The Significant issue of Forbearance:

Although the commence of the 7^th invocation of Sahifeh sajadieh includes many destructive factors, there is a refrence to those qualities by which men can meet prosperity. Professor Hossein Ansarian in his book “ the land of lovers”  exemplifies some these good qualities. The text to bo followed is adopted from the book on significance of forbearance, tolerance and kindness.

The great narrator, Allameh Majlessi, in describing forbearance and sobriety writes, “By forbearance is meant resistance against disasters and the avoidance so getting engaged in abnormal behaviors or in senseless utterances.” Regarding this issue, there are significant narrations in the authentic books on narrations. Here, we will refer to some of them:

Imam Reza(s) is reported to have said:

لا يَكُونث الرَّجُلُ عابِداً حَتّى يَكُونَ حَليماً، وَإنَّ الرَّجُلَ كانَ إذا تَعَبَّدَ في بَني إسْرائيلَ لَمْ يُعَدَّ عابِداً حَتّى يَصْمُتَ قَبْلَ ذلِكَ عَشْرَ سِنِينَ. [1]

A man is not considered a worshipper unless he is tolerant. The men in Bani-Israel were not considered as true worshippers even if they kept silent for ten years.

Imam Baqir(s) has stated:

كانَ عَليُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِA يَقُولُ: اِنَّهُ لَيُعْجِبُنِي الرَّجُلُ اَنْ يُدْرِكَهُ حِلْمُهُ عِنْدَ غَضَبِهِ. [2]

The fourth Imam(s) has said: the truth of the issue rests in the fact that I love a man whose forbearance helps him out when he is under rage.

عَنْ أبي جَعْفَرٍA قالَ: إنَّ اللهَ عَزَّوَجَلَّ يُحِبُّ الْحَيِيُّ الْحَلِيمَ. [3]

It is narrated from Imam Baqir(s): In fact, God Loves a modest tolerant.

عَنْ أبي عَبْدِاللهِA قالَ: قالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ3: ما أعزَّ اللهُ بِجَهْلٍ قَطُّ وَلا أذَلَّ بِحِلْمٍ قَطُّ.

Imam Sadiq(s) reports form the Messenger of God(s): God has never endeared the one who is ignorant; Neither has He humiliated anybody for his patience and forbearance.

It is narrated from Imam Sadiq(s):

كَفى بِالْحِلْمِ ناصِراً. وَقالَ: إذا لَمْ تَكُنْ حَليماً فَتَحَلَّمْ.

Forbearance is a great helper; if you are not patient and tolerant, then teach yourself to be the one.

Imam Sadiq(s) sent his servant for an errand, but he came back late. Imam(s) followed his path until he found him. But he was sleeping. Imam(s) sat at his side and started fanning him until he was awake. When he woke up, Imam(s) told him: O man, you are not allowed to sleep both day and nigh. The night belongs to you. But your day belongs to us.[4]

كانَ مِنْ دُعاءِ رَسُولِ اللهِ3: اللّهُمَّ أغْنِني بِالْعِلْمِ، وَزَيّني بِالْحِلْمِ، وَأكْرِمْنِي بِالتَّقْوى، وَجَمِّلْني بِالْعافِيَةِ. [5]

This was one of the invocations of the Great Prophet(s): O God, please equip me with knowledge and dress me up with tolerance; please endear me by letting me be pious and providing me with good health.

It is narrated from the Prophet(s), as well:

اِبْتَغُوا الرِّفْعَةَ عِنْدَ اللهِ، قالُوا: وَما هِيَ يا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قالَ: تَصِلُ مَنْ قَطَعَكَ، وَتُعْطِي مَنْ حَرَمَكَ، وَتَحْلُمُ عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكَ أو جَهِلَ عَلَيْكَ. [6]

Ask God for exultance in your position. The followers then asked the Prophet(s): what do you mean by exultance in one's positions? He remarked: Relate with the one who has discarded you; be generous to the one who has deprived you of what you deserved; be sober towards the one who has wronged you.

It is also narrated from the Great Prophet(s):

خَمْسٌ مِنْ سُنَنِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ: الْحَياءُ، وَالْحِلْمُ، وَالْحِجامَةُ، وَالسِّواكُ، وَالتَّعَطُّرُ. [7]

There are five traits for the Prophets: decency, endurance, venesection, tooth-brushing and using perfumes.

It is narrated from Imam Ali(s):

لَيْسَ الْخَيْرُ أنْ يَكْثُرَ مالُكَ وَوَلَدُكَ، وَلكِنَّ الْخَيْرَ أنْ يَكْثُرَ عِلْمُكَ، وَيَعْظُمَ حِلْمُكَ، وَأنْ لا تُباهِيَ النّاسَ بِعِبادَةِ رَبِّكَ، فَإذا أحْسَنْتَ حَمِدْتَ اللهَ، وَإذا أسَأتَ اسْتَغْفَرْتَ اللهَ.[8]

There is no good nor blessing in increasing the number of one's children or the amount of one's wealth. Rather, there is good in increasing one's knowledge, endurance and sobriety and not to show off your prayers to people. When you got involved in doing good, thank God, and when you wronged people, ask God for pardon.

The Great Prophet(s) has remarked: when God gathers all creatures at the Doom's Day, an announcer would call: where are the men of virtues? A group rise and go towards the paradise speedily. Having noticed their swift movement, the angels block their ways and ask them: who are you? They would reply: we are men of virtues. They would ask: what virtues do you have? They would answer: we were patient towards others' tyrannies; we pardoned people's wickedness towards us; and we were tolerant towards others' ignorance. Then the angels would say: Enter the Paradise, since you deserve the hest of rewards.[9]

The Issues of kindness, tolerance and friendship:

As soon as the fire of anger and wrath is extinguished and the state of pardoning prevails, friendship now appears on the scene. This kindness and tolerance are stipulated in the Holy Quran and are manifested in the ethics of the Prophets and the men of God. There are numerous narrations in the Shiite's books which are illuminating.

It is narrated from Imam Baqir(s):

إنَّ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قُفْلاً، وَقُفْلٌ الإيمانِ الرِّفْقُ. [10]

In fact, there is a key for any lock and the key of the lock of faith is tolerance.

Imam Sadiq(s) narrates from the Prophet(s) of God:

الرِّفْقُ يُمْنٌ، وَالْخَرْقُ شُؤمٌ. [11]

Tolerance is propitious and harsh treatment is inauspicious.

It is narrated from Imam Baqir(s):

إنَّ اللهَ عَزَّوجَلَّ رَفِيقٌ يُحِبُ الرِّفْقَ، وَيُعْطِي عَلَى الرِّفْقِ مالا يُعْطِي عَلَى الْعُنْفِ. [12]

In fact, the Almighty Allah adores man's tolerance and kindness. He will compensate favorably for tolerance, but deprives one of such a compensation for harsh treatments.

Imam Baqir(s), as well, narrates from the prophet(s):

إنَّ الرِّفْقَ لَمْ يُوضَعْ عَلى شَىْءٍ إلاّ زانَهُ، وَلا نُزِعَ مِنْ شَىْءٍ إلا شانَهُ. [13]

Tolerance is an ornament for a man; when he lacks it he is ugly.

The Great Prophet(s) of God has remarked:

إنَّ في الرِّفْقِ الزّيادَةَ وَالْبَرَكَةَ، وَمَنْ يُحْرَمِ الرِّفْقَ يُحْرَمِ الْخَيْرَ. [14]

There is abundance in tolerance; the one who lacks kindness is deprived of blessing.

عَنْ هِشامِ بْنِ أحْمَدَ، عَنْ أبِي الْحَسَنِA قالَ: قالَ لِي وَجَرى بَيْني وَبَيْنَ رَجُلٍ مِنْ الْقَوْمِ كَلامٌ فَقالَ لي ـ: اُرْفُقْ بِهِمْ فَإنَّ كُفْرَ أحَدِهِمْ في غَضَبِهِ، وَلا خَيْرَ فِيمَنْ كانَ كُفْرُهُ في غَضَبِهِ. [15]

Hesham Ibn Ahmad remarks: when there was an argument between a person and me, Hathrat Abi Al-Hassan(s) told me: Be kind to them because as soon as anyone of them gets angry he will be drawn to blasphemy. And this is not a favorable act to happen.

It is narrated from Musa Ibn-e Ja'afar(s):

اَلرِّفِقُ نِصْفُ الْعَيْشِ. [16]

Tolerance, good-temper and affection are half of one's life.

The Prophet of Allah has stated:

لَو كانَ الرِّفْقُ خَلْقاً يُرى ما كانَ مِمّا خَلَقَ اللهُ شَىْءٌ أحْسَنَ مِنْهُ. [17]

There is no trait in this world more beautiful than tolerance.

It is narrated from Imam Sadiq(s):

ما أصْطَحَبَ اثْنانِ إلاّ كانَ أعْظَمَهُما أجْراً وَأحَبَّهُما إلى اللهِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ أرْفَقُهُما بِصاحِبِهِ. [18]

Between two partners in social life, the one who shows more affection and tolerance will be more endeared by Allah.

It is narrated from Imam Sadiq(s):

مَنْ كانَ رَفِيقاً في أمرِهِ نالَ ما يُرِيدُ مِنَ النّاسِ. [19]

One shall receive anything from people if he is kind to them.

Refrence: the land of lovers by Professor Hossein Ansarian