At a glance
countedبغير حساب
reward 'without measure' (39:10)
3
arenas: worship · hardship · the self
«+prayer»
ṣabr is paired with ṣalāh
The two supports
interpreted· quran by quranPatience and prayer named together as the believer's help.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.
Seek help through patience and prayer — Allah is with the patient.
وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ
And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]
It is difficult except for the humble.
The three arenas of patience
interpretedThe classic tripartite reading of where ṣabr is exercised.
Patience in obedience
صبر على الطاعةHolding to worship when it is heavy.
Patience against sin
صبر عن المعصيةRestraint from what tempts.
Patience in affliction
صبر على المصيبةSteadiness under loss — the response of 'to God we return'.
The test and the response
interpreted· quran by quranIn Al-Baqara ṣabr is defined operationally by the reaction to loss.
- The test named2:155
Fear, hunger, loss
'We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger, a loss of wealth, lives and fruits — and give good tidings to the patient.' The test is announced as certain.
- The mark of the patient2:156
The saying, not the silence
The patient are defined by a sentence: 'innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn' — to God we belong and to Him we return. Ṣabr here is a confession, not a clenched jaw.
- The reward2:157
Blessings and guidance
Upon them are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is they who are rightly guided. Patience is repaid with orientation, not merely relief.
Ṣabr and its opposite
interpretedThe Qur'ān sets patience against panic and despair (jazaʿ).
Ṣabr
الصبرComposed steadiness that keeps acting.
- Reward without measure (39:10)
- Allah is with the patient (2:153)
- The end belongs to the God-conscious who are patient
Jazaʿ / despair
الجزعCollapse under trial — the reaction ṣabr replaces.
- Man is anxious when evil touches him (70:20)
- Despair of God's mercy is disbelief (12:87)
- Haste and complaint void the test
What patience yields
interpreted· quran by quranBe patient
and pray
39:10
Reward without measure
39:10God's companionship
2:153Allah is with the patient
Victory & firm footing
3:200
Patience across the Qur'ān
interpreted· quran by quranقُلْ يَٰعِبَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ فِى هَٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ وَأَرْضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةٌ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّٰبِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
Say, "O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account."
Reward without measure.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱصْبِرُوا۟ وَصَابِرُوا۟ وَرَابِطُوا۟ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.
Be patient, outdo in patience, stand firm.
مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ بَاقٍ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوٓا۟ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Whatever you have will end, but what Allah has is lasting. And We will surely give those who were patient their reward according to the best of what they used to do.
We will reward the patient by the best of their deeds.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ
Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
…and advised one another to patience.
وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَنَٰزَعُوا۟ فَتَفْشَلُوا۟ وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ
And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.
Be patient — Allah is with the patient.
وَٱصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا تَكُ فِى ضَيْقٍ مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ
And be patient, [O Muhammad], and your patience is not but through Allah. And do not grieve over them and do not be in distress over what they conspire.
Be patient — your patience is only through Allah.