Hilm - Forbearance
The quality of patience, gentleness, and self-restraint when provoked or wronged.
Hilm (الحلم) is the quality of forbearance, gentleness, and self-control, especially when one has the power to retaliate. It is closely related to patience (sabr) but specifically refers to restraint when provoked. The Prophet (PBUH) praised hilm as one of the most beloved qualities to Allah. When Ashaj Abd al-Qays was praised, the Prophet said he had two qualities Allah loves: hilm and deliberateness. Hilm does not mean accepting injustice but choosing measured response over reactive anger. It creates space for wisdom and reconciliation.
Take what is given freely, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.
Ibrahim (AS) is described in the Quran as 'halim' (forbearing)—this quality made him able to argue with angels for the people of Lot and endure his father's rejection.
Quran
Written about in
- What Islam says about patience
Hilm names the specific patience you need when you could hit back and do not. It is restraint toward a person rather than endurance of circumstance, and the tradition is explicit that it does not mean accepting injustice — only choosing a measured response over a reactive one.