The Reward of Being Patient During Affliction

Martyrdom is a concept that is greatly praised in the religion of Islam.  There are, indubitably, numerous traditions that vividly clarify the significance of martyrdom in Islam. Achieving such honourable end is a request that most believers ask from God after their prayers or in their supplications. 

            In religious lectures, and in Islamic political speeches, we are continuously and constantly reminded of its worth. 

            Although the constant glorification of martyrdom certainly has its positive consequences for the trained and educated minds, an imbalanced emphasis of it may indirectly lead to an unhealthy fascination with it, and may in turn blind our eyes to many other worthy ends and means, which we should hope and aim for.

            One of these worthy means and ends that we must seek and pray for is patience.  Many of us do not spend sufficient amount of time and effort to contemplate and learn about patience. Many of us do not consider patience to be a “big deal” and instead of praying for it, we pray for what we, falsely, assume to be much worthier than patience, namely martyrdom.  In other words, many of us may think and ask “why pray for patience, when I could pray for martyrdom?”

            In this post, I will present a very short tradition that is graded Good.   God willing, after reading this tradition, most of us would re-assess our priorities, and those of us who haven’t already done so would place praying for patience before praying for martyrdom.  Therefore, what I would like to get across is this, praying for martyrdom is good, but pray for patience first.

            Lastly, and directly related to the concept of patience, is the concept of suffering.  Keep in mind, without suffering, without life’s tests and trials, we cannot learn about patience, we cannot strengthen our patience, and we cannot become patient.  Thus, when you do pray for patience, do so with an open-mind and a proper understanding of what patience is, and know that seeking patience attracts life’s tests and trials.  

            Nevertheless, once the concept of patience is properly understood, tests and trials in life can be seen as blessings as opposed to punishments; blessings that teach us about patience, blessings that strengthen our patience, and subsequently blessings that pave our paths to Paradise.

            There is of course much more that could be said and written about patience.  Please consider this post, to be a post that encourages you to seriously seek patience, to learn about it, and to practice it.

            The following tradition is indeed quite short, however, a deeper examination and understanding of it could be life-changing. 

17)

Arabic Text:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَنِ ابْتُلِيَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِبَلَاءٍ فَصَبَرَ عَلَيْهِ كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ أَلْفِ شَهِيدٍ

Farsi Translation:

امام صادق عليه السّلام فرمود: هر كس از مؤمنين ببلائى گرفتار شود و صبر كند، برايش اجر هزار شهيد باشد

English Translation:

Narrated by Ali Ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ibn Abu Omeir from Seif Ibn Omeira from Abu Hamza Al-Tamali who said, Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) said:

“When a believer is afflicted with an infliction and bears it with patience, his reward is that of a thousand martyrs.”

Source:

Al-Kafi, Volume 2, Page 92, Tradition #17