The Believer Knows Both Patience and Gratitude

“I marvel at the believer’s situation. Indeed, all of their affairs are good. This is a state that no one else possesses. If something favorable, a blessing, befalls them, they are grateful, and that is good for them. If they experience hardship or something distressing, they are patient, and that is also good for them.” 1

How should a true believer act in the face of existence and non-existence at the stage of life? When a believer becomes wealthy, they should show gratitude. Gratitude involves remembering the One who provides the blessings and expressing that gratitude through actions, such as giving alms (zakat), caring for those in need, and helping others. When faced with difficulties, they should exercise patience. The essence of the temporary trials lies in patience. Understanding this hadith based on the expressions used within it will lead to a clearer comprehension.

The term “Sarra,” which facilitates the believer’s gratitude, encompasses everything that brings joy, happiness, and comfort to a person. Therefore, from the moment of inner relief granted by God’s grace to our attainment of knowledge, our enrichment, and our family happiness, every matter that brings us joy falls under the scope of the term “sarra.” In response to these blessings, remembering the One who bestows them and thanking Him is also a special grace. Gratitude is one of the most important qualities of a believer. It involves recognizing the giver of blessings, being appreciative, and showing loyalty. “Those who do not thank people do not thank God either.” The feeling of gratitude, even in the face of the smallest kindness, is a significant step on the path of faith.

The term mentioned in the hadith that leads the believer to patience is “darra,” which means “something harmful.” When something harmful occurs, the believer remains patient. The word “darra” encompasses a wide range of experiences, from a thorn pricking one’s hand to losing loved ones, and even to experiencing poverty as a result of loss—covering all degrees of harm felt by people. The problem of evil has occupied philosophers since ancient times. The solution to this issue lies in how we perceive existence. Those who view life through the lens of disbelief see only deaths and massacres in existence. In contrast, the eye that looks with the safety and insight granted by faith sees both the visible and hidden aspects of existence, recognizing that the world is a stage of renewal, transformation, and contradictions. With this perspective, all the afflictions, harms, and voids that befall them remind them of the rewards that will follow, thus diminishing the impact of these harms. They face difficulties with patience and continue on the path of servitude without faltering.

When we look at the exemplary life of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), we encounter a colorful life woven with gratitude and patience. In his life in Mecca, he faced numerous hardships: losing his beloved wife and his protective uncle at times of great need, being ostracized by his tribe, being forced into migration, engaging in unavoidable battles, and suffering the loss of his children, all while displaying a patience that is legendary. He is a hero of patience. Moreover, he (peace and blessings be upon him) is also a hero of gratitude; despite having all his past and future sins forgiven, he prayed until his feet became swollen and would respond to his wife’s inquiry by saying, “Should I not be a grateful servant to God?”

Indeed, the believer must stand firm in the face of world events, like a bird with two wings: patience and gratitude. In this way, they will stretch forth with enthusiasm and thankfulness in the presence of blessings, and in the face of tribulations, they will swallow their grief with patience, reaching the shore of peace without faltering or falling.

Let’s conclude the topic with a quotation: “The actions of a believer are always oriented toward goodness. When faced with any calamity, they exercise patience; this becomes good for them. Similarly, when they receive any blessing, they express gratitude; this too is good for them. One of the meanings of the believer carrying a dual soul must surely be this. They are neither enamored with worldly love nor burdened by concerns for the Hereafter: they are not captivated by the desire for Paradise, nor are they paralyzed by the fear of Hell. They recognize only one direction for all their deeds: the pleasure of Allah. To achieve this goal, the believer endures everything. If it is necessary to give away their wealth, they do so willingly. If they need to take any other action, they do what is required within the perspective of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Defeats sharpen them, while successes add vitality to their lives. Even if the events of time swirl around them like a millstone, they remain unyielding. One such individual, Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, said: ‘I carry two souls; those who carry only one should not counter to me!’”2

Selcuk Camcı

Selçuk Camcı is a graduate of the Faculty of Theology, class of 1992. He completed his master’s degree in the field of Hadith and is currently a doctoral student in Islamic Law. Camcı has worked as an editor for religious publications, including the journal Yeni Ümit. He also received training in Chaplaincy (spiritual guidance) in the United States.

Footnotes:

1.Muslim, Zuhd, 64; Darimi, Riqaq, 61.

2.M. Fethullah Gülen, Fasıldan Fasıla-2, pp. 191–192.