Aslam

joys and sorrows, keep patience in dangers and difficulties and

remain satisfied at what was pre-measured. The Prophet said: By

the Lord of Ka'ba, you are then really believers. Prophet Jesus

Christ said: You cannot earn what you love till you keep patience

at what you do not love. The Prophet said: Had patience been

given the form of man, it would have been kind. God loves the

patient.

Sayings of the wise: Hazrat Omar wrote to Abu Musa Ash'ari: Take to patience. Know that patience is of two kinds, one is better than the other. It is good to have patience at disaster but better than this is to protect oneself from unlawful things. Know that patience is the gist of faith. The reason is that God fear is the greatest religious act and that is gained by patience. Hazrat Ali said: Faith is built upon four things-sure faith, patience, Jihad and good judgment. He said also: Patience is to faith just as head is to body. He who has got no head has got no body. Similarly he who has got no patience has got no faith. Hazrat Omar said: Iman has got two burdens - blessings and mercy. This appears from the following verse - 2 : 157. On them is blessing from their Lord and mercy and they are those who are guided. We found him patient.
How good is the servant as he is most repentant. Hazrat Abu Darda'a said: To remain patient at commands and to remain satisfied with fate is the best rank of faith.

REAL KNOWLEDGE AND MEANING OF PATIENCE

Know, O reader, that patience is an important stage of religion and a station for the so journers in the path of religion.
The stages of religion are controlled by three matters - knowledge, condition and action. Knowledge is the root and condition arises out of knowledge and action is the fruit of condition. So knowledge is like a tree, conditions are its branches

Vol-IV THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES 63