ON PATIENCE, PLEASURE AND CONTENTMENT

As for the virtue of pleasure, the following Qur’ânic verses are applicable:

“Allâh is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.” (Sûrah al-Mâ’idah, 5: 119)

Allâh says:

“What is the reward of goodness but goodness?” (Sûrah ar-Rahmân, 55: 60)

The peak of goodness is Allâh’s pleasure with His servant. And it is the reward for the servant’s pleasure with Allâh .

Allâh says:

“and beautiful mansions in the gardens of eternity.” (Sûrah at-Taubah, 9: 72)

The pleasure of Allâh is the greatest. Allâh elevated pleasure above the Gardens of Eden just as He elevated His remembrance above salâh when He said:

“Surely salâh restrains [man] from indecency and evil. And the remembrance of Allâh is the greatest.” (Sûrah al-‘Ankabût, 29: 45)

Just as the ability to see the Being who is remembered in salâh is greater than salâh itself, in like manner, the pleasure of the Lord of Paradise is greater than Paradise itself. In fact, it is the chief objective of the inhabitants of Paradise.

A Hadîth states: “Allâh appears before the believers and says: ‘Ask Me.’ They reply: ‘We want Your pleasure.’” Their asking for His pleasure after seeing Him is the peak of giving preference. As for the pleasure of the servant, we will mention its essence.

As for Allâh’s pleasure with the servant, it is in another meaning – very close to what we had mentioned as regards Allâh’s love for the servant. It is not possible to fathom its essence because the intelligence of the creation fall short in comprehending this. He who has the ability to fathom it, it is for himself only. In short, there is no rank above looking at Allâh . The reason why they asked Him for His pleasure is that it is the cause for the continuous ability to see Him. When they were blessed with the bounty of looking at Him, they considered it to be the peak of all objectives and the furthest of all hopes. When they were ordered to ask Him, they asked for nothing but the continuation of this bounty. And they knew that His pleasure is the cause for the continuation of the lifting of the veil [whereby they could continue seeing Him].

Allâh says:

“For them is whatever they desire, and with Us is even more.” (Sûrah Qâf, 50: 35)

In the commentary to this verse, some commentators say: At the time when the people of Paradise are to receive more, three gifts will come to them from Allâh : (1) A gift from Allâh , the like of which they do not have in Paradise. This is referred to in the following verse:

“So no soul knows what bliss is in store for them – a recompense for what they used to do.” (Sûrah as-Sajdah, 32: 17)

(2) A greeting of peace from their Sustainer. This will be an addition to the first gift. Allâh says:

“Peace! A word from the merciful Sustainer.” (Sûrah Yâ Sîn, 36: 58)

(3) Allâh will say to them: “I am pleased with you.”

This will be more superior to the first gift and to the greeting of peace. This is based on the following words of Allâh :

“But the pleasure of Allâh is the greatest.” (Sûrah at-Taubah, 9: 72)

In other words, it is greater than all the other bounties that they are enjoying. So this is the virtue of the pleasure of Allâh and it is the fruit of the pleasure of the servant.

As for the virtue of pleasure from the Traditions, it is narrated that the Prophet asked a group of his Companions: “What are you?” They replied: “We are believers.” He asked: “What is the sign of your îmân?” They replied: “We exercise patience at the time of calamity, we are grateful at the time of prosperity, and we are pleased with whatever destiny has decided for us.” He said: “I take an oath by the Lord of the Ka‘bah that you are most certainly believers.”

Another narration states that he said to them: “They are very wise and knowledgeable people. Their deep understanding could almost make them Prophets.”

A Hadîth states: “Glad tidings to the person who is guided to Islam, whose sustenance is sufficient for him, and is pleased with it.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “He who is pleased with little sustenance from Allâh , Allâh is pleased with little actions from him.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “When Allâh loves a servant. He puts him through trials and tribulations. If he exercises patience, He chooses him. If he is pleased, He selects him [for His close proximity].”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “On the day of resurrection, Allâh will cause wings to grow for a group of my followers. They will fly from their graves to the gardens of Paradise. They will move about therein and enjoy themselves therein as they wish. The angels will ask them: ‘Did you’ll see the reckoning of deeds?’ They will reply: ‘We did not see any reckoning whatsoever.’ The angels will ask them: ‘Did you’ll cross the Sirât?’ They will reply: ‘We did not see any Sirât.’ The angels will ask them: ‘Did you’ll see Hell?’ They will reply: ‘We did not see anything.’ The angels will ask them: ‘From which ummah are you?’ They will reply: ‘From the ummah of Muhammad .’ The angels will say: ‘We ask you in the name of Allâh, tell us what your deeds were in the world.’ They will reply: ‘There were two qualities in us which enabled us to reach this rank by virtue of the mercy of Allâh .’ The angels will ask: ‘What are they?’ They will reply: “’When we were in solitude, we used to be ashamed of disobeying Him. And we used to be pleased with the little that was destined for us.’ The angels will say: ‘You deserve this [great reward].’”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “O assembly of poor people! Give to Allâh your pleasure from your hearts and you will acquire the reward of your poverty. If not, you will not acquire this reward.”

It related in the Traditions of Mûsâ that the Banî Isrâ’îl said to him: “Ask your Sustainer something which if we do, He will be pleased with us.” Mûsâ said: “O my Allâh! You have heard what they said.” Allâh said: “O Mûsâ! Tell them to be pleased with Me till I am pleased with them.”

As for the virtue of patience, this is mentioned in over 90 places in the Qur’ân. It adds most of the ranks and acts of goodness to patience and made these ranks the fruits of patience. It brings together many matters for the patient ones which it did not bring together for others. Allâh says:

“Upon such people are the bounties of their Sustainer and mercy. And it is they who are on the straight path.” (Sûrah al-Baqarah, 2: 157)

So guidance, mercy and bounties are all brought together [in this verse] for the patient ones.

If we had to cover all the verses with regard to patience, this section would become very lengthy.

As for the Ahâdîth, the Messenger of Allâh said: “Patience is half of îmân.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “The least that you have been given is conviction and the resolve for patience. He who is given his share thereof, will not bother about what he misses of spending the night in worship and the day in fasting. That you be patient over the condition in which you are in is more beloved to me than each one of you coming to me with deeds similar to that of all of you together. However, I fear that the world be opened before you after me. You will thus dislike each other. Consequently, the inhabitants of the heavens will dislike you. He who remains patient and expects to be rewarded would have acquired his full reward.” He then recited this verse:

“All that is by you is bound to come to an end, and all that is by Allâh is everlasting. We shall certainly grant to those who are patient their reward for the good deeds that they used to do.” (Sûrah an-Nahl, 16: 96)

Jâbir narrates that the Messenger of Allâh was asked about îmân. He said: “It entails patience and forbearance.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Patience is one of the treasures of Paradise.”

The Messenger of Allâh was once asked about îmân. He said: “It is îmân.”

This is similar to his words: “The pilgrimage is ‘Arafah.” This means that the major and most important aspect of the pilgrimage is ‘Arafah.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “The most superior of deeds are those upon which the souls are imposed.”

It is said that Allâh addressed Dâ’ûd saying: “Adopt My characteristics. And from among My characteristics is that I am extremely patient.”

‘Atâ’ rahimahullâh narrates that Ibn ‘Abbâs said: “When the Messenger of Allâh went to the Ansâr, he asked them: ‘Are you believers?’ They remained silent. So ‘Umar said: ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allâh.’ He asked: ‘What is the sign of your îmân?’ They replied: ‘We are grateful at the time of prosperity, we are patient at the time of calamity, and we are pleased with destiny.’ The Messenger of Allâh said: ‘I take an oath by the Lord of the Ka‘bah, you are most certainly believers.’”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “There is a lot of good in exercising patience over what you dislike.”

‘Îsâ said: “You cannot acquire what you love except by exercising patience over what you dislike.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “If patience was a man, he would have been most noble. And Allâh loves those who are patient.”

There are numerous other Ahâdîth in this regard.

The Messenger of Allâh said: “The one who is content is honourable and the one who is covetous is despicable.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Contentment is a treasure that never comes to an end.”

The discussion on contentment was repeated several times.