Hardships and difficulties will surely embrace us more or less. During such times, the most effective thing to do is to have patience with whatever calamity falls upon us. This is one virtue that can make a believer superior over others in various aspects of religion as Sabr is considered as half the deen.
There are several dua for patience mentioned in the Quran and books of hadith. If you’re going through difficult times, surely the dua mentioned in this article will benefit you. Before proceeding further, I’d like to remind you that being patient is an act that all major worships require. Be it praying 5 times a day, fasting, doing Hajj, and the list goes on. Even if you’re to get married, Sabr is needed both before and after your marriage.
Can You Make Dua for Patience?
There is a slight misconception among a number of Muslims regarding whether they can make dua for patience or not. And this misconception is based on the following hadith –
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Looking forAgeCountryThe Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) heard a man saying: O Allah, I ask You for patience. He said: “You have asked Allah for calamity; rather ask Him for well-being.” [At-Tirmidhi 3527]
Even though some muhaddith said that this hadith is weak, it has no contradiction with making dua after you are hit by a calamity or hardship.
Meaning, in normal circumstances, you should not ask Allah for Sabr. When you have no difficulty to deal with, what will you have the patience for?
That makes sense, right?
But, when you’re having tough times and things don’t go in your favor, then during those circumstances, you’ll have to be patient. So, there’s nothing wrong with asking for patience in that circumstance.
Dua For Sabr During Difficult Times
Among all duas, the following 2 Quran verses about patience are the most common and powerful ones.
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْراً وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى القَوْمِ الكَافِرِينَ
Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabran wa thabbit aqdamana wansurna ‘alal-qawmil-kafirin
Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance, make our foothold sure, and give us help against the disbelieving folk. [Al-Baqarah – 2:250]
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabraw wa tawaffana Muslimeen
Our Lord! pour out on us patience, and cause us to die as Muslims. [Surah Al-A’raf – 7:126]
You can also make dua in your own words describing the difficulties you’re going through.
The beautiful thing is, people won’t have enough patience to hear the suffering we’re going through. But with Allah SWT, it’s different. He wants to hear from you. And the more you will make dua telling Allah SWT what you’re going through, what you’re facing, the more relief you’ll feel inside you.
Even if the problem doesn’t get resolved instantly, still dua for Sabr and strength will make you feel much better than the previous state.
What is it Like Being a Patient?
The majority of people, including practicing Muslims don’t know the actual meaning of patience.
Patience doesn’t only mean doing nothing and embracing whatever is coming silently. It also requires you to do certain actions that are beneficial and can reduce the severity of the circumstances you’re going through.
This section will let you know about 3 aspects of Sabr. It will make it much easier to relate to your difficulties and take the necessary steps to deal with them.
1. When Sabr is Endurance and Perseverance
Usually, we like comfort and ease. Endurance and perseverance in Sabr are the opposite factors of comfort.
It takes Sabr to wake up on a cold night and make wudu for the fajr prayer. Similarly, lots of other worships have to do with this kind of Sabr.
When your circumstances require you to do things that you don’t feel like doing just because those things are hard to do, you have to deal with this kind of Sabr.
2. When Sabr is Restraining
We have to restrain ourselves from haram stuff. All acts of disobedience and sin including haram relations, drinking alcohol, eating pork, backbiting, etc. has to do with restraining. When you restrain yourself from doing anything haram, it’s also Sabr.
Now, relate it to the current situation you’re going through. Your difficult times might require you not to do certain things, even though you feel tempted to do. But it will make the situation worse. If you’re not doing anything like that, you’re being patient.
Abdur-Rahmān bin Zayd bin Aslam said,
“Sabr has two parts: patience for the sake of Allah concerning what He is pleased with (i.e. acts of worship and obedience), even if it is hard on the heart and the body, and patience when avoiding what He dislikes, even if it is desired.“
3. Sabr is Accepting Allah’s Decree and Being Content with It
Nothing falls upon us without Allah’s will and which is decreed even before we were created.
“Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us.” [Quran 9:51]
So, no matter whatever you’re going through, know that it was decreed from Allah SWT, and you’ll have to be content with it. Allah knows your situation well; so, accept it, and hope that he will make ways for you from it.
If someone complains instead of having Sabr, it indicates a weak Iman.
You might not like whatever is happening around you but have Sabr, keep doing the right things you should be doing, and have faith that Allah will surely make things easier for you.
If the situation has to do with marriage problems, duas and advice in this article will greatly help you.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which dua is for patience?
During hardships and difficulties, you can make the following dua.
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabraw wa tawaffana Muslimeen
Our Lord! pour out on us patience, and cause us to die as Muslims. [Surah Al-A’raf – 7:126]
2. What does Allah say about patience?
“Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Sabirun (the patient).” [al-Anfal 8:46]
“But if you endure patiently, verily, it is better for As-Sabirun (the patient).” [al-Nahl 16:126]
“But if you remain patient and become Al-Muttaqun (the pious), not the least harm will their cunning do to you. Surely, Allah surrounds all that they do.” [Al ‘Imran 3:120]
To know the virtues of patience, be sure to read this article.
3. What does the Quran say about difficult times?
“No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al‑Lawh Al‑Mahfooz) before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah.
In order that you may not grieve at the things over that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you. And Allah likes not prideful boasters”
[al-Hadeed 57:22-23]
4. How do Muslims pray for patience?
In regular times when there aren’t any difficulties, a Muslim shouldn’t ask Allah to test him/her by hardships. However, if it naturally comes, then a Muslim should ask Allah SWT to make him/her patience and ease to deal with the situation.
Final Words
Being able to handle tough times through patience is a great virtue that most people don’t have. But a person with zero patience can practice this great characteristic in day-to-day events that have to do with willpower and habit. In addition to that, the dua for patience will be a great help to keep that person going.
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Thank you for such a wonderful blog.
It’s really useful and informative.