سورة الرعد

Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him): In Imam Sajjad's (peace be upon him) salutation upon the bearers of the Throne, in a supplication that appears in al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, after enumerating groups of angels he said: And those who say: سَلامٌ عَلَیْکُمْ بِما صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَی الدَّار [Peace be upon you because you were patient, how excellent is the issue of the abode].

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): This verse was revealed concerning the pure Imams (peace be upon them) and the Shia who were patient.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Al-Washsha narrates from some of his companions that Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "We are patient; but our Shia are more patient than us." I said: "May I be your ransom! How is it possible that your Shia are more patient than you?" He said: "Because we are patient over what we know, and they are patient over what they have no awareness or knowledge of."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): We Imams are patient and enduring, and our Shia are more patient than us. For we were patient over things we knew, while they were patient over things they do not know completely and precisely.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): سَلاَمٌ عَلَیْکُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ [Peace be on you because you were constant]; their patience is over poverty and destitution in the world.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abi Wallad said: I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): 'May I be sacrificed for you! One of the Shia, who is pious, a believer, and prays a great deal, has become fond of amusement and play, and listens to singing.' The Imam asked: 'Does this act of his prevent him from establishing prayer at its proper time, or from fasting, or from visiting the sick, or accompanying a funeral, or meeting with friends?' He said: I replied: 'No, this matter does not prevent him from falling short in performing acts of goodness and virtue.' His Eminence said: 'This is from the footsteps of Satan. Allah willing, this act of his is forgiven.' Then he said: 'A group of the angels reproached the children of Adam (peace be upon him) on account of their being occupied with all kinds of pleasures, desires, and lusts — I mean the lawful pleasures, not the forbidden ones.' [He said]: 'Allah the Exalted did not tolerate the angels' finding fault with the believing children of Adam (peace be upon him); therefore He placed within those angels pleasures and desires, so that they would no longer blame the believing servants.' [His Eminence said]: 'When those desires and pleasures took firm root in their hearts and souls, they lamented before Allah and complained, and said: "Our Lord! Pardon us, pardon us, and return us to that very nature and disposition upon which You created us. All our fear is that we should fall into the valley of confusion and doubt." The Lord removed that state from their hearts and souls.' The Imam (peace be upon him) said: 'When the Day of Resurrection arrives and the people of Paradise enter Paradise, these same angels will seek permission to enter upon the people of Paradise, and Allah will grant them permission to enter Paradise. They will enter upon the people of Paradise and greet them, and say: Peace be upon you for your patience and endurance in the world in the face of lawful pleasures and desires.'

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Patience is of three kinds: patience at the time of calamity, patience in obedience to Allah, and patience against disobedience. So whoever is patient over a calamity until, by his good endurance of it, he repels it and passes through it, Allah writes for him three hundred degrees, the distance between one degree and the next being like the distance between heaven and earth. But whoever is patient in obedience to Allah, Allah gives him the reward of six hundred degrees, the distance between which is like the distance from the earth to Allah's Throne. But whoever is patient against sin and disobedience, Allah gives him the reward of nine hundred degrees, the distance between which is like the distance from the earth to the utmost limit of the Throne.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Patience is of two kinds: patience at the time of misfortune, which is good and beautiful; but better than that is patience regarding what Allah the Exalted has forbidden upon you. Remembrance too is of two kinds: one is the remembrance of Allah at the time of misfortune, and superior to that is the second remembrance, which is the remembrance of Allah when confronted with what has been forbidden to you — for this remembrance becomes a barrier against sin.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Any believer who is afflicted with a hardship or trial and is patient over it, his reward will equal that of a thousand martyrs.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn al-Haytham narrates from a man from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَی الدَّارِ [How excellent is the issue of the abode] — the meaning is the martyrs.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): It has reached us that whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) came to the graves of the martyrs, he would say: سَلاَمٌ عَلَیْکُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَی الدَّارِ [Peace be upon you because you were constant, how excellent then is the issue of the abode].

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said to Ibn Salam: "Ask whatever you wish, and if you like I will tell you what you are about to ask." He said: "O Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)! Tell me... is there wind in Paradise?" The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Yes, there is a wind there that has been created from light, upon which is written 'life and delights,' and it is called al-Baha'. When the people of Paradise long to visit their Lord, it blows. It is not from heat nor from cold, but rather from the light of the Throne. It blows upon their faces and they become radiant and their hearts become joyful, and it adds light to their light. It strikes the gates of Paradise and the rivers flow, the trees glorify [Allah], and the birds sing melodies. If all who are in the heavens and the earth were to stand and hear the sounds of joy and delight that are in Paradise, they would all give up their souls out of longing for it. And the angels come in upon them and, as Allah the Mighty and Majestic has said in the firm verses of His Book: 'Peace be upon you! May these blessings be pleasant for you! Enter Paradise and remain there forever.' (Az-Zumar/7). سَلامٌ عَلَیْکُمْ بِما صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَی الدَّارِ [Peace be upon you because you were constant, how excellent then is the issue of the abode]. They give salaam." [Ibn Salam] said: "O Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)! You have spoken the truth."

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): On the Day of Resurrection, none will attain salvation except those who are patient. Allah says: "صابران اجر و پاداش خود را بی‌حساب دریافت می‌دارند" [Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account]. (Zumar/10). He said: وَ الْمَلائِکَةُ یَدْخُلُونَ عَلَیْهِمْ مِنْ کُلِّ بابٍ سَلامٌ عَلَیْکُمْ بِما صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَی الدَّار [And the angels shall enter in upon them from every gate: Peace be on you because you were constant, how excellent, is then, the issue of the abode].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): When a believer is placed in his grave, his prayer is placed on his right, zakat on his left, and good deeds stand overlooking him. Patience withdraws to a corner, keeping its distance from them. As soon as the two angels responsible for questioning the dead come to him, patience says to prayer, zakat, and good deeds: "Attend to your companion; if you are unable to do so and cannot manage, I will suffice for him."