A questioner inquires about the noble verse (and seek help through patience and prayer): why was patience mentioned before prayer, even though prayer is the pillar of the religion?

The questioner : Allah the Exalted said: Why was patience mentioned before prayer, even though prayer is the pillar of the religion?

The Shaykh : Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) mentioned patience before prayer because patience is broader. Prayer is a specific act of worship, but patience is broader, and prayer is a form of patience, because prayer is obedience to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) mentioned that patience is of three types: patience in obeying Allah, which is restraining the self to obedience; patience in refraining from disobeying Allah, which is restraining the self from disobedience; and patience with the painful decrees of Allah, which is restraining the self from complaining about the decree and destiny of Allah. Thus, this is an instance of attaching the specific to the general, because prayer is patience, as a person restrains himself to it and compels himself to perform it, namely prayer.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.