(… الصَّابِرِينَ ) (The patient …): Rituals like prayers, fasting, Zakat, Hajj and Umra are the best proof of faith in Allah the Almighty. Yet, the top characteristic of Muslims is patience. Allah (swt) says:

{ وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ}

(And seek help through patience and prayer) (Al-Baqara: 45)

So, ‘patience’ precedes ‘prayer.’ As such, Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:

‘patience stands for half the faith[1].’

This due to the fact that if a believer is impatient, they reject the predetermination of the Almighty and deny His will. Patience, however, has different types: 1- patience with (avoiding) sins, 2- patience with (performing) obedience, and 3- patience with distresses. We, immortals, all have distresses:

{ وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ}

(And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,) (Al-Baqara: 155)

and it’s not (and give good tidings to the ones who pray) but rather (the patient) because patience means that prayers are fruitful as intended by the Almighty; that is to lead to manners: to be patient with your destiny, what you’ve been ordered to do, and with being obedient to Allah. That’s why we have {The patient} as the first word in this verse.

(… وَالصَّادِقِينَ …) (…the true,…): The issue of truth is so important as stated by Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:

“Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar[2].”

So, truthfulness is a sign of belief.

Abu Ad-Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) once asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “O’ Messenger of Allah: ‘does a believer steal?’ ‘yes, maybe,’ the Prophet replied. Then Abu Ad-Darda’ asked: ‘does a believer fornicate?’ ‘ yes, even if Abu Ad-Darda’ objected,’ said the Prophet. Finally, Abu Ad-Darda’ asked: ‘does a believer tell lies?’ and the Prophet replied: ‘whoever tells lies is only a disbeliever. A slave may sin, repent to Allah and Allah forgives them[3].”

Truthfulness, then, is a motto for believers. Telling the truth, on the other hand, means that what you say is identical to what happens.

(… وَالْقَانِتِينَ …) (…the obedient,…): What does obedience mean? To keep being obedient solemnly and heartfeltly; Allah (swt) said:

 {قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ *  الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ}

(Certainly will the believers have succeeded: %  They who are during their prayer humbly submissive.) (Al-Muminoon: 1-2)

On the other hand, ‘heartfeltly’ means that worshipping affects all body organs so that it turns to manners. So, when a believer is submissive, all their senses are affected by the fear of Allah (swt).

(… وَالْمُنفِقِينَ …) (…those who spend …): Spending in the way of Allah has different types: it may be in the form of Zakat or Sadaqa (charity). Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: ‘charity is a proof,’ but a proof of what? Sound faith. Spending in the way of Allah is a proof that when you allocate part of your money which you have made with your hard work to the poor, the needy, the helpless, orphans, and for the ends of Zakat in general, you do that for the contention of your Lord, and thus, you only deal with the Almighty:

 {مَّن ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْسُطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ}

(Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned.) (Al-Baqara: 245)

So, you deal with Allah in what you think you own. Yet, the reality is that whatever you own is under the ownership of the Almighty. And this is another proof of submissiveness: to spend when you’re not after hypocrisy, fame, nor reward by humans.

( وَالْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِالْأَسْحَارِ … ) (…and those who seek forgiveness before dawn): Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:

Allah waits till when one-third of the first part of the night is over; He descends to the lowest heaven and says: It there any supplicator of forgiveness? Is there any penitant? Is there any petitioner (for mercy and favour)? Is there any solicitor?[4]”

So, there are manifestations of Allah’s mercy sent down at late dawn when people are asleep.

[1] Hadith no. 158, Patience stands for half of faith and indubitability stand for faith, Musnad Ash-Shihab.

[2] Hadith no. 5743, Chapter: “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true” (At-Tawba), Good Manners and form Vol. Sahih Al-Bukhari

[3] Hadith no. 8994, P. 874, Vol. 3, Kanz-ul-Ummal

[4] Hadith no. 9589, Musnad of the Prolific Companions, Musnad Abu Huraira, Musnad Ahman Bin Hanbal