The Three Dimensions of Patience: Striving Against the Lower Self and Satan
Discourse of His Eminence Pir Sahib, may Allah have mercy on him,
delivered on 17th January 1987
Discourse # 74
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
فَنِعۡمَ الۡمَوۡلٰی وَ نِعۡمَ النَّصِیۡرُ
رَبِِّ اشۡرَحۡ لِیۡ صَدۡرِیۡ وَیَسِّرۡ لِیۡۤ اَمۡرِیۡ وَ احۡلُلۡ عُقۡدَۃً مِّنۡ لِّسَانِیۡ یَفۡقَہُوۡاقَوۡلِیۡ
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِ عَلٰی سَیّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍوَّعَلٰی اٰلِ سَیِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍوَّعَلٰی اَصْحَابِہٖ وَعَلٰی اَذْوَاجِہٖ اَجْمَعِیْنَ وَبَارِکْ وَسَلِمْ وَصَلِ عَلَیْہٖ
اَ لْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ
The Almighty Allah be praised that the Master of All Sovereignty once again granted us today the opportunity to gather in His remembrance and pleasure. Millions and billions of blessings and salutations upon the Leader of the Prophets, the Beloved of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa, peace and blessings be upon him, through whom this grace has been granted.
Respected listeners! Allah Almighty has said in the Holy Qur’an:
ٓاَيُّھَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا اصْبِرُوْا وَصَابِرُوْا وَرَابِطُوْا ۣوَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَ
آیت 200: سورۃ آل عمران
Translation:
“O, you who believe! Be patient, remain steadfast in the face of opposition, remain firmly committed, and fear Allah Almighty so that you may attain salvation.”
Verse 200 — Surah Aal-e-Imran
The Holy Qur’an, the blessed Word of Allah Almighty, is a command and a lesson until the Day of Resurrection, and guides every circumstance.
Apparently, this verse is addressed to those who took part, or are taking part, in Jihad. Allah Almighty commands them to observe three things: Sabr (patience and steadfastness), Musabarah (standing firm in the face of opposition), and Murabatah (remaining firmly stationed and vigilant in your commitment). The fourth is Taqwa (consciousness and fear of Allah Almighty along with obedience), which is essential alongside all three.
The literal meaning of Sabr is to restrain and bind. In the terminology of the Qur’an and Sunnah, Sabr means keeping the lower self steadfast in matters that are contrary to its natural inclination. It is of three kinds:
1. Sabr ‘ala al-Ita‘at: This means adhering to those acts which Allah Almighty or the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, has commanded, and keeping the lower self steadfast in carrying them out, no matter how difficult they may be for one’s nature.
2. Sabr ‘an al-Ma‘asi: This means restraining the lower self from those things which Allah Almighty and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, have forbidden, no matter how appealing or pleasurable they may be to the lower self.
3. Sabr ‘ala al-Masa’ib: This means exercising patience during hardship and suffering, not becoming excessively distressed, and regarding all hardship and comfort as coming from Allah Almighty, without allowing the lower self to become uncontrollable.
Musabarah is derived from the same word, Sabr. It means remaining steadfast in the face of the enemy.
The literal meaning of Murabatah is to bind or keep bound together; and when it is time for prayer, it means keeping the rows joined together.
Respected listeners! Although Jihad is a safeguard of the honour of Muslims, and every Muslim should always remain prepared to engage in Jihad against the disbelievers and the enemies of Islam, the situation that Islam, or we ourselves, face in the world today is the struggle against the lower self and Satan, which the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, called the greater Jihad, because in this struggle one confronts the enemy twenty-four hours a day, and this enemy is hidden.
In such a struggle, a person faces two conditions in this world: either there is such hardship and suffering that, in trying to overcome it or being distressed by it, a person forgets God; or there is such happiness and comfort that Satan causes a person to forget the remembrance of God, and one no longer even feels the need for it.
History bears witness to the fate of those who forget Allah Almighty in either condition, and accounts containing lessons from their fate form a significant part of the Holy Qur’an.
The fate of Pharaoh, Nimrod, and Shaddad is before everyone, as is the fate of the Children of Israel who forgot God in times of hardship. These same two conditions, however, are also found among the followers of our Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
Yet, through the mercy of Allah Almighty and the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, the devoted followers of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, never let go of their love for Allah Almighty and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, even in times of hardship, anxiety, and hunger. And in times of happiness and comfort, when Islam prevailed and the thrones of Caesar and Khosrow (the Persian emperor) were brought under their dominion, they still did not abandon their servitude to Allah Almighty and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. In this way, they attained everlasting honour and blessings.
Today, in this gathering, through the blessed names of Allah Almighty and the intercession of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, let us pray in the Court of Allah Almighty that He may keep us steadfast on the same path.
With this purpose in mind, let us begin.
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
The blessed Aurad-e-Naziriyah were recited, and supplication was made.
