Patience is not just waiting; it's about maintaining faith and positivity while waiting. Discover how the Islamic concept of Sabr can transform your approach to life's challenges.
Of all the questions people ask me, the one I hear most is about Sabr. We're told to have it, but what does that really mean? Is it just waiting quietly? Let me tell you a story that shows what Sabr truly is.
This is about my friend Ahmed. Ahmed worked very hard at his job. For three long years, he worked extra hours, helped his coworkers, and did his very best. A better position opened at his company, and Ahmed really wanted it. He prayed about it and felt sure he would get it.
The day came when they announced who got the job. Ahmed's heart beat fast as he opened the email. When he saw the name, it wasn't his. They gave it to someone else.
Ahmed felt like he'd been punched in the stomach. His eyes stung with tears. His first thought was to get angry - to yell at his boss or complain to everyone. His second thought was to give up - to just quit his job.
This is where Sabr began.
Sabr didn't mean Ahmed didn't feel hurt. He felt very hurt. But Sabr meant he made a choice - a hard choice. He chose to be strong even when he felt weak.
He took a deep breath and went to his boss's office. "I'm sad I didn't get the job," he said quietly. "But I still want to do good work here. Can you tell me how I can improve?"
That was really hard to do! But Ahmed did it.
The next days were even harder. Every time he saw the person who got the job he wanted, he felt that hurt again. But every morning, he got up and went to work. He did his job well, not because he had to, but because he believed that doing good work is important, even when things are tough.
He would pray quietly: "God, this really hurts. I don't understand why this happened. But I trust You. Please help me not to be angry."
Months went by. Then something surprising happened. The person who got the promotion wasn't doing good work, and the company let him go.
Ahmed's boss called him into the office. "Ahmed," he said, "we saw how you acted when you didn't get the promotion. You were professional and kept working hard. That showed us you're the right person for this job. We're giving you the promotion, and we're making an even better position for you!"
Ahmed finally understood. God's plan was better than his plan. The "no" he got first wasn't because he wasn't good enough. It was because God had something better waiting for him.
That's what real Sabr is. It's not just sitting and waiting. It's being strong when you feel weak. It's being kind when you want to be angry. It's trusting that God has a good plan, even when you can't see it yet.
When you practice Sabr, you're not just waiting for things to get better. You're growing stronger while you wait. And that strength will help you receive the better things God has planned for you.
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This is about my friend Ahmed. Ahmed worked very hard at his job. For three long years, he worked extra hours, helped his coworkers, and did his very best. A better position opened at his company, and Ahmed really wanted it. He prayed about it and felt sure he would get it.
The day came when they announced who got the job. Ahmed's heart beat fast as he opened the email. When he saw the name, it wasn't his. They gave it to someone else.
Ahmed felt like he'd been punched in the stomach. His eyes stung with tears. His first thought was to get angry - to yell at his boss or complain to everyone. His second thought was to give up - to just quit his job.
This is where Sabr began.
Sabr didn't mean Ahmed didn't feel hurt. He felt very hurt. But Sabr meant he made a choice - a hard choice. He chose to be strong even when he felt weak.
He took a deep breath and went to his boss's office. "I'm sad I didn't get the job," he said quietly. "But I still want to do good work here. Can you tell me how I can improve?"
That was really hard to do! But Ahmed did it.
The next days were even harder. Every time he saw the person who got the job he wanted, he felt that hurt again. But every morning, he got up and went to work. He did his job well, not because he had to, but because he believed that doing good work is important, even when things are tough.
He would pray quietly: "God, this really hurts. I don't understand why this happened. But I trust You. Please help me not to be angry."
Months went by. Then something surprising happened. The person who got the promotion wasn't doing good work, and the company let him go.
Ahmed's boss called him into the office. "Ahmed," he said, "we saw how you acted when you didn't get the promotion. You were professional and kept working hard. That showed us you're the right person for this job. We're giving you the promotion, and we're making an even better position for you!"
Ahmed finally understood. God's plan was better than his plan. The "no" he got first wasn't because he wasn't good enough. It was because God had something better waiting for him.
That's what real Sabr is. It's not just sitting and waiting. It's being strong when you feel weak. It's being kind when you want to be angry. It's trusting that God has a good plan, even when you can't see it yet.
When you practice Sabr, you're not just waiting for things to get better. You're growing stronger while you wait. And that strength will help you receive the better things God has planned for you.