he Virtues : Forbearance and Forgiveness

Islam is a school of morals, the teachings of which are manifest in the Book of Allah and the Sunna of His Prophet, both of which are a vast receptacle of virtues.

Allah has praised all virtues and commanded the believers to acquire every one of them. Two of these virtues are of particular interest to us : forbearance and forgiveness. In the Holy Quran, these two virtues enjoy a high status, unparalleled in any other Book.

In this world of ours that is fraught with misfortunes and difficulties, the individual cannot resist and go on living unless he finds in Allah, his Creator, a helper and a supporter.

Allah knows all things; He knows that life "makes one face smile and  another cry". It is for this reason that He has placed in the hands of the believers an effective weapon to fend off the vicissitudes of time and to ward off the wrongful acts of the tyrants. That is the only way for the believers not to lose hope and to stand as strong as a mountain in the face of storms and hurricanes.

One such weapon is patience in which the believer finds solace and a cure. In the Holy Book, Allah mentioned the virtue of Patience about seventy times; no other virtue has had such an honor.     

The mere reading of the verses which enjoin patience calms down the aggrieved, and gives them peace of mind because, through their reading of these verses, they feel that they are under the protection of Allah, very close to Him - He Who is exalted in Might and has Power :

"Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure", [The Troops : 10].

"And We will certainly bestow on those who patiently persevere, their reward according to the best of their actions", [The Bee : 96].

"And because they were patient and constant, He will reward them with a Garden and (garments of) silk", [Mankind : 12].

"And be patient and persevering; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere", [Spoils of War : 46].

"But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil, then that will be a determining factor in all actions", [The Family of Imran : 186].

"And if ye do catch them out, catch them out no worse than they catch you out; but if ye show patients, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient", [The Bee : 126].

"But give glad tiding to those who patiently persevere, who say, when afflicted with calamity : 'To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return'", [The Cow : 155-156].

These verses are but a drop from the ocean.

We ought to mention in this context the Surah entitled "The Declining Day", the shortest in the Holy Quran in terms of the number of verses, yet the most important in terms of significance and import because, according to some, it encapsulates the whole of Islam. To remind the reader of this chapter, we quote it in full :

"By (the token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss. Except such as have faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of patience and constancy".

Commenting on this Surah, which is about Patience and Constancy - in addition to Faith, Righteousness and Good - and stressing the importance of Patience in the making of faith, Imam Shafici is reported to have said : "If people pondered over the meaning of this Surah, it would encompass them all". What he means is that it epitomizes Islam, both in spirit and essence.

It is worth pointing out in this connection that as an Islamic concept, Patience is one of the conditions of Faith. This opinion may seem a little exaggerated; in reality, however, it is compatible with the spiritual climate that is prevalent in the verses on Patience, regardless of their difference and variety in terms of form and structure and of their agreement in terms of essence and meaning.

This means that the Muslim who is not patient, and who does not believe that patience is a means to salvation and to gaining entrance to Heaven, is, in a way, like the Muslim who does not establish regular prayer, believing it to be of little avail. Therefore, Patience lies at the heart of Islam of which it is part and parcel.

Those who join together in the mutual teaching of Patience and Constancy are like those who join together in the teaching of Truth and Righteous deeds. They will lose nothing; they are not in loss. On the contrary, Heaven is their abode, and they will meet their Lord.

Allah did not command patience; He left it up to the believers to be patient, if they so wish, and to fly into a rage, when they feel like it. This is exactly what distinguishes Islam from all other revealed and Eastern religions. Therefore, Patience is a solace, a cure, and the road to Heaven.

As He has recommended patience, Allah has also sanctioned forgiveness, with one little difference: Patience is an edict while Forgiveness is a choice. The following verse illustrates this point : "The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree) : but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah : for (Allah) loveth not those who do wrong", [Counsel : 40].

Allah did not enjoin Forgiveness. He left it as a choice; for if the believer is forced to forgive, he reaps no benefit because he is forced to do so, in which case the right of choice will be absent, as will the volition.