Sabr
الصبر
Virtue · Concept
Patience and steadfastness — endurance under trial and constancy in obedience, which the Quran pairs with prayer and with taqwa.
Overview
Sabr — patience, steadfastness, perseverance — is one of the most frequently commanded virtues in the Quran. Believers are told to seek help through patience and prayer, "indeed Allah is with the patient" (2:153), and the short Surah Al-'Asr makes mutual counsel to patience one of the four things that save a person from loss (103:3).
The Quran's narratives make sabr concrete: Yaqub's "beautiful patience" when told his son was gone (12:18), Musa commanding his people to seek help in Allah and be patient under Pharaoh (7:128), and Musa himself being tested in patience as a student of the servant of Allah (18:67–69).
Graph
Key connections
What do these labels mean?
Every connection on this page says what it rests on. The label tells you how directly the source supports it.
- Direct textual — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
- The source states this outright.
- Editorial thematic — Editorial thematic. IslamicGraph's own thematic grouping, not a claim of any source.
- IslamicGraph's own thematic grouping, not a claim of any source.
Select a connection to see the source it rests on.
- Sabrالصبر
Sources
Quran references
Al-Baqarah 2:45
AboutDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ
And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]
Al-Baqarah 2:153
AboutDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.
Ali 'Imran 3:200
AboutDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱصْبِرُوا۟ وَصَابِرُوا۟ وَرَابِطُوا۟ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.
Al-A'raf 7:128
AboutDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَٱلْعَٰقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
Said Moses to his people, "Seek help through Allah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous."
Yusuf 12:18
AboutDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍۢ كَذِبٍۢ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًۭا ۖ فَصَبْرٌۭ جَمِيلٌۭ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe."
Yusuf 12:90
AboutDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَآ أَخِى ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."
Al-Kahf 18:67
AboutDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًۭا
He said, "Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience.
Al-'Asr 103:3
AboutDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ
Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
Across the Quran
Counts include curated links and automatic matches on the Arabic word form.
Related
People
Ayyub
أيوبexemplified by
Job — the prophet remembered for turning to Allah during prolonged affliction.
Yaqub
يعقوبexemplified by
Jacob — also called Israel; father of Yusuf, whose patience in loss the Quran holds up as 'beautiful patience'.
Yusuf
يوسفexemplified by
Joseph — son of Yaqub, whose story of betrayal, patience and eventual authority in Egypt fills an entire surah.
Musa
موسىassociated with
Moses — the prophet sent to Pharaoh and to Bani Israel, whose story the Quran tells in more detail than any other.
Dhul-Kifl
ذو الكفلassociated with
A Quranic figure named among the patient and outstanding righteous.
Related
Events
Musa and Khidr
موسى والخضرsubject of
Musa seeks out a servant of Allah given special knowledge, follows him on three puzzling episodes, and learns the limits of his patience.
The sacrifice of Ibrahim's son
ذبح ابن إبراهيمexemplified by
Ibrahim's vision that he must sacrifice his son, the son's assent, and the ransom given in his place.
Related
Concepts
Taqwa
التقوىrelated to
God-consciousness — mindfulness of Allah that guards a person from what displeases Him; the Quran's measure of nobility.
Tawakkul
التوكلrelated to
Reliance on Allah — placing trust in Him after taking the means, as Musa did at the edge of the sea.
Salah
الصلاةrelated to
The prescribed prayer, commanded throughout the Quran and asked for by the prophets for their descendants.
Names of Allah
Divine Names
Names that occur in the passages linked to this page are separated from names associated with it thematically.
Occurring in linked passages
Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.- Al-Haqqالحق
103:3
Provenance
Relationships
What do these labels mean?
Every connection on this page says what it rests on. The label tells you how directly the source supports it.
- Direct textual — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
- The source states this outright.
- Editorial thematic — Editorial thematic. IslamicGraph's own thematic grouping, not a claim of any source.
- IslamicGraph's own thematic grouping, not a claim of any source.
Every edge in the graph, with the evidence behind it.
Sabrexemplified byAyyubDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.1 src
Evidence
- Quran Sad 38:44Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًۭا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَٰهُ صَابِرًۭا ۚ نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ
“[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].”
Open ayah 38:44 →
Sabrexemplified byYaqubDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
Yaqub answers the loss of Yusuf, and later of Binyamin, with the same words: "beautiful patience".
Evidence
- Quran Yusuf 12:18Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍۢ كَذِبٍۢ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًۭا ۖ فَصَبْرٌۭ جَمِيلٌۭ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
“And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe."”
"So patience is most fitting" (fa-sabrun jamil).
Open ayah 12:18 → - Quran Yusuf 12:83Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًۭا ۖ فَصَبْرٌۭ جَمِيلٌ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِى بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
“[Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allah will bring them to me all together. Indeed it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise."”
The same phrase after the second loss.
Open ayah 12:83 →
Sabrexemplified byYusufDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.1 src
The Quran states the lesson of Yusuf's story in his own words, joining taqwa and sabr.
Evidence
- Quran Yusuf 12:90Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَآ أَخِى ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
“They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."”
"Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient — indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."
Open ayah 12:90 →
Sabrsubject ofMusa and KhidrDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
The whole episode is framed by the servant's warning about patience and Musa's repeated failure to keep it.
Evidence
- Quran Al-Kahf 18:67Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًۭا
“He said, "Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience.”
Open ayah 18:67 → - Quran Al-Kahf 18:68Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ خُبْرًۭا
“And how can you have patience for what you do not encompass in knowledge?"”
"How can you have patience for what you do not encompass in knowledge?"
Open ayah 18:68 →
Sabrassociated withMusaDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
Musa commands his people to be patient under Pharaoh, and is himself tested in patience as a student.
Evidence
- Quran Al-A'raf 7:128Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَٱلْعَٰقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
“Said Moses to his people, "Seek help through Allah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous."”
"Seek help through Allah and be patient."
Open ayah 7:128 → - Quran Al-Kahf 18:67Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًۭا
“He said, "Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience.”
"Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience."
Open ayah 18:67 →
Sabrexemplified byThe sacrifice of Ibrahim's sonDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.1 src
The son answers his father by saying he will be found steadfast.
Evidence
- Quran As-Saffat 37:102Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعْىَ قَالَ يَٰبُنَىَّ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ فِى ٱلْمَنَامِ أَنِّىٓ أَذْبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ
“And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast."”
"You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast."
Open ayah 37:102 →
Sabrrelated toTaqwaDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
The Quran joins the two in a single conditional clause at the close of Surah Yusuf.
Evidence
- Quran Yusuf 12:90Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَآ أَخِى ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
“They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."”
"Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient..."
Open ayah 12:90 → - Quran Ali 'Imran 3:186Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
۞ لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ أَذًۭى كَثِيرًۭا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ
“You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination.”
"If you are patient and fear Allah — indeed, that is of the matters of determination."
Open ayah 3:186 →
Sabrrelated toTawakkulEditorial — Editorial thematic. IslamicGraph's own thematic grouping, not a claim of any source.2 src
Patience and reliance are distinct in the Quran but repeatedly appear together: the patient are told to rely on Allah, and reliance is what makes patience possible under pressure. The pairing below is IslamicGraph's editorial reading of the two ayat, not a statement that the Quran equates them.
Evidence
- Quran An-Nahl 16:42Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
“[They are] those who endured patiently and upon their Lord relied.”
"Those who endured patiently and upon their Lord relied." — the two qualities named in one clause.
Open ayah 16:42 → - Quran Ibrahim 14:12Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
وَمَا لَنَآ أَلَّا نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَىٰنَا سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاذَيْتُمُونَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
“And why should we not rely upon Allah while He has guided us to our [good] ways. And we will surely be patient against whatever harm you should cause us. And upon Allah let those who would rely [indeed] rely."”
"We will surely be patient against whatever harm you cause us. And upon Allah let those who would rely."
Open ayah 14:12 →
Sabrassociated withDhul-KiflDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.1 src
Evidence
- Quran Al-Anbiya 21:85Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ ۖ كُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ
“And [mention] Ishmael and Idrees and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient.”
Open ayah 21:85 →
Sabrrelated toSalahDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
The Quran pairs the two directly as the means of seeking help.
Evidence
- Quran Al-Baqarah 2:45Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ
“And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]”
"And seek help through patience and prayer."
Open ayah 2:45 → - Quran Luqman 31:17Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
يَٰبُنَىَّ أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأْمُرْ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَٱنْهَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ
“O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] determination.”
"O my son, establish prayer... and be patient over what befalls you."
Open ayah 31:17 →
Further reading
Recommended resources
Curated external material. These are recommendations, not evidence for anything in the graph.
- Website
Quran.com — Surah Yusuf
Quran.com
The complete surah, the Quran's longest continuous narrative and its central treatment of patience under trial.
- Website
Corpus Quran — Word-by-word grammar of Surah Al-Kahf
Quranic Arabic Corpus (University of Leeds)
Morphological and syntactic analysis of every word of Al-Kahf, including the passage on Musa and the servant of Allah.