Trials Tribulations & Persecutions
Patience Perseverance Prosperity

Patience and tolerance are both great attributes of the Divine Being, and the Holy Quran and Hadith direct us to acquire Divine attributes. It is a great honour for man that he is given the opportunity to acquire Divine attributes. Who can be more tolerant than the Divine Being? He observes a great portion of humanity denying His very existence, as can be observed to a large extent in the communist world today. In Europe and America, the idea evolved and was propagated all over the world that either there was never a God (we seek the protection of Allah from saying so), or if He was there at one time, He is now dead. Those who are not guilty of such blatant disrespect, associate with God by worshipping their own self created stone idols, or an animal, or another creation of God, generally a human being who has passed away. This also is a kind of insolence and disrespect. The Divine Being also observes with patience, and tolerance all kinds of evil deeds being committed in front of Him. If He had not manifested His attribute of patience, the world would have long ended, and man would not have had an opportunity to reform himself. Patience is, therefore a magnificent attribute of Allah, and man is given an opportunity to acquire this by facing adversity. Some, amongst those who accept the truth lose their life. Are they unsuccessful, or is their sacrifice in vain? Certainly this is not so, Allah tells us: Such martyrs acquire a superior, and everlasting existence which cannot be excelled upon. They were liberated from the pain, illness, hunger and grief of this worldly existence, and immediately entered into the garden of eternity. The achievement of such people is worthy of emulation. One of my favourite stories in the Holy Quran is that of Moses, in per suite of knowledge: "This is a beautiful lesson for you to see that everyone has to work on themselves in achieving patience - even the chosen men and women by Allah (God) Himself has to develop patients within themselves." "Also; The interpretation of the three incidents shows a manifestation of Divine wisdom in what takes place in the everyday life of man. Devine laws, as manifested in nature, are really working towards ultimate good, though sometimes they may appear to the outward eye to be working to the detriment of somebody. The beneficent hand of Allah that works in nature is always directing humanity to the goal of great good, through that goal must necessarily be reached with apparent loss. Sometimes the loss is only apparent, as in the case of making a hole in the boat; there was no real loss, but the apparent loss served a great purpose and brought much benefit to the owner. The second instance is that in which there is real loss to a person, but it is for the good of humanity at large, for life must be sacrificed for the ultimate good of humanity by the hand of and permission of the creator of life Himself. The third instance shows that, for the good of humanity, deeds must be done which bring no immediate reward, and that good done by one generation not devoid of benefit to the next."

— Commentary (author not named in book)

And when Moses said to his servant, I will not cease until I reach the junction of the two rivers, otherwise I will go on for years. So when they reached the junction of the two (rivers), they forgot their fish, and it took its way into the river being free. But when they had gone further he said to his servant; Bring to us out morning meal, certainly we have found fatigue in this our journey. He said; Sawest thou when we took refuge on the rock, I forgot the fish, and none but the devil made me forget to speak of it, and it took its way into the river; what a wonder. He said; This is what we sought for. So they returned retracing their footsteps. Then they found one of Our servants whom We had granted mercy from Us and whom We had taught knowledge from Ourselves. Moses said to him; My I follow thee that thou mayest teach me of the good thou hast been taught? He said; Thou canst not have patience with me. And how canst thou have patience in that whereof thou has not a comprehensive knowledge? Moses said; if Allah (God) please, thou wilt find me patient, nor shall I disobey thee in aught. He said; if thou wouldst follow me, question me not about aught until I myself speak to thee about it. So they set out until, when they embarked in a boat, he made a hole in it. Moses said; hast thou made a hole in it to drown its occupants? Thou has surely done a grievous thing. He said; Did I not say that thou couldst not have patience with me? Moses said; blame me not for what I forgot, and be not hard upon me for what I did. So they went on, until, when they me a boy, he slew him. Moses said; hast thou slain an innocent person, not guilty of slaying another? Thou hast indeed done a horrible thing. He said; did I not say to thee that thou couldst not have patience with me? Moses said; If I ask thee about anything after this, keep not company with me. Thou wilt then indeed have found an excuse in my case. So they went on, until when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to entertain them as guest. Then they found in it a wall which was on the point of falling, so he put it into a right state. Moses said; If thou hadst wished, thou couldst have taken a recompense for it. He said; this is the parting between me and thee. Now I will inform thee of the significance of that with which thou couldst not have patience. As for the boat, it belonged to a poor people working on the river, and I intended to damage it, for there was behind them a king who seized every boat by force. (So after the army passed they could raise the boat patch the hole and continue with their lives). As for the boy, his parents were believer and We feared lest he should involve them in wrongdoing and disbelief. So We intended for their Lord might give them in his place one better in purity and nearer to mercy. And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure belonging to them, and their father has been a righteous man. So thy Lord intended that they should attain their maturity and take out their treasure - a mercy from thy Lord - and I did not do it of my own accord. This is the significance of that with which thou couldst not have patience

— Quran