Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: ((And the patient men and the patient women...))

Since truthfulness may entail a struggle of the self, for informing a person of the truth, especially with oneself, is a difficult matter, He followed it with a mention of patience, as if saying, "Be truthful and be patient with your truthfulness." He said: Patience in language means restraint, hence their saying "killed by patience," meaning restraint. In the Shari'ah, it is restraining the self from resentment and dissatisfaction with the decree of Allah the Mighty and Majestic. Is 'Isa the father's name so that you do not differ with 'Isa?
The student: 'Isa ibn Salim

The Shaykh : And this is 'Isa
The student: ibn Salih

The Shaykh : Ibn Salih, I say that patience is what? Restraining the self from dissatisfaction and resentment with the decree of Allah. Take note of this. When we say "with the decree of Allah," it includes both the cosmic decree and the legislative decree. This definition encompasses the three types of patience discussed by the scholars, who said that patience is of three sections or three types: patience in obedience, patience in refraining from disobedience, and patience with the painful decrees of Allah. So when we say "restraining the self from dissatisfaction and resentment with the decree of Allah," it includes the three types, or does it not? Because he says "the decree of Allah, cosmic and legislative." The cosmic relates to patience with the decrees of Allah, and the legislative relates to patience in obedience to Allah and in refraining from His disobedience. Patience in obedience to Allah is the highest type of patience because it is restraining the self to action, movement, and effort. Patience in refraining from the disobedience of Allah is lower in rank because it involves restraining the self from what it desires solely because it is disobedience to Allah the Mighty and Majestic. But is there action in it like in patience in obedience to Allah? I ask you? There is no action, there is only abstention, restraining the self from this forbidden thing. Thus, patience in obedience to Allah is distinguished from patience in refraining from His disobedience, because both involve a struggle of the self, but patience in obedience involves obliging the self to work, whereas this does not involve obliging the self to work, but rather abstaining from the disobedience of Allah. Therefore, it is lower in rank than the first. But we say it is lower in rank considering the type itself, not considering the patient ones, because some of the patient ones suffer more hardship in patience with the disobedience of Allah than in patience with obedience to Allah, is that not so? If we suppose a man whose self tempts him and calls him to commit a major sin, yes, with strong pressure, but when he prays, he finds himself at ease without strain or hardship. Undoubtedly, his first suffering is more severe. But we are speaking about the types of patience as types, regardless of the patient one and what relates to his state.
As for the third section, it is patience with the painful decrees of Allah, and this is the lowest type of patience because it is patience with what a person has no action in; it is patience with a matter that is not from your doing and not within your power, is that not so? But patience in obedience and in refraining from disobedience is within one's power, whereas the decrees of Allah are not within one's power. So it is patience with a matter that is not within your power. Yes, for this reason it is lower than the others. And therefore, some of the Salaf said regarding the afflicted person: "Either he is patient with the patience of the noble, or he is relieved with the relief of beasts" And this is correct. Who among us has not been afflicted in his body, his family, or his wealth? Then the affliction becomes very great, and after a period of time passes, he forgets it as if it were nothing. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is the reality of patience. After that, the soul cools down and is distracted by what happens to it in its affairs and its life until it is amused, and it is as if nothing happened.