In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Al-sabr/Jihad/Perseverance

[13:19] Is one who recognizes that your Lord's revelations to you are the truth equal to one who is blind? Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.
[13:20] They are the ones who fulfill their pledge to GOD, and do not violate the covenant.
[13:21] They join what GOD has commanded to be joined, reverence their Lord, and fear the dreadful reckoning.
[13:22] They steadfastly persevere in seeking their Lord, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), spend from our provisions to them secretly and publicly, and counter evil with good. These have deserved the best abode.
[13:23] They enter the gardens of Eden, together with the righteous among their parents, their spouses, and their children. The angels will enter in to them from every door.
[13:24] "Peace be upon you, because you steadfastly persevered. What a joyous destiny."

The Arabic root "Sa Ba Ra" translated as perseverance, or steadfast/hold fast simply means unwavering dedication to reaching out certain goals with patience and grace. Another Arabic root that is also translated as steadfast is "Ja Ha Da". This root is for the famous, and widely abused word "Jihad" which is wrongly restricted by the majority to the meaning of "holy war". Both words only represent a top soul quality that God commands the believers to develop. Believers are to steadfastly and patiently persevere in worshiping Him and in dealing with their daily ups & downs and their adversities. There are many verses in Quran that remind the believers with this quality through the use of many derivatives of both "sabr" and "jihad". Whether in a direct command, in a beautiful description of true believers, or to state the blissful rewards awaiting those who steadfastly persevere, it is evident that God emphasizes, over and over, the fact that the path of redemption requires the practice of sabr, and takes a lot of jihad.

[19:65] The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them; you shall worship Him and steadfastly persevere in worshiping Him. Do you know of anyone who equals Him?

The continuous effort of being and staying steadfast throughout the journey of submission becomes at times challenging as the human being is created weak (4:28) and impatient (21:37). As clarified by God, our unwavering perseverance/sabr/jihad to hold fast to His rope at all times is the validation of our total submission to Him and our unshakable trust in in His plans. Thus, it is always manifested by a better self-control during adversities and higher level of dedication to keeping up with all rites and commands under all circumstances.

The Inevitable Test [3:186] You will certainly be tested, through your money and your lives, and you will hear from those who received the scripture, and from the idol worshipers, a lot of insult. If you steadfastly persevere and lead a righteous life, this will prove the strength of your faith.

[47:31] We will certainly put you to the test, in order to distinguish those among you who strive, and steadfastly persevere. We must expose your true qualities.

[29:58] Those who believe and lead a righteous life, we will surely settle them in Paradise, with mansions and flowing streams. Eternally they abide therein. What a beautiful reward for the workers.
[29:59] They are the ones who steadfastly persevere, and trust in their Lord.

[2:155] We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives, and crops. Give good news to the steadfast.
[2:156] When an affliction befalls them, they say, "We belong to GOD, and to Him we are returning."
[2:157] These have deserved blessings from their Lord and mercy. These are the guided ones.

[103:3] Except those who believe and lead a righteous life, and exhort one another to uphold the truth, and exhort one another to be steadfast.

[12:90] .... That is because if one leads a righteous life, and steadfastly perseveres, GOD never fails to reward the righteous."

God's promise of supporting the truth and those who persevere to uphold it empowers the true believers to steadfastly persevere at all times.. They reverence His promise and rejoice in knowing the bliss that awaits them as a reward for their dedication and perseverance:

[34:48] Say, "My Lord causes the truth to prevail. He is the Knower of all secrets."

[2:249] .....Those who were conscious of meeting GOD said, "Many a small army defeated a large army by GOD's leave. GOD is with those who steadfastly persevere."

[8:66] Now (that many new people have joined you) GOD has made it easier for you, for He knows that you are not as strong as you used to be. Henceforth, a hundred steadfast believers can defeat two hundred, and a thousand of you can defeat two thousand by GOD's leave. GOD is with those who steadfastly persevere.

[8:46] You shall obey GOD and His messenger, and do not dispute among yourselves, lest you fail and scatter your strength. You shall steadfastly persevere. GOD is with those who steadfastly persevere.

[39:10] Say, "O My servants who believed, you shall reverence your Lord." For those who worked righteousness in this world, a good reward. GOD's earth is spacious, and those who steadfastly persevere will receive their recompense generously, without limits.

[25:75] These are the ones who attain Paradise in return for their steadfastness; they are received therein with joyous greetings and peace.

[11:11] As for those who steadfastly persevere, and lead a righteous life, they deserve forgiveness and a generous recompense.

[28:80] As for those who were blessed with knowledge, they said, "Woe to you, GOD's recompense is far better for those who believe and lead a righteous life." None attains this except the steadfast.

[3:200] O you who believe, you shall be steadfast, you shall persevere, you shall be united, you shall observe GOD, that you may succeed.

Because we are so fragile, we tend to lose our patience, despair and break up righteous codes and routines. God is fully aware of this otherwise He would not describe the path of redemption as difficult and He would not stress out the importance of achieving the quality of sabr/jihad /perseverance. The following verses deliver the divine acknowledgment of that:

[90:4] We created the human being to work hard (to redeem himself).
[90:5] Does he think that no one will ever call him to account?
[90:6] He boasts, "I spent so much money!"
[90:7] Does he think that no one sees him?
[90:8] Did we not give him two eyes?
[90:9] A tongue and two lips?
[90:10] Did we not show him the two paths?
[90:11] He should choose the difficult path.
[90:12] Which one is the difficult path?
[90:13] The freeing of slaves.
[90:14] Feeding, during the time of hardship.
[90:15] Orphans who are related.
[90:16] Or the poor who is in need.
[90:17] And being one of those who believe, and exhorting one another to be steadfast, and exhorting one another to be kind.

Once we get engaged in that process and choose the challenging path, God keeps His promise and makes it easy for us:

[92:5] As for him who gives to charity and maintains righteousness.
[92:6] And upholds the scripture.
[92:7] We will direct him towards happiness ("easiness" in original Arabic text ; we will make everything easy for him).

God explained for us thorough the history of His messengers how sometimes they fall into the same human mistake and lose their patience (18:65-82, 10:88-89, 68:44-50, 71:26-27). God, thus, equally commands both His messengers and the believers to strive hard in order to beautify their souls with this quality (52:48, 70:5-7, 20:130, 76:24, and many others). He also invites all of us to repent and He assures all His servants a brand new start after every fall as long as we show our regret, repent and strive to reform (39:53) God tells us that perseverance/sabr/jihad is boosted by the constant worship, imploring, and seeking refuge in Him from Satan and his constituents.

[16:127] You shall resort to patience - and your patience is attainable only with GOD's help. Do not grieve over them, and do not be annoyed by their schemes.

[2:45] You shall seek help through steadfastness and the Contact Prayers (Salat). This is difficult indeed, but not so for the reverent,
[2:46] who believe that they will meet their Lord; that to Him they ultimately return.

[2:153] O you who believe, seek help through steadfastness and the Contact Prayers (Salat). GOD is with those who steadfastly persevere.
[73:8] You shall commemorate the name of your Lord, to come ever closer and closer to Him.
[73:9] Lord of the east and the west; there is no other god beside Him. You should choose Him as your advocate.
[73:10] And remain steadfast in the face of their utterances, and disregard them in a nice manner.

[30:60] Therefore, you shall steadfastly persevere - for GOD's promise is the truth - and do not be intimidated by those who have not attained certainty.

[76:24] You shall steadfastly carry out your Lord's commandments, and do not obey any sinful disbeliever among them.

[2:250] ...."Our Lord, grant us steadfastness, strengthen our foothold, and support us against the disbelieving people."

[7:126] .... "Our Lord, grant us steadfastness, and let us die as submitters."

Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.