Lesson 52 Mercy to Patience

Mercy is to be compassionate and tender-hearted towards others.

The Prophet (SAWS) was a model of mercy.

Modesty: It is a kind of behavior which causes one to refrain from obscene words and deeds, as well as preventing oneself from not fulfilling the rights of others.

Modesty is part of faith and both call to the good and ward off evil.

  A fair example is the Prophet (SAWS) who was more modest than the virgin in her room

Modesty does not mean restraining oneself from speaking the truth, learning, commanding the right and prohibiting the wrong.

Pardon is to give up one's right in money and retaliation.

Allah gives good tidings and praises those who pardon their fellow men.

Patience Patience is to make the self endure what it suffers from, and to tolerate misfortune with contentment and admission without annoyance or complaint.

Patience can be in enduring affliction, doing pious deeds, and warding off sins.

Patience is found when the Muslim continuously remembers that Allah's orders are effective, His judgment is just and His ordinance executable, whether the bondman is patient or not.

Being patient during times of affliction expiates evil deeds.

A Muslim wards off sin and harm by practicing patience and forgiveness.

Patience includes keeping secrets.

Evidence from Qur’an and Sunnah

Mercy:   Allah says: ﴿ ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْمَرْحَمَةِ* أُوْلَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ﴾ [البلد: 17، 18]

This means: “Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion. They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise).” (Al-Balad: 17 - 18)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are like the body. If one of the organs is afflicted, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever.” (Reported by Muslim)

“Allah bestows His Mercy on the merciful among His slaves.” The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Allah bestows His Mercy on the merciful among His slaves.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “The Compassionate (i.e., Allah) has mercy on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on the earth, He Who is in the heaven (i.e. Allah) will show mercy to you.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

“That who does not show mercy to others will not be shown mercy.” The Prophet (SAWS) said: “That who does not show mercy to others will not be shown mercy.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

“Mercy is taken away only from him who is miserable.” The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Mercy is taken away only from him who is miserable.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said: “A man was walking on his way when he became awfully thirsty. He found a well and he got down into the well and drank from it. Then, he went away. Suddenly, he saw a dog panting out of thirst. The man thought that the dog was extremely thirsty as he was. Therefore, he descended into the well. He filled up his scuff with water and held it in his mouth. He climbed up and quenched the thirst of the dog.

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim) Allah held his action in high esteem and forgave him. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said: Shall we be rewarded for showing kindness to animals also? He said: A reward is given in connection with every living creature.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy) he Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “A woman was punished because of a cat which she had jailed until it died and hence she entered the Hell. She did not allow it to eat or drink as it was confined nor did she free it so that it might eat the insects of the earth.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “I stand up to lead the prayer with the intention of prolonging it. Then, I hear the cry of an infant and I shorten the prayer lest I should make it burdensome for his mother.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

Modesty: Allah says: ﴿ قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ* وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلاَ يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ﴾   [النور: 30 ، 31]

This means: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands and faces, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.).” (An-Nur: 30 - 31)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Faith has sixty odd or seventy odd branches. The uppermost of all these is the Testimony of Faith: ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ (there is no true god except Allah) while the least of them is the removal of harmful objects from the road. And modesty is a branch of faith.” (Reported by Muslim)

“Modesty does not bring anything except good.” The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Modesty does not bring anything except good.” (Reported by Muslim)

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim) “The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) was even more modest than a virgin behind her veil.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “All my followers will be forgiven except those who display their wrong-doings in the open.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

“Leave him alone, for modesty is a part of faith.” The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) passed by a man of the Ansar who was admonishing his brother regarding modesty. The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Leave him alone, for modesty is a part of faith.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Among the admonitions which have been survived after the previous prophets and conveyed to people is: If you are not modest, you may do whatever you like.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) once said to his companions, “Be truly shy of Allah The Prophet (SAWS) once said to his companions, “Be truly shy of Allah.” They said, “O Allah’s Prophet! Surely, we are shy (of Allah); praise be to Allah. He (SAWS) said, “No not this. To be truly shy of Allah you have to preserve the head and what it comprehends and the abdomen and what it contains, and to remember death and decay. Whoever is willing (to gain) the Hereafter has to relinquish the adornment of the worldly life. He who does this is indeed truly shying of Allah. (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

Pardon: Allah says: ﴿ وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سِيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللهِ ﴾   [الشورى: 40]

This means: “The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah.” (Ash-Shura: 40)

Allah says: ﴿ خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ ﴾ [الأعراف: 199]

This means: “Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish (i.e. don't punish them).” (Al-A`raf: 199)

Allah says: ﴿ وَأَن تَعْفُوا أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَلاَ تَنسَوُا الْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ ﴾ [البقرة: 237]

This means: “And to forego and give (her the full Mahr) is nearer to at-taqwa (piety, righteousness). And do not forget liberality between yourselves.” (Al-Baqarah: 237)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Wealth does not decrease by giving charity. Allah augments the honor of that who forgives, and that who behaves modestly Allah will exalt him in ranks.” (Reported by Muslim)

`A’ishah (RA) narrated: “Whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) was given a choice, he would choose the easier course as long as it was not a sin. Yet, if it was sinful, he would avoid it. Nor did he ever take revenge over anybody for his own sake. However, when Allah's legal bindings were outraged, he would take revenge for Allah's Sake.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) used to supplicate Allah saying: “O Allah! You are Most Forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me.” (Reported by Ibn-Majah)  

Patience: Allah says: ﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴾ [آل عمران: 200]

This means: “You who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allah, so that you may be successful.” (Al-`Imran: 200)

Allah says: ﴿ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ * الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ* أُوْلَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ ﴾      [البقرة: 155 - 157]

This means: “But give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return. They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones.” (Al-Baqarah: 155 - 157)

﴿ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ ﴾ Allah says: ﴿ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ ﴾ [الزمر : 10]

This means: “Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning.” (Az-Zumar: 10)

There are many other verses that urge people to be patient.

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “How excellent is the case of a faithful servant! There is good for him in everything and this is not the case with anyone except him. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him.” (Reported by Muslim)

“And endurance is a glow.” The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “And endurance is a glow.” (Reported by Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “He who refrains from begging, Allah safeguards him against want, and he who seeks sufficiency, Allah will keep him in a state of sufficiency, and he who shows patience, Allah will grant him power to be patient, and none is blessed with an endowment better and greater than patience.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

(Reported by At-Tirmidhi) The Prophet (SAWS) was once asked, “Which people suffer most?“ He (SAWS) replied, “The most in their suffering among the people are the prophets, then the best, then the (next) best.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Anyone whom Allah intends good for him is made to suffer from some affliction.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said: “Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, says: When I afflict my servant in his two dear things (i.e., his eyes), and he endures patiently, I shall compensate him for them with Paradise.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “A Muslim male or female continues to remain under trial with respect to his life, property, and offspring till he or she faces Allah, the Exalted, in a state in which all his or her sins have been expiated.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said: “The greatness of reward is accompanied by the greatness of distress. If Allah, the Exalted, loves people, He afflicts them with trials. One who is content with that (trial), all the consent is for him, and one who is annoyed with it, all the wrath is for him.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)