ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Anecdotes for Reflection Part 1 Perseverance =============== Allah, the Wise, has said: فَاسْتَقِمْ كَماَ اُمِرْتَ وَ مَنْ تاَبَ مَعَكَ (Then stand you fast (O’ Our Apostle Muhammad) (on the right path) as you are commanded, (by your Lord) as also he who has turned (to Allah) with you.) [^1] 40 Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: مَنِ ابْتُلِيَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ بِبَلاَءٍ فَصَبَرَ عَلَيْهِ كاَنَ لَهُ مِثْلُ اَجْرِ اَلْفِ شَهِيْدٍ (Every Mu’min, who happens to be afflicted with a misfortune and (then) exhibits patience in the face of it, shall be granted rewards equivalent to that of a thousand martyrs.) [^2] Short Explanation Endurance and perseverance can reduce the severity of misfortunes and calamities.

A person who possesses faith does not exhibit impatience when faced with trials, lest his faith should suffer. It has been said: A Mu’min is more resolute than a mountain . This is because he is steadfast against the enemies and displays fortitude in the face of misfortune, to the extent that no grief ever finds a way into the heart of a perfect Mu’min. Life, with its many troubles, will not present a problem for those with a firm resolve.

It is only those who lack sincerity in their perseverance who tend to break down at the slightest of calamities. After all, if the religion of God has reached us today, it is due to the perseverance of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and the patience of Imam Ali (a.s.). The Family of Yasir In the initial period of Islam, a small and oppressed family of four embraced the religion. Each of them displayed an incredible degree of perseverance in facing up to the ruthless tortures of the polytheists.

These four persons were Yasir, his wife Sumaiyyah and their two children A’mmar and A'bdullah. Yasir stood steadfast in his religion, suffering the abuses of the enemies, till he eventually died. His wife Sumaiyyah, in spite of her advanced age, resolutely bore the tortures of the enemies till eventually Abu Jahl inflicted her final injury. Sumaiyyah therefore attained martyrdom as a result of a blow to her abdomen.

Abu Jahl, in addition to physically torturing Sumaiyyah, also tortured her psychologically at a time when she was old and frail. He used to taunt her saying: “You have brought faith upon Muhammad not because of God, but because you are enamoured with Muhammad and captivated by his good looks.” Yasir’s son, A'bdullah, was also subjected to great tortures but he too remained steadfast.

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