A eight worded small ayah with an obvious message, so it appears. However a dip in the literature reveals that scholars have discovered deep meanings in this short ayah. The earlier three verses of this surah deal with the true faith and doctrines; the present verses speak of good deeds.

The literal meaning of the word saber is to keep oneself tied down. Superficially it sounds simple. In fact, it demands will power and firm resolve to rise above his base desires for higher values. The true meaning of the word sabr “is to restrain oneself from anxiety, despair, and impatience, and to maintain one’s position.”

The ayah highlights the importance of seeking help and support from Allah through patience and prayer. It reminds believers that these two practices are not only essential for attaining success in this life and the hereafter but also for seeking Allah’s guidance and assistance in times of difficulty and adversity. The ayah warns that this is not going to be and easy task; it demands a great deal of effort and dedication. It is only those who are humbly submissive to Allah, who recognize their own weaknesses and shortcomings, and turn to Allah in complete submission and humility, who are able to benefit from these practices. The phrase “it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]” indicates that while patience and prayer are challenging, they are within reach of those who are sincere in their worship and seek to please Allah. The word “sabr”, according to the research scholar and mentor Javed Ahmed Ghamdi in his tafseer Al Bayan “means in Arabic to protect oneself from panic, anxiety, and despair and to maintain one’s stance. When a person remains connected to their Lord with complete trust in their heart during difficult times, it is called ‘sabr’ in the Quranic terminology.” This is how Quran guides human beings to maintain the path of truth. He needs Allah’s help for this task which comes through patience and prayer. Generally it means in the Quran that a person should remain loyal and constant on Allah’s covenant with a strong belief in the heart, firm in HIS promises undeterred by any obstacles in this path.

عجزومسکنت is an Arabic phrase that refers to a state of being powerless and impoverished, both physically and emotionally. In fact the Quran is is defining that the common interpretation of Sabr as weakness and poverty is certainly not accurate. On the contrary it signifies “remaining steadfast and patient in the face of difficulties.” Elsewhere the Holy Text defines comprehensively the meaning of sabr [3]

“And most certainly shall We try you by means of danger, and hunger, and loss of worldly goods, of lives and of [labour’s] fruits. But give glad tidings unto those who are patient in adversity -who, when calamity befalls them, say, “Verily, unto God do we belong and, verily, unto Him we shall return.”It is they upon whom their Sustainer’s blessings and grace are bestowed, and it is they, they who are on the right path!”

The Holy Quran has clearly defined the meaning of patience. Allah says [4]

“And give good news to the patient, who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: Surely we are Allah’s and to Him we shall surely return. Those are they on whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord, and those are the followers of the right course.”

The phrase وَإِنَّها لَكَبيرَةٌ ie “it is difficult”while emphasizing the importance and magnitude of patience and prayer, acknowledges that these are challenging in practice. However, the phrase following it إِلّا عَلَى الخاشِعينَ ie “ but for the humble in spirit” declares that they are within reach of those who are sincere in their worship and seek to please Allah. Overall, this ayah encourages Muslims to seek help and support from Allah through patience and prayer, and to cultivate a spirit of humility and submission to Allah’s will in all aspects of their lives. The nation and racial pride, as pointed by Javed Amed Ghamdi should be forsaken and only humility should guide one in the pursuit of truth.

Allaamaa Yousuf Ali offers a very comprehensive implication of the word “sabr” in his voluminous tafseer of the Quran. He narrates that “the Arabic word Sabr implies many shades of meaning, which it is impossible to comprehend in one English word. It implies (1) patience in the sense of being thorough, not hasty; (2) patient perseverance, constancy, steadfastness, firmness of purpose; (3) systematic as opposed to spasmodic or chance action; (4) a cheerful attitude of resignation and understanding in sorrow, defeat, or suffering, as opposed to murmuring or rebellion, but saved from mere passivity or listlessness, by the element of constancy or steadfastness.”

On the other hand, Mufti Mohammed Shafi defines sabr succinctly in his tafseer “Ma’aariful Quran”. He declares “Patience is a very weak translation of the Arabic word Sabr, which has three connotations: (a) bearing pain and misfortune patiently (b)restraining one self from sin (c)being steadfast in obeying Allah.”

Thus sabr and salah are two complimentary activities for the benefit of mankind. While sabr demands distancing from “excessive appetites and unnecessary desires”, salah calls for action and performance of certain rituals and avoiding even certain legitimate activities during this period like eating, drinking, speaking, walking etc.; and all this five times a day.

It can be argued that the Quranic prescription of “sabr and salah” is tough and taxing in the daily hustle bustle of life. The Holy Quran accepts this fact and provides a way out of it. Salah cannot and will not be a burden to the humble in heart. Hence the holy text proposes “khushu” as the solution and redress for this conundrum. This word can be translated in English as “humbleness in heart” or “the restfulness of the heart.”

The daily prayers is the most important form of contemplation or meditation for Muslims. But there is more to it. The holy text uses, very often the word “iqamah” with daily prayers. Lexically, the word means “making a thing straight, or keeping it firmly in its place.” Thus the combination of these two words— Salah and Iqamah— in the Quran and hadith signifies, according to Mufti Mohammed Shafi in his celebrated tafseer Ma’aarif-ul-Quran “not merely offering the prayer, but performing the five ordained prayers steadfastly in the prescribed form at the prescribed hours and fulfilling all the necessary conditions.” All the promised rewards and blessings of salah are conditional to performing this sort of iqamah. To give an example, the Holy Quran says: [5]

“for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds”

And it does. But realistically, it is a very controversial statement vis a vis the ground realities. How many observant Muslims will qualify on this record? Very few, unfortunately. Why? They offer prayers but do not combine it with “iqamah” as defined here.

What do we understand from the directive to ‘seek strength in… prayer’. The reverent scholar Sayyid Qutb explains in his eminent tafseer “Fi Zilalul Quran” that “Prayer is seen by Islam as a link between man and his Lord and Master, through which the human heart draws strength and fortitude. It generates life and energy in the human soul. Despite his unique relationship with God and the lofty level of spiritual piety he attained, the Prophet Muĥammad was known to resort to prayer every time he experienced distress or anxiety. Prayer remains an inexhaustible fountain of peace, comfort and spiritual uplift for every believer.”

That we will return ultimately one day to God when our actions will be evaluated and judged is the primary and absolute belief with all Muslims. This belief establishes the values for the life here and in the Hereafter. With this background, the attraction and appeal of this world with it treasures and riches peters out in favor of the eternal life of the hereafter.