The Oxford English Dictionary defines resilience as “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.” It also describes it as the ability of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched or compressed — in essence, the power to “bounce back.”
Resilience, therefore, represents the human capacity to endure hardship, adapt to change, and emerge stronger from trials. It is not a fixed trait but a dynamic quality — one that can be cultivated, strengthened, and refined over time.
In Islam, this notion of resilience — the strength to recover and persevere through hardship — is embodied in the concept of ṣabr (patience and steadfastness). Its complementary state is shukr (gratitude), and together they form two essential dimensions of the believer’s spiritual journey. The Qur’an and Sunnah teach that life constantly alternates between moments of ease and difficulty, and that a believer should embody both gratitude in times of comfort and patience in times of trial.
The Prophet ﷺ beautifully described this balance when he said:
“How wonderful is the affair of the believer! For everything that happens to him is good — and this applies to no one but the believer. If he experiences ease, he is grateful and that is good for him; and if he experiences hardship, he is patient, and that too is good for him.” (Muslim)
The scholars of tafsīr have noted that Sūrat al-Fātiḥah, the opening chapter of the Qur’an, encapsulates the essence of the entire Revelation. A deeper reflection reveals that it revolves around two central themes: shukr and duʿāʾ (supplication). This mirrors the two states of human life — comfort and adversity. In ease, we express gratitude and praise; in hardship, we turn to Allah ﷻ in patience and prayer. Thus, the rhythm of a believer’s life oscillates between shukr and ṣabr — gratitude and resilience.
Scholars have further categorised ṣabr (resilience) into three distinct types:
- Resilience in Performing Good Deeds:
At times, one may feel unmotivated to pray, fast, give charity, attend the masjid, or recite the Qur’an. Yet, when a person pushes through this hesitation and fulfils these righteous acts, that persistence is a form of resilience in obedience to Allah ﷻ.
- Resilience in Resisting Evil:
Temptations often arise — the pull towards sin, dishonesty, or moral compromise. When one restrains the self from wrongdoing, suppresses impulses, and maintains integrity, it is resilience through self-control.
- Resilience During Calamity:
Life inevitably brings moments of loss — illness, financial hardship, rejection, divorce, or the passing of a loved one. In such times, true resilience lies in remaining patient, refraining from sin, and recognising that every trial is a divine test meant to refine one’s soul.
In the first form, resilience manifests through action — doing what is right.
In the second, through restraint — avoiding what is wrong.
And in the third, through acceptance — trusting Allah’s decree while maintaining composure and faith.
The common thread across all three forms is the unwavering consciousness of Allah ﷻ (taqwā). Resilience in Islam is not mere endurance; it is spiritual strength — the ability to stay connected to Allah, to uphold virtue in adversity, and to emerge from hardship with faith unshaken.
Through this program, we aim to explore and instill these forms of ṣabr in a way that resonates with our youth — helping them not only understand resilience intellectually, but embody it as a natural, God-conscious response to life’s challenges.
