Those Who Observe Patience Will Be Given Their Reward In Full Without Measure

Mufti Muhammad Shafi رحمه الله

Allah سبحانه و تعالى says,

“Certainly those who observe patience will be given their reward in full without measure.” (39:10)

The expression: (bighayri-hisab: without measure) means that the reward of those who endure ordeals will not be given to them under some pre-determined calculations or measures, instead, it will be sans-calculation, sans-reckoning, in a spirit of generosity at its most sublime as mentioned in a Hadith narration that follows. Some others have interpreted this expression in the sense of request, or claim, that is, in this worldly life, should someone have some right due on someone, he has to initiate the claim for it. But, with Allah سبحانه و تعالى, those who observe patience will be given their reward without any request or claim.

Qatadah reports from Sayyidna Anas رضي الله عنه with him that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘On the Day of Judgment, a Scale of Justice will be set in place. When people who had given Sadaqah (charity) come forward, whatever they had given will be weighed, and they will be given their full reward against it.

Similarly, the acts of worship such as Salah and Hajj will be weighed, and its reward would be duly given to those who had performed these. And when come those who had stood patient against trials and tribulations, for them, there will be no measure and weight, instead, their return and reward will be rolled down towards them without calculation, measure or reckoning – because, Allah سبحانه و تعالى has said:“Certainly those who observe patience will be given their reward in full without measure.” (39:10).

So much so that people who had lived their life of the mortal world in perfect peace and comfort would wish, ‘alas! Had our bodies been shredded with scissors during our life in the mortal world, we too would have earned a similar return for our endurance and patience against trials.’

Imam Malik رحمه الله has taken: (as-sabirun) in this verse to mean people who endure hardships and remain patient over sorrows of the mortal life. Some elders have said that it means people who hold their self in check against acts of disobedience and sin.

Imam al-Qurtubi رحمه الله says, ‘when the word: (sabir: patient) is uttered unaccompanied by some other word, it invariably means a person who observes patience against hardships caused during the process of making one’s desiring self abstain from sins. And when the word: (sabir) is used for a person who remains patient against distress, it is coupled with some other words: (one who is patient against such and such distress). Wallahu A’lam (and Allah knows best).