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Enjoining right and forbidding wrong

A RETURN TO PATIENCE AND ITS TYPES

As we have said, the key to true strength is patience, it is a necessary element. Patience is of two types: patience when angry, and patience when afflicted with calamity. Al-Hassan (i.e. Al-Basry) said:

"No slave of Allah has struck a more effective blow than wisdom and forbearance in anger and patience in the face of calamity."

Enjoining right and forbidding wrong

WHAT IS COURAGE?

Courage is not strength of the body. A man may be strong physically, but weak in heart. Rather, courage is the strength of the heart and its steadfastness. The critical factors in warfare are physical strength, skill in warfare, and the courage and steadfastness of the hearts of the fighters.

Enjoining right and forbidding wrong

HUMAN AFFAIRS WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT EXCEPT WITH COURAGE AND GENEROSITY

Since reform of human affairs in this world and the next will not be perfected except with the presence of courage and generosity, Allah has explained to us that anyone who turns his back on courage - by failing to struggle in the path of Allah - will be replaced by others who will fulfill their duties. And whoever turns away from the spending of their property in the path of Allah, will be replaced by others who will fulfill their duties. Allah said:

Enjoining right and forbidding wrong

CRITICISM OF COWARDICE

In the Qur'an, Allah's criticism of cowardice is also found in very many verses, such as in the following:

[And anyone who gives them (i.e. the enemy in war) his back on that day (of battle) except as a stratagem of warfare, or to regroup with other fighters, has come back with a great anger from Allah, and his dwelling place is hell, and what an evil place to end up.] Qur'an 8/16

Enjoining right and forbidding wrong

TYPES OF MISERLINESS

Miserliness is a general category within which are various types - some are major sins, and some are not major sins. Allah said:

[Let not those who were miserly with what Allah gave them of His bounty imagine that it is good for them, rather it is very bad for them. They will be emburdened with all that they were miserly with on the day of Qiyama.] Qur'an 3/180

Enjoining right and forbidding wrong

CRITICISM OF MISERLINESS AND COWARDICE

For this reason, miserliness and cowardice are frequently criticized in the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and courage and forbearance in the path of Allah are praised - in the path of Allah specifically as opposed to that which is not in the path of Allah. The Prophet (sas) said:

"The most evil things which can be found in a person are greedy desire which influences all of his actions, and cowardice which makes him flee."

Enjoining right and forbidding wrong

THE NEED FOR CERTAINTY OF BELIEF

It is not possible for one to have patience if he has nothing from which to derive inner peace, something from which he attains joy and which gives him sustenance: certainty of faith. The Prophet said in hadith:

"Ask Allah for forgiveness and good health for , verily, after certainty of faith, no one has been given anything better than good health."

Enjoining right and forbidding wrong

PATIENCE IS NECESSARY IN THE DOING OF GOOD

A Muslim must have patience in doing what he has been ordered, and in avoiding what he has been forbidden and prohibited. Also included in this is patience in the face of persecution, and upon being spoken ill of, and patience in the face of the various calamities. Also, patience is required in times of ease and plenty so that one does not become proud, boastful, and haughty, and other types of patience.

Enjoining right and forbidding wrong

THE SEVERITY OF THE TEST CAUSES ELEVATION OF RANK

When the test becomes severe, that is for the righteous believer a cause for the elevation of his rank, and the greatness of his reward, as can be seen in the following hadith:

Enjoining right and forbidding wrong

EVIL MUST BE MET WITH GOOD

For this reason, the believers have been ordered to face evil deeds with their opposites, just as the doctor meets illness with its opposite. So, the believer is ordered to reform himself, and that is by means of two things: doing of good deeds, and avoiding bad deeds. This in spite of the forces and motivators which oppose the doing of good, and encourage the doing of evil, and these are both of four types, as we have said.