Forbearance and Deliberation

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There was a time when delegations would hurry to meet the Prophet (Peace be upon him), and an individual who stood out was Ashajj Abdul-Qais (RA), a young man known for his calculated and deliberate actions.

While others rushed, Abdul-Qais (RA) remained behind, ensuring his tribe’s belongings were secured, the camels were tied properly, and everything was in order.

His tribe found his measured pace slow, mocking his speed. Yet, when he met the Prophet (Peace be upon him), he received praise instead.

"Indeed, there are two traits in you that Allah loves: forbearance and deliberateness.”

Forbearance refers to the virtue of patience, primarily within ourselves and with others.

It’s the strength to resist acting on negative emotions like anger or sudden desires.

The Arabic word for desires is Hawa, which stems from a root word that means a “passing breeze.”

Desires come quickly and disappear just as suddenly, but without solid roots, a person can be easily swayed by the smallest gusts.

Forbearance is a divine attribute, as one of Allah's names is Al-Haleem (The Forbearing).

Allah exercises forbearance toward us, giving us room to learn, grow, and repent from our imperfections.

He does not punish us immediately for our wrongs but teaches us lessons if we persist.

Deliberation, on the other hand, is closely related to quality.

It means acting thoughtfully and with God's consciousness, doing each action with presence, intention, and mindfulness.

This attribute is the opposite of haste, an ill-conceived hurry.

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “Haste is from the devil, and deliberation is from Allah.”

This principle implies taking time to ensure that everything is done correctly and with Ihsan.

Beginning with Bismillah and following the Sunnah in our actions helps bring this presence to our lives.

Together, forbearance and deliberation are foundational in perfecting ourselves and connecting with Allah through all our actions.

These traits teach us self-control, discipline, and calculated action—actions that aim not to slow progress but to create more value for us.

Even if some may perceive this as slow or reserved, Allah loves these traits as they originate from a place of intentionality and connectedness.