Opposing Forces

due to outside 'calls' and 'urges' for me to update my blog, i duly take 10 minutes off my time this morning to share some information which might be useful to all. the excerpt below is taken from the book 'Patience & Gratitude', an abridged translation of " 'Uddat as-sabirin wa dhakirat ash-shakirin" by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah. Let us all try to have patience in both types of 'natural forces', insya Allah. May Allah rewards us accordingly in this blessed month of Ramadhan. Amiin.

Opposing Forces

Psychologically speaking, every person has two forces of work within him/her. One is the 'driving force', which pushes him towards some actions, and the other is the 'restraining force', which holds him back from others. Patience essentially harnesses the driving force to push us towards good things, and the restraining force to hold us back from actions that may be harmful to ourselves or others.

Some people have strong patience when it comes to doing what is good for them, but their patience is weak with regard to restraint from harmful actions, so we may find that a person has enough patience to perform acts of worship (Solah, Sawm, Hajj), but has no patience in controlling himself and refraining from following his whims and desires, and in this way he may commit haram deeds.

Conversely, some people may have strong patience in abstaining from forbidden deeds, but their patience in obeying commandments of and performing 'ibadah is too weak.

Some people have no patience in either case! And, needless to say, the best people are those who possess both types of patience.

So, a man may have plenty of patience when it comes to standing all night in prayer, and enduring whatever conditions of heat or cold may be prevalent, but have no patience at all when it comes to lowering his gaze and refraining from looking at women. Another may have no problem in controlling his gaze, but he lacks the patience which would make him enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and he is so weak and helpless that he cannot strive against against the kuffar and mushrikun.

Most people will be lacking in patience in any one case, and a few lack it in all cases...