Verse: "And give good tidings to the patient — those who, when afflicted with a calamity, say: 'Indeed to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.'" (2:155-157)
Why does the glad tidings come first?
Logically: "The patient ones who...those have blessings...give them glad tidings." But Allah placed "give glad tidings" at the very start — as if the calamity itself is surrounded by good news from the beginning. Reassurance before you even know what the news is.
Three types of patience:
- Patience in obedience — performing duties when the soul resists
- Patience from sins — restraining the self when desire pulls
- Patience in calamities — as described here
Ibn Al-Qayyim: "The best of the three is patience from sins — it combines restraint and opposing desire, a continuous jihad."
"Indeed to Allah we belong and to Him we return":
Affirming ownership (I am His servant and property) and affirming return (everything returns to Him). One who truly believes these two has nothing left to be afflicted by.
Question: What are the three types of patience, and which is best according to Ibn Al-Qayyim?
Answer: Patience in obedience + patience from sins + patience in calamity. Best: patience from sins — combines restraint and opposing desire.