In a world of instant gratification, patience feels harder to achieve than ever. When faced with trials, frustration, or temptation, how do we find the strength to remain steadfast? The renowned Islamic scholar and “physician of the heart,” Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, provides a timeless remedy. He taught that patience, though difficult, is a skill that can be learned. This guide breaks down his profound wisdom into 15 practical steps to help you weaken impatience and build a core of unshakeable faith.

Understanding the Two Sides of Patience: Theory and Practice

Patience has two aspects: theory and practice. The theoretical side requires us to understand the goodness and benefits of divine obligations and the harm of what is forbidden. When a person combines this knowledge with sincere resolution and a powerful will, patience is the natural result. Hardships become manageable, bitterness turns to pleasure, and a continual struggle between patience and impatience begins. To win this struggle, one must actively support patience over the temptations of passing desires.

Part 1: 5 Practical Steps to Weaken Impatience

To treat a lack of patience, Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim suggests weakening the desires that fuel it.

  1. Control Your Stimulus: Avoid things that stir harmful desires, such as excessiveness in food. Fasting is a powerful tool for self-control, especially when breaking the fast with a modest meal.
  2. Lower Your Gaze: The eyes are the window to the heart. Lowering your gaze protects you from the “poisoned arrows of Satan” that stir impatience and sinful desires.
  3. Seek Permissible Pleasures: Satisfy your natural instincts within the boundaries that Allah has permitted. This is an effective treatment prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
  4. Consider the Earthly Consequences: Even without considering the hereafter, reflecting on the immediate worldly harm of wrongdoing is often enough to steer you away from it.
  5. Reflect on the Ugliness of Sin: A person with a sense of honor naturally dislikes being involved in evil. Contemplate the true nature of your whims to find them repulsive.

Part 2: 10 Ways to Strengthen Your Faith for Lasting Patience

The foundation of patience is strong faith. Here is how to reinforce it.

  1. Glorifying Allah: Hold Allah in such high esteem that you refrain from disobeying Him out of pure reverence, knowing He is Ever-Hearing and Ever-Watching.
  2. Loving the Creator: True love commands obedience. When your heart is full of love for Allah, you will naturally give up what displeases Him.
  3. Being Grateful: A virtuous person never repays a benefactor with harm. Recognize Allah’s constant blessings and let thankfulness deter you from sin.
  4. Fearing Allah’s Wrath: Remember that persisting in sin invites a punishment from Allah that no one can withstand.
  5. Knowing What You Lose: A moment of forbidden pleasure is not worth trading for an atom’s weight of faith. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:”The adulterer is not a believer at the moment when he is committing adultery; the wine drinker is not a believer at the moment when he is drinking wine; and the thief is not a believer at the moment when he is stealing.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
  6. Seeking Victory Over Satan: The sweetness of overcoming your lower self and defeating Satan is a greater and more lasting pleasure than any sin.
  7. Anticipating Allah’s Reward: Allah promises a generous and fulfilling reward for those who restrain their desires for His sake.
  8. Seeking Allah’s Company: Remember that Allah is with the patient, the pious, and the doers of good. As Allah says in the Qur’an:{O you who believe! Seek assistance through patience and Prayer; surely Allah is with the patient.} (Al-Baqarah 2:153)
  9. Fearing an Unexpected Death: Death can come at any moment. The fear of being taken while in a state of disobedience is a powerful motivator for patience.
  10. Understanding Sin’s Consequences: Recognize that tribulations are often the result of sin, while well-being is a mercy that comes with obedience.

Conclusion: Patience is a Journey, Not a Destination

Patience is a continual struggle, but as Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim shows, it is a battle we are equipped to win. By actively weakening the triggers of impatience and consistently reinforcing the foundations of our faith, we can transform bitterness into pleasure and hardship into an opportunity for growth. May Allah grant us the strength to be among As-Sabirun (the patient ones).