The Dream is the Lifeline

In an ancient battlefield, a knight besieged the enemy in an impregnable fortress. Many days passed without food or water, and the earth seemed to close in on him despite its vastness. Yet he did not surrender his sword, nor did he cry out in despair. Each morning, he would recite: “O Allah, You are Al-Haleem (The Forbearing); so unite our hearts, and make us forbearing as You were forbearing toward those who wronged us.” On a moonlit night, the enemy opened the fortress gate due to internal discord, entering victorious without a single drop of blood being shed. The victory was not achieved by the sword, but by forbearance that mirrored the name of Allah, Al-Haleem—who does not hasten punishment upon His servants despite His power. This reminds us of the popular saying: “He who waits, sees.” Forbearance combined with patience allows us to perceive what the hasty cannot. Al-Hasan al-Basri famously said: “Indeed, Allah delays but does not neglect.” Forbearance is not weakness; rather, it is a strength that conceals profound wisdom. How beautiful is the poet’s verse that resonates with this meaning: “And patience like the patience of the days that pass us by… We take account, and Allah takes account.” A psychological note: Forbearance (Hilm) is not about dreaming; it is about granting yourself the same forbearance that Allah grants His servants—by allowing yourself time to heal and not punishing yourself for every misstep. The name Al-Haleem teaches us that true strength lies not in swift retaliation, but in deliberation that allows wisdom to crystallize. If reality exhausts you, be forbearing with yourself, for forbearance combined with patience is the only lifeline from drowning in despair.