Patience and Perseverance - Sabr
The steadfast endurance through trials that brings divine reward and spiritual growth.
Sabr (الصبر) encompasses patience, perseverance, and steadfastness in the face of difficulty. The Quran mentions sabr over 90 times, declaring that 'Allah is with those who are patient.' There are three types of sabr: patience in obeying Allah, patience in avoiding sin, and patience during trials. The Prophet (PBUH) said that patience is a light, and that the greatest reward comes with the greatest trials. Sabr is not passive resignation but active endurance with beautiful conduct. The Quran pairs sabr with prayer as the believer's twin sources of help in Surah al-Baqarah 2:153.
O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.
Rumi wrote that patience is the key that opens every locked door—through sabr, the bitter becomes sweet and difficulties transform into blessings.
Quran
Written about in
- What Islam says about patience
Sabr is the base word, and the tradition divides it into three: patience in obedience, patience in avoiding sin, and patience under trial. The Quran does not treat it as endurance alone — it pairs sabr with prayer, which means patience here has a posture and a scheduled hour, not just a feeling.