Madarij as-Salikin, 2/116)

Al-Hasan al-Basri said: Sabr is a treasure of goodness that Allah grants only to those He loves.
‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz said: Every blessing requires sabr to be preserved, and every trial requires sabr to be endured.
Ibn Mas‘ud said: Sabr is half of faith, and gratitude is the other half.
‘Ali ibn Abi Talib said: Sabr is the head of faith; whoever has no sabr has no faith.
Sahl ibn ‘Abdallah at-Tustari said: Sabr is awaiting relief while guarding one’s tongue from complaint and one’s heart from doubt.

When Bilal ibn Rabah was tortured on the burning sands of Mecca, with a stone placed upon his chest, he repeated only: Ahad, Ahad – The One, The One. His sabr was not passive but a form of resistance in obedience to Allah.
When Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) saw the Prophet ﷺ distressed after his first encounter with Jibril, she reassured him with words of comfort: By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you: you uphold family ties, help the needy, honor guests, and support those struck by misfortune. Her words were an example of sabr in offering support.
When ‘Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr was besieged in Mecca, he refused to surrender, saying: Death with dignity is better than life in humiliation. This was sabr upon the path of truth, even though he knew martyrdom awaited him.

Today, many may find it easy to avoid certain sins, but struggle to maintain consistency in good deeds. The most valuable sabr today is the one that drives us each morning and each night to do what Allah loves: to persevere in prayer, in the recitation of the Qur’an, in kindness to people, and in working for the common good—without excuses. Allah says:
“O you who believe! Be patient, vie in patience, remain steadfast, and fear Allah so that you may succeed.” (Al ‘Imran, 200)

(Central khutbah by the religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on August 5, 2025, at the “Centre Culturel Islamique Nordstad” in Diekirch)