Allah (swt) orders the Prophet (saws) to be graciously patient and to endure what the disbelievers inflict on him of harm, and let them not divert him (saws) from conveying the Message of His Lord (swt). As if Allah (sw) is saying to him (saws): ‘Be patient, do not rush or hasten, you should also endure their mocking and stubborn demand of the punishment which will for sure befall them’.

(gracious patience) is also mentioned when speaking about the Prophet Ya’qub (PBUH) as he said to his sons:

 قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ

(said, “Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting.) (Yusuf: 18)

However, patience is always painful, so how could it be gracious? It is so when it is devoid of complaining and worry. There is also gracious avoidance, as in Allah’s saying:

 وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا

(And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance.) (Al-Muz’zamil: 10)

This is when it does not entail backbiting, gossip, nor dispute. Allah (swt) orders the Prophet (saws) to be patient with his people in many verses, such as in:

فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا

(So be patient over what they say and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting;) (Taha: 130)

As though exalting and glorifying Allah (swt) make his patience gracious because when he glorifies Allah (swt), he does not regard their rejection and false accusation. Allah (swt) says:

اصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا دَاوُودَ ذَا الْأَيْدِ ۖ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ

(Be patient over what they say and remember Our servant, David, the possessor of strength; indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to Allah].) (Saad: 17)