Persevering with patience

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

As believers we must always bear in mind that, when dealing with others we must show some level of patience. When Allah gave the command to all present to prostrate before Hazrat Adam (as) Satan refused. At that moment Allah could have taken Satan to task for disobeying, however He gave him an opportunity to explain his defiant action.

When Allah made it known to Satan that he was wrong he made a dua to Allah and he was given respite. Look at the patience Allah showed to this rebellious creature. And He is The Lord and Master of every single thing.

Allah gave us many lessons in the Qur’an about the importance of demonstrating patience. One of the most popular and potent lesson is the life of Joseph (as). From the beginning, both Joseph (as) and Jacob (as) knew what the end could have possibly been and yet still they bore the trials with patience and submitted humbly to Allah .

When Jacob (as) learnt of the loss of his treasured son he said; “Sabrun Jameelun” – “(for me) patience is most fitting: it is Allah (alone) Whose help can be sought.”

It is difficult to restrain oneself at times because, sometimes emotion takes precedent over the action of the brain. There are certain cells located in the heart that are responsible for the emotional reaction humans demonstrate. So, sometimes before you think you may act instead. These actions originate from the heart.

Allah wants us to establish restraint in all situations. This can only be done if one has complete faith and trust in Him. If you know that Allah loves you, and whatever He allows to happen to you is because of a specific reason then you will understand that in the end He will never let you down. It is out of love that He is allowing certain things to happen. Always remember that Allah knows best and our knowledge is limited.

Demonstrating patience is easier said than done. For example if one looks at the life of Hazrat Umar (ra), you’ll see there were times where he reacted out of haste and after regretted it. Try to culture the emotive responses by refraining from acting in haste.

The brothers of Joseph (as) acted in haste; they didn’t show patience and they acted for themselves. They failed to remember that Allah is All Knowing and All Seeing; as He says in Surah Al An'am;

‘and with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He and He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a clear Record’. (6:59)

If something is going to happen to you Allah knows about it and He sees how you are responding. So be careful when something causes you to become emotional. Stay silent because per chance you may act in haste and in a displeasing manner.

Prophet Muhammad (saw) is the best of all creation and look at the discipline and patience he demonstrated, to his family, Companions and non-Muslims. Take for the example the hadith narrated by Hadrat Abdullah bin Abil Hammad (ra). He narrated: “before his Prophet hood I bought something from the Holy Prophet (saw). As my money fell short I requested him to wait at the spot and promised to come back in a while. But the matter slipped out of my mind somehow and after three days when I returned to the spot I found the Holy Prophet still waiting there. He only said, “You put me to great trouble. I have been waiting for you here for three days”.

Look at the patience and calmness he demonstrated. This is our leader and exemplar. When you look at his life you can’t help but wonder how refined and perfect he cultured his personality. It’s difficult to fathom.

Patience is something that Allah recommends for us in Surah Luqman;

‘and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee’. (31:17)

If we, as Muslims, demonstrate patience when dealing with others you will see a huge difference. We know we are the best of people but we have to show this to others, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. And look at what Allah says about those who preserve with patience;

“Surely the patiently enduring will be paid their wages in full without reckoning”. (39:10)

Sabrun Jameelun is easy to translate in English but difficult to infuse it into our actions. It’s something that will take time and effort.

One of the hallmarks of impatience is ignorance and Allah has told us how to deal with such people;

‘and the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness, and when the ignorant address them, they say 'Peace'. (25:63)

Put your faith and trust in your Loving, Merciful Lord; especially when the trials come your way. He allows everything to happen, the good and the perceived bad, and there’s reason and wisdom behind it. Make the effort and let Allah take care of the rest.

The Qur’an to Mankind

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Is there anything special about the Qur'an?

There are many things special about the Qur'an. Some of these are:

No creature in the universe can produce a book like it; as it contains a record of what happened in the past; predictions of what is to come in the future; it has many unique functions, in addition to the laws of guidance for man to live a successful life in this world as well as in the next. About the nature of the text Allah says:
If the whole of mankind and Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of the Qur'an, they could not have produced something like it; even if they were to back up each other with help and support. (17:88)

It is a complete code of life. Allah says:
And We have sent down unto thee (O Muhammad) a Book explaining all things. (18:69)

As it is a unique Book given only to man; and is the Word of Allah, even the angels and the Jinns come and listen to it, when it is being recited by human beings. About this Allah says:
Say; it has been revealed to me that a company of Jinns listened to the Qur'an; they said: We have really heard a wonderful recital; it gives guidance to the Right. (72:1-2)

Prophet Muhammad (pboh) once explained to a Companion who informed him that one night while he was reading the Qur'an, his horse began stamping and moving around, but when he stopped reading the horse became calm. Then when he started to read again the horse again became restless, and when he stopped the horse again became calm. The Prophet (pboh) told him that it was the angels who used to come to listen to the recitation of the Qur'an.

The Qur'anic words have special vibrations, more powerful than the most powerful of bombs; that is possibly one reason why Allah says:
Had We sent down this Qur'an on a mountain, verily, you would have seen it humble itself and cleave asunder for fear of Allah. (59:21)

The Qur'an has special healing powers, and those who know prescribe and use some of the verses to cure many kinds of ailments. About its healing powers Allah says:
We send down (stage by stage) in the Qur'an, that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe. (17:82)

The Qur'an is the book of wisdom, and if properly read and studied, it takes away the ignorance of a person and make him wise. Allah says:
These are the Verses of the Book of Wisdom (10:1)

Recitation of this Book forms an invisible protection against becoming a disbeliever, and also from the mischief of the Satan. Allah says:
When you recite the Qur'an, We put between you and those who believe not in the Hereafter an invisible curtain. (17:45)

Allah has issued a challenge to the entire world; i.e.
produce a Chapter like it if you think that you are wise.(2:23)


Muslims are therefore, very blessed to have been the recipient of this divine book. Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have said:
A reciter of the Qur'an belongs to the family of Allah, and is His sincere servant.

When the Qur'an is being recited the vibrations contained in the words impact on those who recite as well as those who listen to the recitation. It purifies them and polishes their souls. The Noble Messenger is reported to have said:
Rust falls on the heart as it falls on iron. When asked: how can the rust of the heart be removed? He replied: By reciting the Qur'an and remembering death.

Recitation of this Holy Book does not only help us in this life; it will be one of our greatest helper in the Next. The Prophet (pboh) is reported to have said:
Prophets, angels or anybody else cannot be better intercessors in ranks than the Qur'an.


Allah calls the Qur'an, the Book of Wisdom (10:1); Could you give some reasons why Allah says so about it?

The Qur'an tells us all that we need to know about ourselves, the universe and Allah Himself. For example it says about the universe the following:

The universe was created; it did not come into existence by chance. About its creation He says:
It is Allah Who created the skies and the earth and all that is between them. (32:4)

He began the universe as a single cell which later burst open and its fragments formed the skies and the earth. In this connection the Qur'an records the following:
Do not the unbelievers see that the skies and the earth were a closed up mass? Then We opened them out. (21:30)

He created the skies, the earth and the space and put each thing in its proper location with its own function. He says:
With power and skill did We create the skies, for it is He Who creates the vastness of space. And We have spread out the earth; how excellently We spread it out. (51"47-48)

Allah explains in the Qur'an that the earth is subjected to serial time; the cosmos is conditioned by cosmic time. Regarding the cosmos, He says:
It is He Who created the skies and the earth in six cosmic days. (11:7)
Verily, a day in the sight of the Lord, is like a thousand years of your reckoning. (22:47)
The angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day the measure of which is fifty thousand years. (70:4)

Regarding the serial time which is used to compute months and years of the earth and all that is on it, Allah tells us about this in the Qur'an in the following verses:
It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory, and the moon to be a light; and measured out stages for it; that you might know the number of years and the count of time. (10:5)
The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year); so ordained by Him, the day He created the skies and the earth. (9:36)


So Allah gives us much information in the Qur'an about the origin and working of the universe and nature; did He tell us anything about what will ultimately happen to it in the future?

We know that, right now we are living in an expanding universe; we also know that at some point in time, the universe will begin to contract. About this process, Allah has mentioned much in the Qur'an. For example He says:
When the sky is cleft asunder; when the stars are scattered; when the oceans are suffered to burst forth; and when the graves are turned upside down; then shall each person know what he sent before (him) and what he left behind. (82:1-5)
The day We shall roll up the skies, like a scroll rolled up for books (completed); even as We produced the first creation; We shall produce a new one. This is a promise We have undertaken and We shall fulfil it. (21:104)

About what will happen to the earth, Allah tells us:
One day, the earth will be changed to a different earth; and so will be the skies; and men shall be marshalled forth, before Allah, the One the Irresistible. (14:48)


Did Allah tell mankind anything about his origin and end in the Holy Qur'an?

Yes, Allah tells us in the Holy Qur'an, that He created the human species different from the way He created the rest of the animals. For example, He says that He created all the animals from water. The verse of the Holy Qur'an which tells us about this is as follows:
Allah created every animal from water. Of them are some that creep on their bellies, some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He will; for verily; Allah power over all things. (24:45)

About the creation of man, He says:
He began the creation of man with clay; and his progeny from a quintessence of the nature of fluid despised. (33:7-8)

So Allah began the human species with the creation of Adam and Eve, and from them came the progeny through the process of procreation, as we all know. The Qur'an tells us about conception and the different stages in the development and growth of the foetus. Allah says:
man, if you have doubt about the resurrection, then know that, We created you out of dust; then out of a sperm; then out of a leech-like clot; then out of a morsel of flesh; partly formed and partly unformed; in order that We may manifest our power to you. And We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term; then do We bring you out as babes; then (foster you) that you may reach your age of full strength; and some our are called to die; and some are sent back to the feeblest old age. (22:5)

Allah also tells us that the creation of the entire human species is like the creation of one person. He says;
And your creation and your resurrection, is just like the creation of one individual. (31:28)

We know that every person is just a different combination of the genes and chromosomes contained in a single cell. So that, the creation of the entire human species, is just like the creation of a single cell with the changing combination of the genes and chromosomes resulting in a different person.

About the end of man, Allah tells us that he shall be returned to the earth and then resurrected. He says:
From the earth We created you; and into the earth shall We return you; and from it shall We bring you out again. (20:55)

Allah tells us in the Qur'an, not only about our origin, but what will ultimately happen to us.

You said that the Qur'an has given us the necessary information of everything we ought to know about ourselves, the universe and about God. What did Allah tell us about Himself in this great Book?

Allah tells us about Himself, the following:

No creature is like Him. In other words; the Creator is different from every creature.
No vision can grasp Him; but He sees all things.
All creatures are in need of Him; but He is not in need of any creature.
Everything exists in His knowledge.
He is the greatest; as He functions through all His Divine Attributes at one and the same time to all His creatures.
He connects Himself to His creatures through the Attribute of Compassion.
He is Eternal
He does suffer from the defects that human being experiences
He is closer to us than we can imagine.
We are all returning to Him
Some will be able to meet Him; and some will not.
He is our Sustainer, Protector, etc.
He can do whatever He pleases.