| Patience
and Perseverance
Fall 2000 One must cultivate patience and perseverance if they are to travel upon the spiritual path. The holy scriptures repeatedly speak of the trials and tribulations facing the Prophets and Saints of all times. In this discourse, Sheikh Din reminds us that life's lessons are the tools with which human beings grow - they are Allah's Mercy. In light of our most recent experiences, the passing of our beloved Andy and Leah, I want to begin this talk by introducing thoughts from our great Grand Sheikh, the noble Qutub ad-Din, Abdul Qadr al-Jilani (ra). We are blessed to be among his sacred company within our lineage. The following excerpt comes from his famous work, Futuh al-Ghaib, which means "Revelation of the Unseen." Abdul Qadr al-Jilani (may Allah be pleased with him, sanctify his secret and may he be well blessed in our lineage) has said: Allah is always testing Allah's believing servants in proportion to their faith. Thus, if a person's faith is very great and steadily increasing, the trial will be great as well. The trial of a Rasul (Messenger) is greater than that of a Nabi (Prophet). Because faith is greater, the trial of a Prophet is greater than that of a Badal (substitute). The trial of a Badal is greater than of a Wall (Friend). Each is tried according to faith and certitude. On the basis of this, the saying of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace): "We,
the Community of Prophets are the people most severely tried
than any other according to the perfection of their faith." Allah (Most Exalted) subjects these honorable Masters to incessant testing, so they will always stay in Allah's presence and never relax their vigilance, for Allah loves them. They are the people of love, who love the Lord of Truth, and the lover never likes to be far from the Beloved. Affliction serves as a clamp for their hearts and noose for their selfish natures, checking their tendency to drift away from their true goal and to place their confidence and trust in others instead of the Creator. As this becomes a permanent condition for them, their passions melt, their selves are broken and truth is distinguished from falsehood. Then cravings, willful desires and the appetite for pleasure and comfort in this world and the hereafter, all retract towards the sphere of the self (nafs), while towards the sphere of the heart come trust in the promise of the Lord of Truth (Almighty and Glorious), cheerful acceptance of Allah's decree, satisfaction with Allah's gifts, patient endurance of Allah's trials and a feeling of safety from the evil of Allah's creatures. Thus, the power of the heart is strengthened, and it acquires control over all the limbs and organs of the body. Tribulation fortifies the heart and certitude, verifies faith and patience, and weakens the self (nafs) and the passions, because whenever suffering comes, and what it meets with in the believer is patience, cheerful acceptance and surrender to the action of the Lord (Almighty and Glorious), the Exalted Lord is pleased with him and thanks him. Then he also receives help, additional blessings and success. Allah (the Exalted) has said: If
you are thankful, I will give you more (favors). ~ SURAH IBRAHIM 14:7
When the self (nafs) is moved to apply to the qalb (heart) for satisfaction of some carnal appetite or indulgence in some pleasure, and the heart agrees to this request without authorization or permission from Allah (the Exalted), the result is disregard for the Lord of Truth, polytheism and sinful rebellion. Allah (the Exalted) will therefore condemn them both to disappointment, trouble, subjection to other people, sickness and disease, injury and disorder. Both the heart and the self will get a share of this. If the heart will not give the self what it wants, however, until it receives permission from the Lord of Truth (Almighty and Glorious) through inspiration (ilham), in the case of the Saints or explicit revelation (wahy) in the case of the Envoys and Prophets (blessings and peace be upon them), and acts accordingly in giving or withholding, then Allah rewards them both with mercy and blessing, well-being and contentment, light and wisdom, nearness to Allah's Self, affluence, security from disasters and help against enemies. This you must know and remember it well! Be ready for trouble, if you rush to respond to the self and to passion. Far better to pause in such cases, and await the Lord's consent (Glorious in Majesty), so that you may remain safe in this world and the hereafter, if Allah (the Exalted) so will. The language of the above passage may be centuries old, stylized and poetic, however, as we reflect on the events of life, no doubt we have experienced its truth. It has also been revealed to us in the Holy Qur`an: Do
men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe,"
and that they will not be tested? ~ SURAH ANKABUT 29:2 We have all felt tested throughout our lives, particularly when we didn't understand life's circumstances. We've felt tested when things haven't gone the way that we thought they should, nor could we understand why life wouldn't conveniently arrange itself around us to meet our individual expectations. We have all been tested through the trauma of loss as it rips away our attachments. Qur`anic wisdom teaches us to exercise faith and to remember that life delivers us perfect lessons. As a matter of fact, Allah instructs us directly through the lessons of life. I have said it before, "Life is a custom course work of lessons designed perfectly for each of us." One of the Divine Names of Allah in the Holy Qur`an is, "Ar-Rashid," which means the Divine Guide, Divine Teacher or Divine Instructor. The cosmic classroom is life, and we are each given the student's lessons of our life's course. We also know that in giving us life's course work: On
no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear.
~ SURAH BAQARA 2:286 However, it is certain that Allah will give us the "burden" required at times to push us exactly to the edge of what we think is our limit. The burden often pushes us to a place that we thought we couldn't go, and pushes us beyond what we thought we were capable of. We may have been sure that we were incapable of such experience, that we certainly couldn't bear the burden. Then as life continues, through the grace of devotion, surrender and submission to the Path, we find ourselves strengthened and renewed. We actually grow into something far greater than what we were before. Look to the signs of nature. There is no need to explain to the "worm" that if it spins a cocoon it will become a butterfly. But, however, if the human ego were to try to logically explain the process of becoming a butterfly to that caterpillar, its mechanism would be wrapped up in the fear of death and the worry of the unknown future of being a new butterfly. Similarly, if one is to be a mighty oak tree, the secure leathery shell of the acorn seed cannot exist for the mighty tree to be. The acorn must die, so that the tree can emerge. Transforming in the cocoon, the caterpillar must die, so that the butterfly can fly. Yet, when comparable life changes happen to us, because of our attachments and conflicts, we feel sorely tested. The greater our faith, amplified by the profession of faith, the greater life's tests come. One's life is tested to the limit of one's faith. If a person's capacity is only a one ounce shot, life will give them the whole ounce. They will have to expand into that. As one's capacity for holding Truth and Light increases, life will give them more to fill their glass . . . becoming 2 oz., then 3 oz., then 4 oz, etc. In the case of the Prophets as well as the Saints, Sheikhs, Pirs (Persian: Masters), the Friends of God and all of those that have come to replenish God's Message, their capacity for holding is so much greater, therefore the tests of life are even greater. As well, their capacities to digest and reconcile the contradictions of life are even greater. If you read between the lines of Sheikh Abdul Qadr al-Jilani's discourse, you'll realize that one requires the presence of a special faculty in order to understand life's process. It is not an intellectual capacity. Brain power, with its intellectuality, cannot figure out the meaning of life's tests, nor how to cope and deal with them. There must be something else, another quality. Perhaps we would call it an intuitional quality or a spiritual quality, a divine quality. You will find that quality repeatedly recounted in the Holy Qur`an as patience and perseverance. These qualities are not of the mind at all; they are attributes of the heart. These qualities allow us to align ourselves and come to peace with the Divine Will -that which we, in slang, used to call "the flow." In Qur`an Karim, Allah is called by many Names. Those Beautiful Names represent the Essence, Attributes and Actions of Allah. One of those names, another name of God, is revealed to us as Ya Sabur, meaning Patience and Perseverance. Consider that the name for God in our tradition is not only "God," but God's name is also Patience and Perseverance. Webster's dictionary defines patience as: 1) enduring pain and trouble without complaining; 2) calmly tolerating delay and confusion; and 3) diligence and perseverance. As the Holy Qur`an translates "Sabur" as patience and perseverance, so the wisdom of Webster defines "patience" as a quality of perseverance, diligence and calmness that "tolerates situations that are confusing" and that "endures pain and trouble without complaint." This a very high station to live up to! Yet, the Qur`an and the dictionary alike give advice about how to be in relationship with Allah. The Qur`an reminds us that Patience is a Divine Quality, and that Patience is one of the "personalities" of God. Surah Al-Nahl (The Bee), the 16th Surah of the Qu'ran tells us: And
do thou be patient for thy patience is but from Allah. 16:127
The most noble Imam al-Bukhari reminds us in the Sahih Hadith that Rasul Karim (saws) taught: "Nobody
can be given a blessing better and greater than patience."
This world is continually throwing contradictions at us, beyond our minds' ability to solve. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience. Patience allows for the calm tolerating of delay and confusion, and diligent perseverance in enduring pain in all of the troubles of this material world. In light of our loss, let us bring the subject a bit closer to home. From Surah al-Ankabut, the 29th Surah of Qur`an Karim: Every
soul shall have a taste of death: In the end to Us shall you be
brought back.
To those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, to them We shall give a Home in Heaven - lofty mansions beneath which flow rivers - to dwell therein for aye, an excellent reward for those who do good. Those who persevere in patience, and put their trust in the Lord and Cherisher. How many are the creatures that carry not their own Sustenance? It is Allah Who feeds both them and you. For Allah hears and knows all things. If indeed thou asked them: "Who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon to Allah's law?" They will certainly reply, "Allah!" How then are they deluded away from the Truth? 29:57-61 We are constantly being deluded away from the Truth. We are "deluded away from the Truth" by how we attach ourselves to things and situations, and then attempt to force meaning onto them in the ways we personally would like. However, if we ask ourselves the same question, the surah asks, "Who is it that is providing Sustenance, and Who is it that provides for the heavens and the earth and subjects the sun and the moon to the law?" We would realize the answer. There is One, Great Operating Principle in effect that moves the course of all things. Allah causes all things to come into being, provides for the sustenance of life, and in the end "every soul shall taste death." Each movement in the manifest universe has a beginning, middle and end, i.e., breath, heartbeat and human growth; the rising of the sun, high noon and sunset, the phases of the moon that bring it into fullness and then empty that fullness into emptiness. In this circle of birth, life and death, the Qur`anic passage advises us that our relationship to life's dealing should be one of perseverance, patience and trust in our Lord, the Cherisher. Trust in the whole process. Patience and perseverance implies trust because we are caused to rely on "something" that we believe is greater than our small selves. We have been given eyes to see, for we have the Divine Recitation of al-Qur`an, the example of enlightenment in the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saws) as well as having inherited an empowered and blessed spiritual lineage that has been passed down through 14 centuries. We have the benefit of a living spiritual Teacher, and the Message of Unity has been refreshed for us in our own midst. We have the benefit of supporting each other in the love and the solidarity of a Community - including all that a Community allows for in growth, understanding, communication and cooperation. Our eyes and ears have been opened, so to speak, but still our patience and trust is tested as our attachments are challenged. Remember the question asked of us in the Qur`an, "How can they be deluded away from the Truth?" Here it is. Look at the message. Don't be deluded away from the Truth! From Surah al-Baqarah, Oh,
you who believe, seek help with patient perseverance and prayer:
for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. 2:153 This beautifully poetic line starts out and then turns itself around. Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer, for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. Of course! Allah is with those who patiently persevere, because Allah is Ya Sabur which means patient perseverance. This is God's own attribute. Say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah: "They are dead."Nay, they are living, though you perceive it not. Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits of your toil, but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere -who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong and to Allah is our return." (Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun.) They are those on whom descend blessings from their Lord, and Mercy. They are the ones who receive the guidance. 2:154-157By the fruits of our toil (attachments), we always want what we want. We want to have, we want to keep, and we want everything to be the way we want. Stuck in our self-centeredness, we forget the eternal process of a soul's growth in its spiritual traveling. In the midst of our struggle and calamity, we must trust that patience, perseverance and prayer provide an opening that allows one to be rightly guided. The opening of the heart (intuition) understands guidance. The heart, therefore, can "say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah: 'They are dead.' Nay, they are living, though you perceive it not." Our life is very short. We are here only temporarily in a very brief experience of teachings, tests and lessons. We disappear very quickly! Allah (God) is before the before and after the after, the first and last. Therefore, everything belongs to God, comes from God, is sustained by God and destroyed by God. Patience and perseverance lead us (rightly guided) that we might come to realize the Force which directs the sun and the stars, the moon and the planets, and the seasons. Everything has its appointed time. In order to understand this, we must have patience. It is extremely difficult to have patience in the face of our life's story. The extremity of life's circumstances and how those circumstances interplay with our personal attachments makes patient perseverance incomprehensible. Our minds are limited by their duality, the notions of right and wrong, good and bad, etc. As things happen to us that we don't like, we lose patience and our perseverance is challenged. The mind can't reconcile the painful feeling - end of our experience. Desiring the fruits from our toil of labor makes us very short-sighted. We emotionally forget the previous blessings of life when we are severely tested. We might not forget them intellectually; we forget them emotionally. We get numb and can't feel the pleasure of blessings any more. Contrarily, when we are in the middle of some good pleasure, things going just the way we like, we forget the hardship of tests. Then, even they don't exist for us either. It is hard for our minds, when they are attached and steeped in ego's duality, to have comprehension, the view of the whole. Our life's lessons are like the teachings of a topsy-turvy Hazrati Khidhr (the mysterious, sacred Prophet of the Holy Qur`an). They try to teach us something, but the intensity of life's experiences violate everything that we have come to know as good and true. Our minds seek answers, like a Prophet Musa (as), but they go into confusion as well. Examine closely the primary quality of clarity, that which allows confusion to disperse. It is beyond logic, beyond rationality, beyond willpower. For true clarity there must be the presence of something beyond will power, logic and rationality. There has to be another presence that is not intellectual. That presence is patience and perseverance. Patience and perseverance is required for the situation to reveal itself, as well, patience and perseverance is needed while you are trying to figure out the problem. Even when you are frustrated that you can't solve a problem, it is patience and perseverance that will give you the scope, the time and new ways of accessing and looking at the problem. Let us pray for Patient Perseverance. From Surah al A'raf, The Heights: And if there is a party among you who believes in the Message with which I have been sent, and a party which does not believe, hold yourselves in patience until Allah doth decide between us: for Allah is the best to decide. 7:87The Way in which we are to decide and proceed through life is highlighted by this verse. When approaching things in life, we have to employ patience because it is the faculty required to empower our decision-making. This is reflected repeatedly in Qur`an. I am giving you a message today in this khutbah (sermon), may Allah be pleased with it -not unlike the messages that have been passed down through Sheikhs of old as well as the Divine Messenger (saws). And if there is a party among you who believes in the Message with which I have been sent, and a party which does not believe, hold yourselves in patience until Allah doth decide between us: for Allah is the best to decide. 7:87Allah will show you the reason for all things. Allah will show you the Reality of the Message, over the course of and at the end of your life. It has been proven, that for those who are able, with faith, to exercise patience and perseverance as their primary means of traveling, Allah provides the greatest capacity for guidance. From the sacred teachings of the Prophet we have learned that, During the days of the initial jihad, the Holy Prophet (upon him be peace) named our army, the "Cavalry of Allah": When we were struck with panic and when panic overtook us, the Apostle of Allah (saws) commanded us to be united, to have patience and perseverance and to be so when we fought.The tremendous impact of the news that we've experienced in the last few weeks, and the changes that it's put us through, have created a feeling of panic, anxiety, pain, confusion and all of those things that overtake a person when they are overwhelmed by their battle (life's circumstances). If we are the "Cavalry of Allah", then we must be ready and willing to go through our changes patiently while staying united in Community. This is the way we must fight the good fight in our lives - to be united and to patiently persevere through whatever it is that we have to learn and experience. In this way we are likened to the Cavalry of Allah. The Holy Prophet (saws) taught us in Hadith, as recorded by Bukhari: The
real patience is at the first stroke of calamity.
When those things happen to us which we perceive as calamity, we must remember that it is only the tearing away of attachments, expectations and desires. At those times we are tested and discover what real patience is about. Because the real patience is at the first stroke of calamity, do we panic and become overwhelmed, or do we allow that to fuel our effort to be united? It is the time to open ourselves to greater possibilities. The realization of the greatest potential will never come without first being tested and, secondly, without patience, perseverance and faith. As we increase in our faith, then our capacity increases, and as our capacity increases, the test of our patience increases. May we be able to pass those tests. May we be able to realize the ayat (holy sign) as it has been said in Qu'ran: If
you are thankful, I will give you more (favors).
May we be such servants of Allah that we turn to and declare, "Allah no matter what, we are thankful. Please give us more." Amin! |