Seek help in patience and prayer; and truly it is hard save

for the humble-minded (Quran, 2: 45) 

What is the meaning of the “beautiful patience” which is mentioned in Ayah five of Surah Al-Ma’arej? “Beautiful Patience” meaning beautiful fortitude and that is continuous patience and endurance for the sake of Allah (SWT), without any despair or hopelessness and not mixed with any unrest or complaining. Beautiful patience is to stand against difficult trials and incidents of life. Such a resistance shows the personality and capacity of the soul of a human.

Patience is a prominent character of all the messengers of God and was an effective element of their prophethood. Beautiful Patience is a patience that God’s messengers had when they confronted the enemies of the Almighty and at the times when their enemies called them magicians and liars as well as rejecting their glad tidings. But prophets of God did not complain and showed that believers are those who will not revolt when they reach the point of despair and will not utter words of ingratitude towards the Almighty.

Some examples of the beautiful patience shown by the prophets of God throughout the time can be instanced such as the patience of Prophet Ayyoub (AS) against many sufferings during his life time, severe illnesses which caused him to stay away from his family when he could not move and had no one to help him either but he never complained and never asked for help from anyone except the Almighty. [1] Other examples are the cases of Prophet Yaqoob (AS) when separated from his dear son Hazrat Youssef [2] and the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) when the enemies of God tormented and made fun of him as well as when he resisted the extremely difficult conditions under siege in Sha’abe Abi Taleb. [3]

Imam Ali’s (AS) patience for 25 years for the sake of Islam [4], Imam Hussein’s (AS) patience in Karbala [5], Hazrat Zainab’s (SA) patience against the incidents of Ashura, Kofeh and Shaam [6] are all examples of beautiful patience in the way of Allah (SWT). One point that must be taken into the consideration is that if someone asks the question why in Quran is mentioned that Hazrat Yaqoob cried so much for being separated from his son that he went blind, is this not showing unrest? The answer would be that it is not strange for a human to show emotions and crying for the loss of a child is not surprising and it is not against the beautiful patience. [7]

The important point is not to lose control and utter words against the will and satisfaction of God or do an act that is against the wish of the Almighty. The same situation happened at the time when the Prophet (PBUH) lost his son Ibrahim (AS). They asked the Prophet (PBUH) why you are crying when you advise everyone to patience. The Prophet (PBUH) answered by saying that crying caused the loss of sight to Yaqoob (AS) and I am also sad for losing my son and cry for his loss but we never utter a word against God’s will. [8]

[1] Javadi Amoli, Sireh Payambaran dar Quran, Vol.7, Page 73-4, Qom, 2000.

[2] Surah Youssef Ayah 18.
[3] Surah Moarej Ayat 5.

[4] Sharif Alrazi, Nahjul Balaghah, page48, Qom, 1414 AH.

[5] Sadruldin Shirazi, Sharhe Osule Kafi, Vol.1, Page96, Tehran, 2004.

[6] Ibn Tawoos, Al-Lohouf ala Ghatly Altofouf, Translated by Fahri Zanjani, Page 160, Tehran, 1969.
[7] Makarem Shirazi, Tafseer Nemoneh, Vol.9, Page 351-3, Tehran, 1995.

[8] Wasaelol Shia, Vol.3, Page 280, Qom.