Page 59 - The Importance of Patience in the Qur’an

The Benefits Of Patience 57

and think correctly, they consider all details and make accurate
decisions. Knowing how to act according to their intelligence
without rushing, believers proceed intelligently, easily see those
complexities that might be invisible to others, and thus adopt the

most correct behavior.

Patience ensures the ability to do good

Patience enables people to overcome many of their bad
characteristics and hence to discover good behavior. However, we
must never forget that this is unique to believers. Those who do not
fear Allah and forget that they will be recompensed in the afterlife
for the morality they displayed in this world do not try to overcome
their bad characteristics. As long as a worldly advantage is dangled
in front of them, they can see no reason to alter their behavior. For
example, if someone's elderly mother-in-law falls ill and that person
has to move into her house to take care of her, he or she will need a
great deal of patience. But those who cannot grasp the concept of
Qur'anic patience can tolerate such a situation only for a short time.
In a little while, that person begin to think ways of getting rid of this
situation, and then says out loud: "Let's put her in a nursing home,

because I can't look after her." Or an unbeliever's spouse has an
accident, becomes bedridden, and requires intensive treatment and
care. In such a situation, the other spouse will care for him or her for
a while, perhaps to avoid the neighbors' criticism if they do not do
so or for some other reason, but again only for a limited time. After
this time, the spouse may abandon the other because he or she has
no patience when it comes to self-sacrifice for others.
As for the faithful, they have an inner awe of Allah and know
that they will find in the afterlife beauty and blessings