حفص الجوهري

“Patience is due to certitude.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “There is nothing better than quenching your anger with patience and perseverance.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Forbearance is enough as a helper’ and he said, ‘If you are not a forbearing person at least pretend to be like a forebearing person.’”

“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).”

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) came out of the Mosque and his animal that he had ridden was missing. The Imam said, ‘If Allah will return my animal I will thank Him the way He must be thanked.’ Not long thereafter his animal was brought back. The Imam said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah.’ Someone then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, did you not say, “I will thank Allah the way He must be thanked?’” The Imam said, ‘Did you not hear me saying, “All praise belongs to Allah?’””

O Thabit! When Allah loves a person, He pours afflictions on him and rains them heavily on him. And (all the while) we pass our days and nights with him (unaware of his suffering).

“Persevere. God will soon make things easy for you.” He was quiet for a while, and then faced that man and said: “Tell me how is the Kufa jail?” He said: “May God maintain your health. It is narrow and stinking, and the prisoners there feel bad.” Then the Imam (a.s) said: “You are in a prison, too. Do you want a relief. Do you know that this world is a prison for the believers?”

“Express our greetings to whoever you see and tell them that-by God- none of us are of any use for them unless they themselves adhere to piety. Be careful about what you say and do, and be one of those who persevere and establish prayers since God is the Helper of those who persevere.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever among the believers exercises patience at the time of suffering hardship he will have a reward equal to the reward of a thousand martyrs.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Station your soul on the discipline for good companionship toward your companion, control your tongue and anger, reduce your useless activities, make your forgiveness readily available and act generously.’”

Al-Fuzayl stated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) told him: “O' Fuzayl! Whenever you see one of our followers, express our greetings and tell him that he shall not find any position near God except through piety. Therefore be careful about what you say, and what you do. Be persevering and pray since God is with those who persevere.”

(The same previous series of relaters)… from Hussein bin Amr said that Abu Abdullah (a) said: The believer is firmer than blocks of iron. Iron is changed when it is subjected to fire, while the believer will not be changed even if he is killed, cut by a saw, and then killed anew.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said to me, ‘The swallowing of a servant (of Allah) of no other drop is more beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, than the drop (feeling) of anger when it runs around in his heart, and he swallows it by means of patience and forbearance.’”

“We were in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when a man came and complained before him about a misfortune that he had suffered. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘If you exercise patience, you will be rewarded and if you do not exercise patience, Allah’s system of working of things will apply to you without change and you will be counted a sinner.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If a servant (of Allah) suppresses his anger, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, increases his respect in this world and in the next world. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “. . . who also harness their anger and forgive the people. Allah loves the righteous ones.” (3:134) Allah will give them such rewards; they had suppressed their anger.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘I am told a girl is born to you whom you dislike. What has she brought upon you? She is a sweet smelling flower you enjoy and her sustenance is guaranteed, besides, the Messenger of Allah was a father of girls.’”

Zayd al-Shuh'ham quoted upon the authority of Imam Sadiq (a.s): “O' Zayd! Be patient with your enemies since you can never fight with those rebelling against God except by obeying Him. God will keep his believing servants away from evil, as you separate a strange female camel that does not belong to you from your male camels. O' Zayd! God has chosen and has established Islam. Therefore treat the people gently and with kindness.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, has delegated all affairs of believers to them but He has not delegated him to humiliate himself. Have you not heard the words of Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, “All honors belongs to Allah, His Messenger and the believers. . .” (63:7) Believers must stay honorable but not lowly and humiliated. Allah has granted them honor through al-Islam and belief.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Ibrahim (a.s.) once complained before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, because of the wicked moral behavior of Sarah and Allah most High, sent him revelation that said, ‘Women are like crooked ribs, on trying to straighten you only cause it to snap and break apart but you can benefit by leaving it alone (the way it is), so you must exercise patience.’”

Abu Abdillah عليه السلام ordered me to go to Mufadhal and condole him for [the death of] Ismail. He [the Imam] said: Convey my greetings of peace to Mufadhal and say to him: We have been tried through Ismail and have remained patient, so be patient the way we have been patient. We wanted something but Allah Mighty and Majestic wanted something else so we have submitted to the command of Allah Mighty and Majestic.