Sabr: Difficult but not impossible Ghazali lived in 5th century Hijri and his book, Kitaab Al-Arba’in Fi Usul ad-Din, ‘The Forty Principles of the Religion,’ which he wrote before his death, is a summary of Ihya Ulumuddin, and his life’s works and thoughts. In the last ten principles of the forty, he looks at good traits. The first is tawbah. The second is khawf and the third is Zuhd. The fourth quality is sabr. Sabr helps us navigate our journey to Allah safely. وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. (8:46) Ghazali, in his Forty Principles of the Deen quotes from the Quran, showing the importance of the quality of sabr. Allah has mentioned sabr in the Quran almost 70 times so it appears in the long surahs, short surahs and throughout, because it is a quality everyone requires. Writings about patience Many books have been written on sabr, including a lengthy chapter in Ihya al Ulum ad Din. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya wrote Patience and Gratitude and in each era this topic has generated a great deal of scholarship. Those who have sabr are rightly guided In Surat al Baqarah, Allah Almighty mentions the sabireen (patient): أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَٰتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُهْتَدُونَ They are the ones who will receive Allah’s blessings and mercy. And it is they who are ˹rightly˺ guided. (2:157) In this ayah, Allah Almighty has showered those who show patience with His mercy and blessings and describes them as those who are guided.  The opposite scenario for those who do not practice sabr, is that they do not have Allah’s mercy, blessings and guidance, because they became victims to their own anger, desire and whims as well as Shaytan. They did not listen to the call … Continue reading Ghazali on sabr (patience) part 1