The Value of Restraint: Endless Return

THE VALUE OF RESTRAINT: ENDLESS RETURN “Say: O My servants who have believed, be mindful of your Lord. Those who do good in this world will receive a good reward. And the earth of God is vast. Indeed, those who are patient will be given their reward without measure.” (Quran, 39:10) This is an extraordinary statement—promising a limitless reward for a specific kind of action. In the entire Quran, such a promise is made only for one act: patience. The root meaning of ṣabr (patience) is restraint. In Arabic, phrases like ṣabartu ‘an kadhā mean “I restrained myself from something,” or ṣabartu ‘ammā uḥibb means “I held myself back from something I liked.” There are two kinds of actions: one is to act within limits, and the other is to go beyond those limits. For example, if someone treats you well and you respond with kindness, this is normal behaviour. It does not involve the stage of patience and restraint. Or, if you follow a religion under circumstances where everything in your life remains comfortable and undisturbed, then this too is practicing religion within safe limits. The second type of action is when a person remains committed to the required religious conduct under all circumstances—whether the situation is favourable or unfavourable. This is the act of true patience.