THE hot wind was unbearable as I waited outside the bank for the doors to open along with some 20 more people. After 20 minutes we all took a ticket and waited, frustrated and anxious, for our turn. An elegantly dressed man entered. His garments were exceptional and the aroma of Oud filled the bank. As he proceeded towards the teller, a worker came and greeted him just as you would a sovereign. I took the responsibility to inform him that we were in a queue and asked him to join the queue at the back. The man was oblivious to my comments. However, the worker informed me that he was a VIP. “VIP?!” I said. “Why don't you build a bank especially for him?” The worker replied, “In heaven you have different levels and so do we on earth and he is from the highest level.” “Money and status don't get us into heaven,” I responded. I was fuming and could not believe the impudence. We had been waiting for nearly 40 minutes, then all of a sudden someone enters and the bank is at his disposal! It must be clear however that it is Haraam to use Wasta or one's status to intercede if it infringes upon the rights of others. This is injustice and the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Verdicts of Saudi Arabia has already issued a Fatwa on this topic. (Fatwa Islamiyyah, 4/300) The harsh reality is that bribery and Wasta has become the norm in Saudi Arabia. May Allah remove this social evil from this blessed country. The only thing we are able to do in such cases is observe patience. We often underestimate the value of patience and anger always gets the better of us. Patience is the key to achievement and success. All prophets were tested severely yet they were patient. Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) called his people to Islam patiently for 950 years! We know the story of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him), who went through severe hardship from childhood. His patience and obedience to Allah resulted in the victory and success that Allah gave him in the end. When his father, Prophet Yaqoob (peace be upon him), initially heard of losing his son, he said, “So (for me) patience is most fitting. And it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that which you assert.” (Qur'an, 12:18) In the end Allah not only restored his son, but also gave honor and power to his entire family. Life is on a rocky path. Conflicts, wars and killings have clouded the world. During such trying times, nothing but patience can lead us to victory. Allah says in the Qur'an: “And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient ones).” (Qur'an, 2:155) Can we say we are among those patient ones? Scholars have classified patience into three types: • Patience in obedience to Allah • Patience in staying away from disobedience to Allah • Patience in the decrees of Allah (fate) The first two are harder than the last one. Being patient in obedience to Allah means we need to be consistent in performing our worship with full conviction, day after day, and year after year. Similar is being consistent in refraining from sins. It doesn't mean repeating sins over and over again. Nowadays we also notice a strange phenomenon. Some Muslims think protests and violence are ideal solutions to stand up against their Muslim rulers' wrongdoings. We have forgotten the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked us to bear the shortcomings of a Muslim ruler with patience, as long as the ruler doesn't commit or command disbelief. This is in the best interest of Muslims as a whole. It is very easy for us to comment on their mistakes without looking at our own faults. What is hard to do is to stand up in the middle of the night and pray for the good and betterment of our rulers. Finally, let's keep in mind that all afflictions and joys of this world are temporary. A greater and purely enjoyable ever-lasting abode awaits the believers in the Hereafter. “...Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning.” (Qur'an, 39:10)
