Amatullah's Books

Patience and Gratitude by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah
translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab

The meaning of patience: to detain, refrain and stop. Additionally for the Muslim patience means to keep close to Allah and accept calmly the trials He sends without complaint or sadness. The author of this book Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah is commonly referred to as “the scholar of the heart”. Many of his contemporaries knew him to be in constant worship and performing the tahajjud, the night prayer.

We live in an era where patience has become a lost virtue. Daily we are bombarded with the message that if we want something we better get it today or tomorrow it will be gone. Deadlines are set and too many of us falter under the pressure by compromising what is right over what is wanted.

For those who practice Islam, the Qur’an mentions patience innumerable times throughout. Prayer and patience are coupled to remind the believer that prayer is an act that relies upon patience to be effective. The majority of this book deals with patience and the daily fight we are in when it comes to choosing between our common sense and our desires. There is the fight between honor and promiscuity, between self control and greed, between courage and cowardice and the list goes on. Patience is further broken down into the physical and psychological aspects and whether we have a choice in the situation. Reference is made to Prophet Yusuf, peace be upon him, and his patient character.

As for gratitude, one question is posed in the book from the Qur’an. “What can Allah gain from your punishment, if you are grateful and you believe?” The thing most liked by Allah is gratitude and the most disliked by Allah is ingratitude. In chapter 15 the author enumerates the rewards of gratitude.

Patience and gratitude are the keys to success in this world and the next as I have learned from Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah.