In times of trials and tribulations, patient perseverance and courage is required. There are dozens of words used synonymously with courage: audacity, fearlessness, heroism, valor, fortitude, bravery, resolution, spirit, boldness, and, colloquially, guts [Merriam-Webster Dictionary].

Courage is the mental or moral strength to venture, challenge, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty

Developing courage is an important attribute, and is manifested in a variety of ways;

• “Courage is not merely the physical strength of the body; a man may be strong but cowardly. Rather, courage is the strength that one has in his heart. In a battle, victory is brought about by both strength of the body and courage of the heart.” [Ibn Taymiyyah]
• To see what is right and not to do it, is lack of courage, it is cowardice. [Confucius]

Courage should not be confused with Indiscretion

When we think of courageous people, we don't think of those who take great risks to show off, to become famous or to receive some personal gain. We think of those whose hearts directed them, in spite of fear, to accomplish something great, often times for others. Note well that …

• though courage is often equated with assertiveness, courage should never be confused with thoughtless imprudence.
• the mere facing of danger does not make a person brave. (In a fit of anger or bravado a man may plunge headlong into danger; but he is not really brave, for he has allowed his uncontrolled passion to take control of his action. The cashier who laughs in the face of a robber is stupid not brave.)
• genuine courage is the moral virtue which prompts a person to undergo hardships, face dangers, be patient, and support the efforts of human struggle according to the demands of justice and reason Sayedna ‘Ali said; شَجاعة الجُبن منقصة و الصبر cowardice is a defect in character and patience requires courage.
• it is not courage to act according to the demands of ignorance, uncontrolled emotions, indiscretion or mistaken enthusiasm.
• Courage does not imply absence of fear. The Sufi master Ma’ruf al-Karkhi said; Courage is the mastery of fear, not the absence of fear. Courage is the judgment that something else is more important than fear. Ibn El-Qayyim al-Jawzi explained that "courage comes from the heart being stable at the time of fear.”
• "The real tests of courage are … the inner tests, like remaining faithful when nobody's looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty, like standing alone when you're misunderstood.” [Author, Charles Swindoll]

Courage is the Cornerstone of Character

The Ancient Greek philosopher, Plato suggested that the four cardinal virtues are wisdom, courage, self-control and justice. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq stated that the cardinal virtues are …

Courage ~ Manifestation of Conviction

History is filled with accounts of individuals who reached deep inside themselves to find the courage of their convictions to ‘do the right thing’ when all around them their peers and friends were doing otherwise. They realize that those who merely follow the crowd usually get no further than the crowd. The person who walks alone is likely to end up in places no one has ever been before. “Moral courage is the courage of one's convictions, the courage to see things through. The world is in a constant conspiracy against the brave. It's the age-old struggle--the roar of the crowd on one side and the voice of your conscience on the other.” [General Douglas MacArthur] Courage motivates one to do what is best despite the challenges. In the absence of courage, cowards would rule everything. “All that is needed for evil to triumph, is for good people to do nothing.” [Philosopher, Edmund Burke] Courage is indeed a cornerstone of good character.

Wise ones have said that courage is contagious. When a brave person takes a stand, the backbones of others are stiffened. It is the commitment of some (often of one) that motivates others to search their conscience and to introspect the level of their own convictions. “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” [Roman playwright, Seneca] We thus note that the ultimate measure of a person is not where he/she stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he/she stands at times of challenge and controversy. [Martin Luther King Jr.]

{Reflect on the Prophet’s response when the Quraysh wanted to bribe him (and later threaten him) when he first preached his message in Makkah}

Courage and Cowardice

Intelligent human action should be intentional, purposeful and goal-directed. So, when pain, challenges, injustice or danger intrude, it is difficult to sustain a subdued equilibrium. In fact, a response of heightened awareness and extra-ordinary strength of character may be required. Lack of spirit or ignoble fear in the face of such challenge is considered cowardice, and cowardice is unbecoming of a Believer. The Prophet therefore prayed …

اللهم اني اعوذ بك من الهَم و الحُزن و العَجز و الكَسَل و البُخل و الجُبن و ضَلَع ِ الدين و غلبة الرجالO Allah! I seek refuge in Thee from anxiety, grief, incapacity, laziness, stinginess, cowardice; from the burden of debt and from the domination of people.

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By: Br. Sadullah Khan

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