The Wisdom of Restraint

The Wisdom of Restraint advised: “If you persevere and fear God, their designs will never harm you in the least:” (3:120). Consider how patience acts as a shield against the schemes of the enemies and protects the targeted group from harm. The truth is that when an unpleasant situation occurs in social life, there are two ways to respond. One is that a person, seeing a provocative situation, becomes inflamed and retaliates under the pressure of impulsive emotions. The other is, despite the provocation from the other person, to stay calm, control one’s emotions, and carefully consider the whole situation before replying in a measured way. In this context, the first type of reaction is called an impatient reaction, and the second type is called a patient reaction. In other words, an impatient reaction is an emotional response to the immediate situation, while a patient reaction is a considered response to the situation. Patience is not inaction. It doesn’t mean that when faced with a difficult situation, one should sit idly feeling helpless. In reality, patience is the highest form of bravery. When someone acts impulsively out of impatience, it shows they have been overwhelmed by their emotions. On the other hand, when someone adopts a patient approach, it demonstrates that they have control over their intense emotions and haven’t let their feelings overpower their reason.