Certified Patient

“Sabr of Ayyub” is a famous idiom to refer to great sabr.

Ayyub was a prophet of Allāh who was afflicted with many afflictions and trials both physically and financially. During this course, he also lost his children. All of this continued not for days or months but for eighteen ¹ long years.

Ayyub was patient over everything and only complained to Allāh . This complaint did not negate his patience as we will see.

Allāh said, quoting Ayyub :

أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلضُّرُّ

Indeed, adversity has touched me [Surah Al-Anbiya 21:83]

Even with all the hardships, Ayyub is calling it just a touch.

Allāh cured him as Allāh said:

فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ فَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِۦ مِن ضُرٍّ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ أَهْلَهُۥ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ

So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them [Surah Al-Anbiya 21:84]

This was not all, he was also honored with a certificate of patience by the Lord of everything, as Allāh said:

إِنَّا وَجَدْنَٰهُ صَابِرًا ۚ نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ

Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant [Surah Sad 38:44]

Conclusion

Afflictions are inevitable. Indeed, there is a great reward of being patient over the afflictions and hardships. Sometimes, there is reward in this life but if that person dies as a believer there is a surely a great reward in hereafter. Allāh said:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient [Surah Al-Baqara 2:155]