Quiddity and the Place of Beautiful Patience: Rereading the Story of Ya’qub

The story of the prophets in the Qur'an is based on modeling and familiarity with their spiritual experiences for other audiences; we should not see this story in the time and place of the past. However, these prophets had different ups and downs in their lives and perceptions of revelation, such as what Lot and Abraham had at the same time in dealing with Lot's people, or what Aaron and Moses had in dealing with deviation of Samaritan. Or he had an esoteric experience of appearance and interior, like Khiḍr and Musa, one of whom saw the issues behind the scenes and the other the issues of appearance. Therefore, what is left of their states in the words of revelation is all in order to explain the way and show the natural difference between the prophets with different inner experiences. Prophets, who, in spite of their infallibility in carrying out their main mission, had different ranks and degrees in understanding their revelation, qualities and personal life. And all their actions and qualities were not evaluated from the same divine point of view, but this does not mean that Ya’qub did not wait patiently in this hard and heavy test. Ya’qub’s hardship and heaviness, which was an inner pain and a hard expectation that lasted for several decades, and although he had more or less (according to that dream: O my little boy, don’t tell your dream to your brothers) saw the future of Yusuf, but he was waiting for him. Therefore, sometimes in the long path of life, he was faced with stress and a feeling of loneliness; so, it is natural to accept that Prophet Ya'qub, by suppressing his anger for his conspirator children and keeping the secrets of prophecy and not revealing it to the people in practice, he has had all the conditions of beautiful patience. Therefore, the report of his patience in the Qur'an is a confirmation of this method of patience and a model of the perfect patience in such circumstances, because in the explicit expression of the Qur'an, the believers are invited to be patient with the behavior of the prophets in view of the differences in these scenes. And the patience of Prophet Ya'qub in this regard can be considered one of the most amazing ways of life with all its features. Therefore, the message of this story to today men is a good news of successfulness if they do patience against calamities and problems of life, especially family problems, as patience is the suffering of family strife and collective conspiracy and sometimes self-restraint in the face of lies and deception and showing truth and righteousness

Beautiful patience is one of the moral concepts in the culture and teachings of the Qur'an. This concept indicates a degree and level of self-control. Much has been said about the patience of Ya’qub, who twice reminded himself of the beautiful patience and seeking it. The question is what is beautiful patience He is asking for it? Is beautiful patience not an expression of perseverance and endurance of hardships, specially at the level of the prophets? In response to questions and critiques of commentators, there are two opposing theories: one says that his work was not against beautiful patience and the other says that we must accept that Prophet Ya’qub’s reaction, in parting with his lost child, was accompanied by manifestations of impatience that do not correspond to beautiful patience. The pattern of "Beautiful Patience" in the Qur'an should be sought in the prophets’ tolerance such as Abraham, Ayyūb and the last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Therefore, the report of his patience in the Qur'an is not a confirmation of this method of patience and a model of a perfect patience. For in the explicit expression of the Qur'an, the believers have been invited to the manner of patience and the behavior of the ʿUlu al-ʿAzm prophets. So, is the patience of Prophet Ya'qub (PBUH) may be evaluated in this regard? How is the expression of such manner? This article, after explaining the meaning of patience in the words and sayings of the commentators, narrators, opinions and evidences, explains these two statements by interpreting the verses of Surah Yusuf and expressing subtle points. It then deals with judging and criticizing the second opinion and what can be learned from this story.

Keywords: Patience, Prophets as Role Model, Ya’qub, Moral Concepts, Self-Control Skills.