A Little Patience Goes A Long Way

Ibn Rajab – rahimahullaah – said: (1)
…and it’s incumbent upon the believer to have a little patience
in order to reach by way of it to a lengthy rest.

If he gets impatient then he is,
as has been said by Ibn al-Mubaarak:

Whoever exercises patience,
then how little is the patience he will have to exercise.
And whoever is impatient,
then how little is the enjoyment he will have.

al-Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee – rahimahullaah -
used to recite (the following verses of poetry):

“O my soul! It is not, except a few days of patience;
As if the extent were but a few dreams.
O my soul! Pass quickly on through this world;
And leave it, for indeed life lies ahead of it.” (2)

:وكان الإمام الشافعي رحمه اللَه ينشد

يا نَـفـسُ مــا هِـــيَ إلاّ صَـــبـــرُ أَيّامِ
كَــأَنَّ مُـدَّتَــهـــا أَضــغــاثُ أَحــلامِ
يا نَـفْـسُ جـــوزي عَـنِ الـدُنــيا مُـبـادِرَةً
وَخَــلِّ عَـنـهـا فَـإِنَّ الـعَـيشَ قُــدامـــي

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(1) From Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee’s book “Fadl ‘ilm as-Salaf” - The Excellence of the Salaf’s Knowledge.

(2) Translation of ash-Shaafi’ee’s – rahimahullaah – poem is taken from an article titled “The Yearning of the Pious for Paradise” – al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue #2, Safar 1417 A.H. The rest of the translation (of what’s mentioned by Ibn Rajab in his book) is done by Thikraa.

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