Patience: The Path to Paradise - I

Ramadhaan is the month of patience; and Paradise is the reward of patience. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
• {And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allaah]. Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him.} [Quran 2:45-46]
• {O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allaah is with the patient.} [Quran 2:153]
Commenting on the last verse, Mujaahid said, “Patience in this verse means fasting. That is why Ramadhaan is called the month of patience. Therefore, both fasting and prayer are firmly connected in this verse, since fasting curbs desire and makes one abstinent regarding this worldly life, while prayer inspires humbleness and submission, removes arrogance and encourages love for the Hereafter.”
It is narrated through an authentic Hadeeth (narration) that the Prophet said: “Fast the month of patience and three days each month…”
Ramadhaan is the month of patience as the person who observes fasting is patient regarding acts of obedience and avoiding acts of disobedience. He abstains from the permissible things he used to enjoy out of obedience to Allaah The Almighty and in fulfillment of piety. Meanwhile, he stops himself from doing acts of disobedience and forces himself to do many righteous acts which bring one closer to Allaah The Almighty, such as observing the voluntary night prayers, giving in charity, maintaining kinship ties, providing food for the needy and bearing the suffering of hunger and thirst.
It is also the month of Jihaad (striving in the cause of Allaah The Almighty), and Jihaad is a form of patience. The Prophet conducted two battles during the month of Ramadhaan, the ever greatest battles: the Battle of Badr and the Conquest of Makkah.
The Companions realized that Ramadhaan is the month of patience. They showed great patience in bearing the responsibility of calling to Allaah The Almighty, performing Jihaad, obeying Allaah The Almighty, avoiding acts of disobedience and being satisfied with the decree of Allaah. The Prophet as well as the Companions used to reach the highest degree of patience during the month of Ramadhaan, which is the month of patience.
Have we learnt this lesson from observing the fast and the night voluntary prayers during the month of Ramadhaan?
The patient will be given their reward without account:
Allaah The Exalted made the reward of good deeds well-known, all having the same result, Saying (what means): {Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgment] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof [to his credit]} [Quran 6:160]
In another verse, He made the reward of charity for the sake of Allaah even greater, Saying (what means): {The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allaah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allaah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allaah is All-Encompassing and Knowing.} [Quran 2:261]
Nevertheless, He made the reward of the patient without account, Saying (what means):
• {Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.} [Quran 39:10]
• {And whoever is patient and forgives - indeed, that is of the matters [requiring] determination.} [Quran 42:43]
It was said that the patient person in the first verse means those who fast, for in an authentic Hadeeth, the Prophet narrated that Allaah The Almighty Says: “Fasting is for Me and I give reward for it…” [Al-Bukhaari] Here the reward of fasting is not determined, unlike the case with patience, the reward of which was determined.
The reward of the patient is Paradise:
Allaah The Almighty informed us that His angels confer peace upon the patient in Paradise due to their patience in the worldly life. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
• {And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying], "Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured.”} [Quran 13:23-24]
• {And [He] will reward them for what they patiently endured [with] a garden [in Paradise] and silk [garments].} [Quran 76:12]
• {Those will be awarded the Chamber for what they patiently endured, and they will be received therein with greetings and [words of] peace. Abiding eternally therein. Good is the settlement and residence.} [Quran 25:75-76]
Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘ari narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi w sallam, said: “When a person’s child dies, Allaah The Almighty Says to His Angels, ‘Have you taken the child of My slave?’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He Says, ‘Have you taken the apple of his eye?’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He Says, ‘What did My slave say?’ They say, ‘He praised You and said “Innaa lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Verily to Allaah we belong and to Him we shall return).’ Allaah Says, ‘Build for My slave a house in Paradise and call it the house of praise.’” [At-Tirmithi, Ahmad and Ibn Hibbaan] [Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Anas narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: “Allaah The Almighty Says: When I afflict My slave in his two beloveds (i.e. afflicting him with blindness) and he shows patience, I Will Compensate him for his two eyes with Paradise.” [Al-Bukhaari and Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
The wording of another narration reads: “Allaah The Almighty Says: When I take the two dear things (i.e afflict his eyes with blindness) of My slave in this worldly life, his reward from Me will be Paradise.” [At-Tirmithi] [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: “Allaah The Almighty Says, 'Whosoever his two beloveds I take (i.e. afflicted his eyes with blindness), yet he shows patience and hopes for My reward, I shall be satisfied with no less reward for him than Paradise.” [At-Tirmithi] [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: “Allaah The Almighty is not satisfied with a reward less than Paradise for His believing slave when He takes his dearest one from among the inhabitants of this worldly life, yet he shows patience and hopes for His reward.” [Abu Daawood] [Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: “Allaah The Almighty Says: I Have no reward other than Paradise for My believing slave who (remains patient) and hopes for My reward when I take his dearest person from among the inhabitants of the worldly life.” [Al-Bukhaari]
‘Ataa’ ibn Abi Rabaah said, “Ibn ‘Abbaas said to me, 'Shall I show you a woman of the people of Paradise?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'This black woman came to the Prophet and said, 'I get attacks of epilepsy and my body becomes uncovered; please invoke Allaah for me.' The Prophet said (to her): 'If you wish I could invoke Allaah to cure you, or if you wish, be patient and you will obtain Paradise.' She said, 'I will be patient,' and added, 'but I become uncovered, so please invoke Allaah for me that I may not become uncovered.' So, he invoked Allaah for her and she did not become uncovered again.'” [Al-Bukhaari and Ahmad]
‘Attaa’ ibn Yasaar narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: “When a slave (of Allaah) falls ill, Allaah sends him two angels and Says to them, ‘See what he will say to his visitors?’ If he praises Allaah and glorifies Him when they come to him, they will inform Allaah of that, and indeed He knows best. Thereupon, Allaah Says, ‘It is due upon Me for My slave if I cause him to die (of his illness) to admit him to Paradise, and to replace him with flesh better than his flesh and blood better than his blood and forgive his misdeeds if I cause him to recover.’” [Al- Bukhaari; Al-Albaani classed it as Hasan by virtue of corroborating narrations]