As-Sabur

The Most Patient — who endures, who defers punishment; who grants the guilty respite and postpones their punishment; who does not hasten but is patient; and who, though He has the power, does not hasten to take retribution from those who disobey Him. Allah Almighty says: "And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror]." (Ibrahim, 42) Although this name does not occur in the Noble Qur'an in the form "as-Sabur," there are more than 70 verses expressing this quality of Allah. Patience here is the deferral of punishment to a time Allah has decreed and whose term He has determined. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "There is none more patient than Allah with regard to an offence He hears. Though they claim He has a child, He still grants them health and well-being and provides for them." As-Sabur, one of the names of Allah Most High and among the intensive forms, is one of the beautiful names of Allah meaning the exceedingly patient. This noble name, which does not occur in the Noble Qur'an at all, appears only in the hadith of "al-Asma al-Husna: the beautiful names of Allah" narrated by Tirmidhi from Abu Hurayrah (Tirmidhi, Da'awat, 83), as the very last of the ninety-nine names. Allah does not immediately punish the people He created for testing on account of the evils they commit. He grants them respite and is patient with them, so that they may ask pardon and repent, or so that by allowing them to continue in evil they may become more deserving of punishment. Allah's patience is not from weakness but rather from His power — for it is impossible for any person to escape His watch. For this reason people should not be deceived by the fact that evils are not punished immediately in this world. Considering Allah's name and attribute As-Sabur, people too should be patient. Allah's attribute of patience differs from the patience of His servants. For example, Allah possesses complete power and is able to do whatever He wills — but His servants are not so; their strength and power are limited, and so they cannot do everything they wish. Allah never fears the consequences of what He does, whereas servants often fear the evil consequences of what they do. Allah does not hasten in punishing, whereas servants wish to punish at once. Because of patience Allah feels no pain or grief and has no deficiency in any respect, whereas patience brings servants pain, grief and distress. The servant's patience corresponds to Allah's being with him. When Allah is with that servant, the servant finds the capacity to endure what others could not endure. Those who are patient attain happiness in this world and the next and are honoured with being together with Allah. Allah Almighty says: "Indeed, Allah is with the patient." (Al-Baqarah, 153) The benefits of knowing this name: Every Muslim who knows this name should be patient and steadfast in the difficulties he encounters, should counsel those around him to be patient, and should advance in patience. The Muslim should be patient with those who harm him and do him evil, and should refrain from reacting suddenly. He should know that Allah Most High loves the patient and that He is always with the patient. Every Muslim should turn to none besides Allah, should seek help from Him alone, should fear Him alone and hope in Him alone, and should ask Him alone for the removal of harm or the coming of good. He should know that Allah harms whom He wills and benefits whom He wills. For this reason our Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated: "O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your anger, and in Your pardon from Your punishment. I seek refuge in You from You."

The noble name As-Sabur is recited 298 times as "Ya Sabur, jalla jalaluhu" in order to complete with joy the work one has begun, to be delivered from incapacity, and to be granted the strength to endure at times of calamity and affliction. Hardship does not befall whoever makes remembrance with the noble name As-Sabur a hundred times before sunrise, and he becomes steadfast.