Ramadan Day 4: Imbibing virtues of patience, discipline

One of the benefits of fasting as Ramadan fosters in us is patience. Through this abstinence from food and drink from dawn to sunset, immense prayers, standing in Taraweeh and Tahjud in supplication to Allah are all fostering self-discipline and patience.

The ability to hold oneself from reacting negatively to a difficult situation, holding the tongue from complaining and closing your eyes to the common indecent dressing.

The ability to get through our day without food and water, with the nasty behaviour of others while at work, while driving, navigating through the crazy traffic, or walking on the streets especially in mega cities such as Lagos where you have to contend with all kinds of insanity, transferred aggression, uncouth language in major cities. We just have not only to show patience (sabr), we have to exude massive discipline commitment to guard our words, despite being provoked.

For most part during Ramadan, our level of sabr (patience) is one of the main aspects that will be tested in this Holy month. It is about dealing with everything with patience, from not getting angry at situations.

Patience has great status in the sight of Allah Almighty and in Islam. Allah mentions the word sabr in several places of the Quran. Almighty said in the Holy Quran: "Surely, Allah is with those who have patience."

By comporting ourselves and displaying immense patience especially when your temperament is tested by people in Ramadan in order to avoid certain troubles as consequences of acts of impatience.

If your patience is tested, you can only say: "I am fasting" and walk away. This will lead us to have a more positive mindset towards life that is more conducive to the lifestyle of a Muslim as ordained by Allah.

Islam is a perfect way of life that teaches us the best way in all aspects of life. We can use this period to imbibe this virtue towards every difficult situation of life.