Imām Ibn Qudāmah -rahimahullāh- said:
However, some may argue that, if the real meaning of patience is for one not to dislike adversities, then this is not possible in the nature of man, and likewise to be pleased with it is also not attainable.
The answer to this goes as follows:
Verily, patience comes in case of something that’s beloved or on what is disliked, and this doesn’t go against natural feelings, rather, it only prevents unlawful actions such as tearing clothes, slapping the face, and making unnecessary statement with the tongue.
As for what we mentioned of how the salaf used to be pleased with calamities, then that’s based on Shar’ī not human’s nature; thus, human’s nature hates calamities.
And the similitude of this is as though a sick man whose medicine is bitter in taste, he then seeks a cure for his sickness by spending his wealth on the drugs and taking it. When he was cured, he was highly delighted to have taken the drugs because of what he hoped for of quick recovery, but his true nature, really detests the bitter drug.
Likewise, the same is applicable if a king should say to a poor man:
I would hit you with this tiny stick and give a thousand dīnār for each stroke, surely, the poor man would have requested more strokes, not because he is not feeling the pain, rather, due to what he needs of the rewards, even though the stroke might weaken him.
Thus, the same to the pious Salaf, their focus is based on their rewards from Allāh Ta’āla, then the pain of the calamity became insignificant to them.
Allāhu A’alam! Bārakallāhu fīkum!
*16th Al-Muharram,1440H.*
*📚IslamNode*
https://telegram.me/DailyPostIslamNode
