Page 28 - The Importance of Patience in the Qur’an

26 THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENCE IN THE QUR'AN

"Our Lord, pour down steadfastness upon us, make our feet
firm, and help us against this unbelieving people." (Surat al-
Baqara, 250)

As can be seen, the patience of the faithful is an intelligent
patience. Such behavior will receive the finest reward in Allah's
presence.

In patience, the faithful know no limits and compete
with one another

As stated in "No indeed! Truly man is unbridled, seeing
himself as self-sufficient" (Surat al-'Alaq, 6-7), the faithful know
that regarding themselves as competent in any field leads to excess
and conceit. Thus they do not consider themselves competent even

if they perform some tasks perfectly. Throughout their lives, they
strive to develop themselves and achieve a finer, better behavior.
Behind these sincere efforts lies their attachment to and love of
our Lord, and their fear and consciousness of Him. Since their
greatest aim is to achieve His love and approval, they try to live
according to the spirit and the letter of the Qur'an's teachings. Aware
that they can never be adequate in such a task, they always strive to
put even more effort into adhering to His teachings in this life.
They know that the amount of effort they make will earn a
commensurate reward in Allah's presence and that, to this extent,
they can easily be united with His blessings. With the words, "Race

each other to forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden [i.e.,
Paradise] as wide as the heavens and the Earth, prepared for the
people who guard against evil." (Surah Al 'Imran, 133), Allah urges
the faithful to compete in good with each other in order to gain His