The Many Names of Patience

by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya

Bismillah

Image credit to maroonmoon87

We all know or thought we knew what PATIENCE is. Do we know that PATIENCE has many names depending on situation? Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah wrote:

If PATIENCE consists of restraining sexual desire, it is called honour, the opposite of which is adultery and promiscuity.

If PATIENCE consists of controlling one's stomach, it is called self-control, the opposite of which is greed.

If PATIENCE consists of keeping quiet about that which it is not to be disclose, it is called discretion, the opposite of which is disclosing secret, lying, slander or libel.

If PATIENCE consists of being content with what is sufficient for one's needs, it is called abstemiousness, the opposite of which is covetousness.

If PATIENCE consists of controlling one's anger, it is called forbearance , the opposite of which is impulsiveness and hasty reaction.

If PATIENCE consists of refraining from hate, it is called gracefulness and steadiness, the opposite of which is to be hot-headed.

If PATIENCE consists of refraining from running away, it is called courage, the opposite of which is cowardice.

If PATIENCE consists of refraining from taking revenge, it is called forgiveness, the opposite of which is revenge.

If PATIENCE consists of refraining from being stingy, it is called generosity, the opposite of which is miserliness.

If PATIENCE consists of refraining from being lazy and helpless, it is called dynamism and initiative.

If PATIENCE consists of refraining from blaming and accusing other people, it is called chilvalry. 

Indeed Islam in its totality is based on patience.

Reference:

Patience and Gratitud: An abridged translation of 'Uddat as-sabirin wa dhakhirat ash-shakirin - by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab (1997), Ta-Ha Publishers Ltd: UK. pg. 15.

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