Sabr

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A concept in Islamic tradition denoting patience and endurance in the face of adversity or hardship
2. An important virtue emphasizing self-control and perseverance during difficult times
3. A principle highlighting the significance of remaining steadfast and tranquil amidst trials and challenges

Etymology: Sabr is an Arabic noun meaning patience, and its root, s-b-r, carries a more physical sense than the English word does. The root's core idea is "to bind" or "to restrain," and Arabic has long used it for holding something in place. The same root gives "sabara," meaning to tie up or confine, and the notion of patience as restraining oneself grew naturally from that image of binding the self in place under strain. That physical origin matters because the virtue was framed as an active discipline rather than passive waiting. In the Quran, sabr appears dozens of times, often paired with gratitude or prayer, and Islamic ethical writing from the medieval period treated it as one of the central qualities of the believer. Scholars often divided it into patience in obedience, patience in avoiding sin, and patience in accepting hardship.

Synonyms: patience, endurance, perseverance, fortitude, tolerance

Antonyms: impatience, intolerance, hastiness