Imām Ibn Qudāmah -rahimahullāh- said:
Differences between Patience and Gratitude in Virtue.
Know verily that, people are of different opinions regarding which one is given priority between patience and gratitude and they have expounded that in length.
However, in summary, both patience and gratitude have different levels. The least stage of patience is to accept an unwanted situation with a bare chest without complaining, and after that comes pleasure, and this is the stage after patience, and after that comes gratitude on adversity, and it comes after pleasure.
The levels of gratitude are numerous, for a servant to recognize the blessings of Allah Ta’āla upon him is a gratitude, and his acknowledgement for his laxity of rendering gratitude in the best mode is also a gratitude.
Knowing the bounties of Allah upon him for keeping his shortcomings secret is a gratitude, and recognizing blessings are from Allah is a gratitude, and acknowledging that gratitude is a blessing amongst the blessings of Allah is also a gratitude, and being modest in prosperity and thanking others is a gratitude.
In fact, gratitude is a means that lead to another gratitude.
In this context, the Rasūl sallallāhu a’layhi wasallam said:
لا يشكر الله من لا يشكر الناس.
He who doesn’t thank people is ungrateful to Allāh
Transmitted by Imām Abū Dāwud.
Good manners and overlooking the shortcomings of others is a gratitude. Receiving graces in the best manner and not belittling it is a gratitude.
Hence, the numerous levels of gratitude and patience which apply to deeds and statements are uncountable and the levels differ, then how can there be priority of one over the other?
However, if gratitude is attached to spending wealth on the path of obedience, then gratitude is given priority. This is because it also entails patience, being pleased with the blessings of Allāh ‘Azzawajal, and there is the possibility of enduring spending the wealth to the poor ones.
Thus, from this lens, gratitude is given priority over patience.
Allāhu A’alam! Bārakallāhu fīkum!
*1st Rajab,1440H.*
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