Sabar is the Path to Victory
30 August 2015
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ
وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
'But [as for myself,] patience in adversity is most fitting; and it is to God [alone] that I pray to give me strength to bear the misfortune which you have described to me.'
(Surat Yusuf: 18)
This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2015.
Sabar - fortitude (mental and emotional courage in the face of adversity) is one of the most extoled virtues by the Qur'an Majeed and our Mawali Tahireen. The Quran Majeed states that Allah Ta’ala loves those with fortitude and sabar (wallahu yuhibbus-sabereen - Surat aale-Imran:146).
Amirul Mumineen Maulana Ali SA asserts that there are two types of sabar: one type is to endure what troubles you with fortitude; the other type is to wait for what you wish with patience and sabar.
The words of Amirul Mumineen SA are profound and contain life lessons for every human being.
Maulana Ali SA has also poetically said that, “sabar is a horse that carries [one] to victory” (al-sabru matiyyatuz-zafar).
Throughout history, the sabar and fortitude of our mawali tahereen is an example for us all, should we choose to learn from them. In the ayat quoted at the beginning of this article, in the context of learning about Yusuf Nabi’s SA alleged death from his brothers, Ya’qub Nabi SA exclaims: “patience and sabar in adversity is most fitting; and it is to God that I pray to give me strength to bear the misfortune which you describe” (Surat Yusuf: 18). Sabar in the face of adversity and faith in prayer to God is the practice of our awliya’ kiraam.
There is no man in this world that does not suffer or endure hardship. What distinguishes those who follow the guidance of their awliya’ is how they react and respond to hardship – specifically whether one succumbs or remains resolute with fortitude and emerges stronger at the other end.
Our Maula and guide, Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin TUS, is sabar personified. Respecting the 52nd Dai Syedna Burhanuddin’s RA wishes to keep his appointment as Mansoos private, he endured the hardship of those who begrudged and resented his success since he was appointed Mazoon and Mansoos. Today he endures, with resolve and fortitude, the battle to assert his rightful succession for the sake of Dawat and the community.
As Syedna Qutbuddin’s TUS cross-examination continues in the Bombay High Court (see section on Legal Update below), Syedna’s TUS resolve is grounded in prayer and strengthened by the inspiration of the Imam. His shield as he endures this ordeal is fortitude and sabar. In Syedna Taher Saifuddin’s RA last years, Syedna Qutbuddin TUS accompanied him in the car, to and from the masjid. Most often, Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA recited the Qur’an in the car. In one of those journeys, as the car approached Chowpatty Beach on the way to Saify Mahal, Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA turned towards Syedna Qutbuddin TUS and recited this Quranic ayat, “enjoin one another to [establish] the truth (Haqq), and enjoin one another to patience and Sabar” (wa tawasaw bil haqqi wa tawasaw bis-sabr – Surat al-‘Asr: 3).
The 43rd Dai, Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin RA begins one of his beautiful qasidas with this deeply meaningful verse: “I forgot the sorrows and affliction of the night as the sun rose. And the fortitude and sabar that I endured as I received the reward”. It is Allah Ta’ala’s promise that, “those who persevere with patience and sabar shall receive a reward without measure or limit” (innama yuwaffas-sabiruna ajrahum bighayri hisaab – Surat al-Zumar: 10).
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the strength and courage for sabar. May Allah Ta’ala grant his promised victory and reward to his Dai, the Dai of Imam-uz-Zaman, Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin TUS.
