I never knew what sabr was in my whole life. it's not that I haven't been through hot waters in the past, but until recently things shifted a great deal.
I have been constantly reminded through the secret language of my inner self that I direly need to practice sabr in life.
On the other hand, before I could practice sabr in the real sense of it my inner self also used to convince me with a notion, that I have been doing sabr all this while. but in reality, it was an erroneous message I used to receive since my definition of sabr was unclear and immature, I thought I knew it but it was one of the false assumptions.
since I was also asking Allah to guide me towards what he has been wanting from me by getting me through all this mess in life.
eventually, my heart was opened towards a new and really profound meaning of sabr that was missing from my core. This new meaning also brought peace to my inner self and I bet it can do the same for you.
My finding of what Sabr is?
My findings were that Sabr isn't a waiting period as it is perceived in our society. It's neither an excuse to endure oppression silently. you are not supposed to be suppressed in the name of sabr. you have to take the pain of changing your circumstances while standing to secure the very rights that Allah has endowed you with. You have to take charge of your life fully. both are erroneous meanings that our society inculcates in us.
Instead, the deeper look into sabr will tell you why Allah has reminded Muslims to practice sabr several times in Quran...did you ever wondered why there is so so much insistence on sabr throughout the Quranic teachings. considering repetition of the word sabr tells us that it's a core value that should be nailed in us and bcs our whole life of this world depends and stands on Sabr. If there was no concept of Sabr for Muslims there was no point of test in the first place.
each one of us goes through a phase when a certain issue for which we have been making Dua and really wishing it to come true, In spite of our all hardships and of all the hard work we have been through for this one purpose. somehow your Dua isn't granted and that particular circumstance hasn't changed a bit. in fact, nothing has changed making you feel disappointed and you start thinking that Allah doesn't listen and grants any of your Dua and any of your needs and wishes aren't met. There might be many many reasons behind that one wish not getting fulfilled if I talk about it from the perspective of this Dunya. But there is another perspective behind it that is not so very obvious in our minds, most of the time, and that perspective is akhirah.
There is a reason related to hereafter that Allah stopped you halfway through that success. Our minds are so calculated that we are not able to fathom that larger perspective, we cant watch ourselves from the vantage point Allah is watching.
Finding Contentment in the current situation and surrendering is the key to Sabr.
My definition of sabr is that you have to be fully contented with your present scenario. you have to accept everything around you with full heart though you already know you didn't want it to be so, but, because Allah wanted it so. the circumstances that you are in, could not have been better. it could not have been any different from where you are right now. whatever circumstances Allah has put you in, it was designed specifically for you to get past it.
The thing that you are struggling most from is the very hint towards your weakness. sometimes it is just that, Allah wants you to overcome that particular weakness. other times, He wants you to elevate you to a higher place from where you are at the moment. other times the very thing that's bothering you most is the only best thing that could happen to you. but you can't realize it right now because you can't see how it will benefit you in the future. but I bet you, down the road when you reach a certain point in life, looking back to those tough times will all make sense. and you will be sighing in relief for what Allah went you through and for being where you were.
How to get contented with your state of affairs.
The key to getting through tough times and the key to practicing contentment through those times can be attained by submitting and surrendering totally to the fact that what you are going through is Allah's plan and His will. and His will can never ever be wrong even in the least.
This contentment and surrender will bring in new liberation and braveness of the kind that you have not experienced in life. and this attitude and change in your thinking will make it easy for you to stand firm and will help you keep grounded.
