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Forbearance (الحِلم) is one of the most beautiful Islamic virtues. It’s about staying calm when anger rises, showing patience instead of revenge, and choosing wisdom over impulsiveness. Islam places great emphasis on this noble character, and the Prophet ﷺ himself was a perfect example of it.

In this article, we’ll explore:

• The meaning of ḥilm in Islam
• How to develop forbearance in daily life
• Its place in the Quran and Sunnah
• The virtues and rewards of being ḥaleem

Good Character in Islam

Islam, like other divine religions, encourages believers to uphold noble manners and avoid bad traits that harm both individuals and society. One of the Prophet’s ﷺ main missions was to perfect good character:

قال رسول الله ﷺ:
«إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ مَكَارِمَ الأَخْلاَقِ»
The Prophet ﷺ said: “I was only sent to perfect good character.”
(Narrated by al-Albani, al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, Hadith 45 – Authentic)

Among these noble qualities is ḥilm (forbearance).

What Does Ḥilm Mean?

• Linguistically: The root (ح ل م) has several meanings, including “a vision in a dream” and “deliberation.” Here it refers to patience and calmness instead of haste or impulsiveness.
• In Islamic terminology: Scholars described it as:
  • “Controlling oneself at the time of anger.” – al-Raghib al-Asfahani
  • “Avoiding revenge despite the ability to do so.” – al-Jahiz
  • “Showing calmness and wisdom when wronged.” – al-Jurjani

Al-Ḥaleem (The Forbearing) is also one of Allah’s Beautiful Names. Allah sees disobedience but does not hasten punishment, even though He has full power to do so.

Allah says:

﴿وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِمْ مَا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ﴾
“And if Allah were to punish the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon the earth any creature.”
(Surah al-Nahl, 16:61)

He also says:

﴿وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُ ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ﴾
“And know that Allah knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him. But know that Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing.”
(Surah al-Baqarah, 2:235)

Forbearance was also the quality of prophets, as Allah described Ibrahim (Abraham, عليه السلام):

﴿إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُّنِيبٌ﴾
“Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, grieving, and frequently turning to Allah.”
(Surah Hud, 11:75)

How to Cultivate Forbearance

Forbearance doesn’t just come naturally—it can be trained. Here’s how:

1. Practice until it becomes a habit.
   The Prophet ﷺ said:
   «إِنَّمَا العِلْمُ بِالتَّعَلُّمِ، وَإِنَّمَا الحِلْمُ بِالتَّحَلُّمِ…»
   “Knowledge is through learning, and forbearance is through practicing forbearance…”
   (al-Albani, al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, Hadith 342 – Hasan)
2. Reflect on its benefits.
   Remembering the rewards of ḥilm and the harms of anger makes it easier to stay calm.
3. Keep good company.
   Spend time with patient, wise people. Their manners will rub off on you.

The Status of Ḥilm in Islam

Forbearance has a high rank in Islam:

• One of Allah’s Names is Al-Ḥaleem.
• The Prophets and Companions were known for their forbearance.
• The Prophet’s ﷺ example at Ta’if: When he was rejected and mocked, the Angel of the Mountains offered to crush his enemies. Instead, the Prophet ﷺ forgave and said:

“I hope that Allah will bring forth from their descendants those who worship Allah alone and associate nothing with Him.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhari, Hadith 3231 – Authentic)

This shows his unmatched patience, mercy, and vision.

The Virtues and Benefits of Forbearance

Being ḥaleem brings countless blessings, both in this world and the Hereafter:

• Gaining Allah’s love and pleasure
• Winning people’s respect and admiration
• Removing hatred and preventing conflicts
• Silencing fools with calmness rather than arguments
• Building inner peace and strength

Final Thoughts

Forbearance is not weakness—it’s true strength. It transforms anger into wisdom, revenge into mercy, and conflict into peace. As Muslims, we are called to embody this divine quality and reflect it in our daily lives.

👉 If you’d like to strengthen your character through learning Quranic teachings, consider joining our online Quran classes. With personalized one-on-one lessons, you can learn not only to recite but also to live the Quran’s noble values like patience, mercy, and forbearance.

The Qur’an is the divine word of Allah ﷻ — revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, written in the Mus’haf, miraculous in its wording and meaning, and preserved through generations. One of the essential sciences related to the Qur’an is Tajweed — the art of reciting the Qur’an with precision and beauty.

Learning Tajweed helps Muslims recite the Qur’an the way it was revealed, with proper pronunciation, clarity, and respect. As Allah ﷻ says:

{الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَتْلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ}
“Those to whom We have given the Book recite it with its true recital.”
— Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:121

Let’s explore some of the most renowned books in this field and understand what Tajweed really means and why it matters.

📚 Most Famous Books on Tajweed Rules

Many scholars have authored detailed works on Tajweed. Here are some of the most widely recognized and respected books:

• التحديد في الإتقان والتجويد – by Abu ‘Amr al-Dani
• التمهيد في علم التجويد – by Ibn al-Jazari
• المقدمة الجزرية – by Ibn al-Jazari
• بغية المستفيد في علم التجويد – by Muhammad bin Badr al-Din Ibn Balban al-Hanbali
• العميد في علم التجويد – by Mahmoud Ali Bassa al-Masri
• هداية القاري إلى تجويد كلام الباري – by Abdul-Fattah al-Marsafi
• الوجيز في علم التجويد – by Mahmoud Sibawayh al-Badawi
• فتح رب البرية شرح المقدمة الجزرية – by Safwat Mahmoud Salem
• المختصر المفيد في علم التجويد – by Ismail bin Ibrahim al-Sharqawi
• غاية المريد في علم التجويد – by Atiyyah Qabil Nasr
• معلم التجويد – by Dr. Khalid al-Juraissi
• الميزان في أحكام تجويد القرآن – by Faryal Zakariya al-Abd
• القول السديد في علم التجويد – by Ali Allah bin Ali Abu al-Wafa
• تحفة الأطفال والغلمان في تجويد القرآن – by Sulayman al-Jamzuri

These books range from beginner-friendly texts to advanced treatises — perfect for every student of the Qur’an.

💬 What Does “Tajweed” Mean?

Let’s break it down:

• Linguistically, Tajweed (تجويد) comes from the root word jawwada (جوّد), meaning “to improve” or “to make better.” So, Tajweed means “enhancement” or “beautification.”
• Technically, scholars of Qur’anic sciences define Tajweed as: Giving each letter its due right — from articulation points (makharij) and inherent attributes (sifat), such as elevation, softness, merging (idgham), and clarity (izhar), while avoiding exaggeration or neglect.

As Ibn al-Jazari beautifully put it:

“إعطاء الحروف حقوقها، وترتيبها مراتبها، وردّ الحرف إلى مخرجه وأصله…”
“Giving each letter its due, organizing its levels, returning it to its origin, and articulating it gently as per its form — without excess or carelessness.”
— Ibn al-Jazari, Al-Tamhid fi ‘Ilm al-Tajweed, p. 47

⚖️ What’s the Ruling on Learning Tajweed?

Here’s where it gets interesting.

• Theoretical knowledge of Tajweed (like knowing its rules) is a communal obligation (fard kifayah). Not every Muslim must learn it, but a group among the community must. Allah ﷻ says:

{وَما كانَ المُؤمِنونَ لِيَنفِروا كافَّةً فَلَولا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرقَةٍ مِنهُم طائِفَةٌ لِيَتَفَقَّهوا فِي الدّينِ}
“And it is not for the believers to go forth [to battle] all at once. For there should separate from every division of them a group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the religion.”
— Surah At-Tawbah, 9:122

• However, practical application of certain Tajweed rules is individually obligatory (fard ‘ayn) — especially rules that protect the correct meaning, like:
  • Distinguishing between similar-sounding letters
  • Correct articulation that avoids distortion of words
• As for advanced Tajweed (like fine-tuning pronunciation or beautification), it’s recommended but not obligatory.

In summary:

🌟 Want to Learn Tajweed the Right Way?

If you’re inspired to dive deeper into the art of Quran recitation, the best way to learn Tajweed is through one-on-one guidance from qualified teachers.

We offer online Quran classes tailored to your level — whether you’re just starting or looking to master advanced rules. Learn at your pace, from the comfort of home, with native Arabic instructors who specialize in Tajweed and recitation.

👉 Explore our online Quran classes and start your journey today.