When Others Harm Us

Imām Ibn Taimiyyah, may Allāh have mercy on him, said:

[One particular] kind [of patience is a slave of Allāh] having patience with what happens to him through [other] people’s actions¹ upon his wealth, honor, or [own] person; this type [of harm that happens out of a person’s own control] is very difficult to be patient with because the soul is conscious of someone causing harm to it, and it hates being overcome, so it seeks revenge.

No one can be patient with this type [of harm] other than the prophets and the very truest of their followers.

¹as opposed to what happens to him from Allah’s decree alone, like sickness (tr.)

Jāmiʿ Al-Masāʾil, vol. 1, p. 167.