Patience doesn’t equate “stupidity”, it means
“POWER”. Patience is defined as the ability and capacity to accept or
tolerate delays without becoming annoyed or anxious. It is the ability to
endure difficulties without becoming vexed. Patience is the level of endurance one can have before negativity
sets in.
“Patience” In Religious Context:
Christianity: Patience could be the defining virtue one needs to make the right
decisions. No wonder in the Christian religion, patience is one of the most valuable virtues in life (fruits of the
Holy Spirit). It (Patience) is
listed in several sections of the Holy Bible.
·
Proverbs 25:15 – by patience, a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone
(AMP).
·
Romans 12:12
– “be joyful in hope, patience in
afflictions, and faithful in prayers”.
·
Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 – better is the end of a thing than
its beginning. The patient in spirit
is better than the proud in spirit. Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry,
for anger rests in the bosom of fools (AMP).
·
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
– we exhort you, brothers: admonish the disorderly; encourage the
faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient
towards all. So that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow
after that which is good for one another (AMP).
·
James 5:7-8 – be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold,
the farmer waits for the precious fruits of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the
early and late rain. You also be patient.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand (AMP).
·
Galatians 5:22-23
– but the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against
such things there is no law (AMP).
These are some of the scriptural references from the Holy
Bible which shows just how important Patience
is to Christians.
Islam: in islam, steadfast belief in Allah
with Patience is known as sabr, which is one of the best virtues
in the life of a true child of Allah. Through sabr, an Islam believes that an individual can get and grow closer
to Allah, thereby attaining true peace.
In Islam, it is also believed and
stressed that Allah is with those who are patient,
more especially during calamity, sufferings and persecutions. Just like how patience was mentioned in the Holy
Bible, it is also mentioned in the Quran.
·
Sahih al-Bukhari 8:77:616 – narrated Aisha: I asked Allah’s
rascool about the plague. He said, “that was a means of torture which Allah
used to send upon whomever He wished, but He made it a source of mercy for the
believers, for anyone who is residing in a town in which this disease is
present, and remains there and does not leave that town, but has patience and hopes for Allah’s reward,
and knows that nothing will befall him except what Allah has written for him,
then he will get such rewards as that of a martyr.”
·
Quran 2:155-156 – 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 Him is our return.”
Ayyoob, in the Islamic tradition illustrates a story where he
demonstrated patience and steadfast
belief in Alllah.