The Arabic word ุตَุจْุฑٌ(sabr/ แนฃabr) has many meanings, which is impossible to understand in one English word. It implies:
1) patience in the sense of being through not, hasty;
2) patient perseverance, constancy, steadfastness, firmness of purpose;
3) systematic as opposed to spasmodic or chance action;
4) a cheerful attitude of resignation and understanding of sorrow, defeat, or suffering, as opposed to murmuring or rebellion, but saved from mere passivity listlessness, by the element of constancy or steadfastness.
The Prophet (๏ทบ) said “Ask Allah for His favor. Verily, Allah Almighty loves to be asked and among the best acts of worship is to wait in expectation of relief.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3571]
َูุง ุฃََُّููุง ุงَّูุฐَِูู ุขู َُููุง ุงุณْุชَุนُِูููุง ุจِุงูุตَّุจْุฑِ َูุงูุตََّูุงุฉِ ۚ ุฅَِّู ุงََّููู ู َุนَ ุงูุตَّุงุจِุฑَِูู
O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salฤt (the prayer).
Truly! Allah is with As-Sฤbirฤซn (the patient ones, etc.). [Surah al-Baqarah 2:153]
“Amazing is the believer, for whatever Allah decrees for him, it is better for him! If he is tested with a bounty, he is grateful for it and this is better for him; and if he is afflicted with a hardship, he is patient with it and this is better for him”. (Sahih Muslim)
There are different types of Sabr which are:
1. Patience on the obedience to Allaah (worshipping and striving for His sake).
2. Patience on avoiding disobedience and keeping away from prohibitions & sins.
3. Patience on the pre-decrees of Allaah (meet it with Shukr & Tawbah).
Rewards for Sabr:
• Imam al-Sadiq (a) said: “Whoever of the believers that bears patiently with a tribulation that befalls him, has the reward of a thousand martyrs.” [Al-Kulayni, al‑Kafi, vol.2, bab al‑Sabr, hadith # 17]
• Imam al-Sadiq (a) said: “When the believer enters his grave, salat is on his right hand, zakat on his left, virtue faces him, with Sabr taking him under its shelter. When the two angels encharged with questioning enter upon him, Sabr says to salat, zakat and virtue, ‘Take care of your companion, and if you fail to assist him I will take care of him myself.”[Ibid, hadith # 8]