Chapter 5 - On Perseverance

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “God's Prophet ran into a group of camel riders during one of his trips. They greeted him and he asked them who they where. They said they were believers. The Prophet (a.s) asked them about the truth of their faith. They replied: “Contentment with what God has destined, entrusting themselves to God, and submitting to God's orders.” Then God's Prophet (a.s) said: “These are wise and knowledgeable people with such a high rank, near that of the Prophets.” Then he faced them and said: “If you are truthful, do not build what you shall not reside in; do not collect what you shall not eat; and fear God to Whom you shall return.”

“There shall come a time when people cannot get into power except by being jealous and seizure of people's property; cannot become popular except by abandoning religion and following their selfish desires. God will reward anyone who lives in that time; and is patient with poverty although he can acquire wealth; and is patient with baseness although he can attain glory. His reward will be equal to the reward of fifty believers who have acknowledged Me.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God the Almighty sent a Prophet to a nation and asked him to fight with them. The Prophet complained to God about being weak. God the Almighty said: “Either choose to fight, or go to hell with them.” That Prophet (a.s) said: “O' my Lord! I cannot withstand the Fire.” Then God revealed to him that he would become victorious during that same year. Then that Prophet told his followers that God had ordered them to go to war, and he has said they are weak. But God has said either to fight or go to Hell. He told his followers to choose between fighting and going to Hell. They said that they could not withstand the Fire. Then he told them that God had revealed to him that they would be victorious during that same year. They said they would do whatever he ordered them to do.” Then Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God appointed another Prophet and ordered him to go fight a nation. He complained of his weakness, and God the Almighty revealed to him that they would be victorious after fifteen years. When he told his followers about this, they said: “There is no strength nor power but in, or by means of, God the High, the Great.” He then told them that God has revealed to him that they will be victorious after fifteen years. They said: “Whatever God decides. There is no strength nor power but in, or by means of, God the High, the Great.” Since they entrusted their affairs to God, God made them victorious that same year.”

“Send my greetings to Mafzal and tell him that we were patient with Ismail, so you should be patient as we were. Indeed whenever we will something and God wills otherwise, we submit to God's will.

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “One of the signs of reliance is not to fear anyone but God.”

“Patience is due to certitude.”

Abdullah ibn-i-Abbas said: “God's Prophet rode on a mule that either Qaisar or Kasra had donated to him. He grabbed its hair and helped me ride behind him and said: “Young fellow, remember God, so that He protects you. Remember God so that you will always see Him. Remember God whenever you are about to err so that He helps you during times of hardship. Whenever you want to ask a question, ask it from God. Whenever you need help, ask God for help. Destiny has already specified what must take place. If people try to help you get what God has not destined for you, they will not succeed in doing so. If you can be patient and have certitude, then do so. If not, just be patient, as there is much benefit in being patient regarding what is very difficult for you. Know that victory is associated with patience, and relief is associated with suffering hardships. There always comes relief after suffering hardships.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Patience is the upper-most part of faith.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “The relationship between patience and faith is similar to that of head and body. If there is no head, there cannot be any body. So if there is no patience, there cannot be any faith.”

“O' Hafs! Whoever is patient has been patient for a little bit, and whoever is impatient has been impatient for a little bit. Then he added: “Make sure that you are patient in all affairs, since when God appointed Muhammad to Prophethood, He ordered him to be patient, and said: “And have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity). And leave Me (alone to deal with) those in possession of the good things of life who (yet) deny the Truth.” [The Holy Quran: Muzzammil 73:10-11] And God the Almighty the High said: “Repel (Evil) with what is better: then will he, between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate! And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune.” [The Holy Quran: Ha-Mim 41:34-35] The Prophet (a.s) was patient even though they made great accusations against him (such as being mad, a magician, a liar).”

Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “Daily bread is threatened by foolishness, deprivation is cured by intelligence, and calamities require certitude and patience.”

Mehran said that he wrote a letter to Imam Kazim (a.s) and complained about having a lot of doubts and being in a bad state of affairs. The Imam (a.s) replied: “Be patient until you are rewarded by God, since if you are not patient, you will not get any divine rewards and cannot prevent divine destiny either.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “A free man remains free under all circumstances. He will be patient if he suffers from a calamity. He will not break down if he is stormed with catastrophes, even if he is captured in war, or is hurt and his comfort turns into hardship. An example is the Prophet Joseph (a.s), who was deported, imprisoned and hurt, but his freedom was not affected in the least bit. The darkness of the well (in which he was left by his brothers), and whatever else that happened to him did not hurt him at all. Then God honored him and turned the tables around. He made the oppressor who ruled over him his servant. He appointed Joseph to be His Prophet, and brought His Mercy upon a nation through him. This is an example of practicing the art of patience well. You should be patient, too. You will be victorious. Remain patient until you get divine rewards.”

Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “There are two types of patience. Patience with calamities is good, but patience with what God has forbidden is even better.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “When the time came for my father to pass away, he hugged me and said: “O' my dear son! I advise you to do what my father advised me to do at the time of his death and what his father had advised likewise. My son! Be patient with the truth, even if it is bitter.”

“I am amazed by a believer. God the Almighty does not destine anything for him unless there is some benefit in it for him. He should be patient if he is suffering from a calamity, and he should be grateful if he is granted something.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) was asked: “Who is the dearest creature to God?” He replied: “Whoever is patient whenever a calamity befalls him, and is grateful whenever he is granted something.”

“The dearest one to me is one who lives a simple life (is not attached to worldly life); benefits from prayers and worships God in private lives among the people (and is not famous); is patient with a low amount of divinely-destined daily bread; and dies with few inheritors, and a few people to cry over his death.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: Whoever is patient when a calamity befalls him and declares that there is no return except to God, and is content with divine orders, will receive divine rewards. Whoever does not do so will also be subject to divine orders, but he is blameworthy and God will cancel his reward.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “A believer's nature is to be patient in the face of hardships.”

“The Prophet (a.s) did not let Khadijeh cry over the death of their son Tahir. Khadijed agreed, but said that she cried because she had milk. The Prophet (a.s) said: “Don't you want to see him standing at the gate of Heaven, waiting to take your hand when he sees you, and take you to the last spot in the Heaven? “She replied positively. Then the Prophet (a.s) said: “God is nobler and more honorable than to punish someone if He has taken away a loved one and he/she has been patient praising God.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “A child given in the way of God is better than seventy children who remain after one's death who all riding on their horses and going to participate in a holy war.”

“God revealed to David (a.s) that his partner in Heaven will be Khaladeh, the daughter of Aus. He ordered him to go to her and tell her that she would be his spouse in the Hereafter. The Blessed David (a.s) went to her house, knocked at the door, and Khaladeh came to the door. He asked her if she was Khaladeh, the daughter of Aus. She said: “O, Prophet of God! I am not the friend you are looking for.” Then David asked her if she was Khaladeh, the daughter of Aus again. She replied positively. Then he told her that she was the right person. She said: “O' Prophet of God! There may be some similarity in name.” The Blessed David said: “No, I am not a liar, and have been told the truth. You are the same person that I have been informed about.” She said: “O' Prophet of God! I am not saying that you lie, but by God I do not see in myself what you are describing me as.” Then the Prophet David (a.s) asked her to tell him about her good characteristics. She said: “Now I will tell you about myself. I am patient with whatever happens to me, be it hunger, illness or whatever other calamity. I have never asked God to remove hardship from me until He himself returns my health, and removes my hardships, and I have never asked for anything in return, and I have always praised God.” Then the Prophet David (a.s) said: “It is due to these characteristics that you have reached this position.”“ Imam Sadiq (a.s) then continued: “By God this religion is the one that God has established for His chosen servants.”

“Be patient with (the jealous people) who are envious of what God has bestowed upon you, since you cannot punish those who, due to their jealousy, have disobeyed God. It is better that you obey God (and be patient with the jealous ones).”

Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “There are two forms of patience: patience with what you dislike, and patience with what you like. The relationship between patience and faith is similar to that of the head and the body - that is a body is no good without a head, and faith is no good without patience.”

Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “There are three forms of patience: being patient when obeying God; being patient during times of calamities, and being patient when faced with sin.”

“O' God! Did You not create me with your own hands?” God replied: “Yes, but were you grateful and patient?” Adam said: “There is no God but You. I oppressed myself. Forgive me since You are the Merciful, the Benevolent.” God the Almighty had mercy upon him for crying and accepted his repentance and forgave him. God is kind and accepts repentance.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “People were instructed to do two things, but they ignored both things and thus they lost everything. These two things were having patience and being faithful in keeping secrets.”

“O' Hafs! Whoever is patient, will be patient for a little while, and whoever is impatient is impatient for a little while (implying that both are transient).”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “I instruct you to be patient. God the Almighty appointed Muhammad (a.s), and ordered him to be patient. He said: “And have patience with what they said, and leave them with noble (dignity). And leave Me (alone to deal) with those in possession of the good things of life” [The Holy Quran: Muzzammil 73:10-11] God the Almighty also said: “Repel (Evil) with what is better: then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate! And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune.” [The Holy Quran: Fussilat 41:34-35] God's Prophet (a.s) was patient even though they made great accusations against himed him of being a magician, being mad or being a liar. Then God the Almighty revealed the following verse: “We do indeed know how thy heart is distressed at what they say. But celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and be of those who prostrate themselves in adoration.” [The Holy Quran: Hijr 15:97-98] Then they rejected the Prophet (a.s) and he got sad. Thus God revealed the following verse: “We know indeed the grief which their words do cause thee; it is not thee they reject; it is the signs of God, which the wicked contemn. Rejected were the Apostles before thee: with patience and constancy they bore their rejection and their wrongs, until Our aid did reach them.” [The Holy Quran: Anam 6:33-34] Again the Prophet (a.s) was patient, but they did not stop there. And when he mentioned God's name they rejected God, too. The Prophet (a.s) said: “I was patient with them when they rejected me and my family, but I cannot withstand their rejection of my Lord. Then God revealed the following verse: “We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in Six days, nor did any sense of weariness touch us. Bear, then with patience, all that they say.” [The Holy Quran: Qaf 50:38- 39] Then the Prophet (a.s) was patient in all situations. And he was informed about the Prophets being patient. God the Almighty said: “And We appointed from among them, Leaders, giving guidance under Our command, so long as they persevered with patience and continued to have faith in Our signs.” [The Holy Quran: Sajdah 32:24] Then the Prophet (a.s) said: “The relationship between patience and faith is similar to that of the head and the body.” God admired him and sent the following: “The fair promise of thy Lord was fulfilled for the children of Israel, because they had patience and constancy, and we leveled to the ground the great works and fine buildings which Pharaoh and his people erected (with such pride).” [The Holy Quran: A'raf 7:137] Then he said this is an admonition and a reward. Then God revealed the following verse and allowed slaying the Pagans: “Then fight, and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them. And seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them.” [The Holy Quran: Tauba 9:5] Then God damned them via the Prophet (a.s) and his friends, and set this as a divine reward for his patience in addition to his heavenly reward. Thus whoever is patient and asks God to get near to Him will not die before he gets pleased by seeing what happens to his enemies. And he will also receive rewards in the Hereafter.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “When a believer is placed in his grave, his prayers enter from the right side, his alms enter from the left side and his good deeds make a shadow over him. His patience enters and asks his prayers, his alms and his good deeds to help the believer when the angel comes to ask questions, and says it will also help when needed.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “There are two types of patience: patience in the face of calamities which is good, and patience in abstaining from what is forbidden, which is the best form of patience.”

“It is more manly to be patient during times of poverty, need, abstinence, and affluence than to give charity.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: ‘Be patient at times of calamities’ regarding God's statement: “O' ye who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy.” [The Holy Quran: Al-i-Imran 3:200].

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God the Almighty granted some blessings to a nation. That nation did not thank God for these blessings. The blessings turned into trouble for them. God brought some calamities upon another nation. They were patient, therefore those calamities were converted into blessings for them.”