🌙 A Story of Sabr: The Old Olive Tree

In a small village nestled among dusty hills, there lived an old man named Abdul Hakeem. He owned a single olive tree that his father and grandfather had tended before him. This tree was no ordinary tree — it was more than 100 years old, its roots gripping the earth firmly, its branches wide and giving shade to passersby.

Every year, the olives from this tree would be pressed into oil, enough to feed Abdul Hakeem’s family and share with his poor neighbours. But one year, a harsh drought struck. The land cracked, the well dried up, and the leaves on the olive tree began to wither.

His neighbours said, “Cut it down, old man. Sell the wood. It’s over.”

But Abdul Hakeem remembered the words of Allah:

“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:153)

So he refused to give up. Every day, he carried buckets of water from a distant spring. He whispered du‘as under the shade of his dying tree. He missed meals so his grandchildren could eat, yet never complained. One day, when his arms were tired and his back ached, his grandson asked him, “Why do you not give up, grandfather?”

Abdul Hakeem smiled through his wrinkles and replied, “Because our test is to trust Allah when nothing makes sense, and our reward is with Him alone.”

That year, the rain returned. The olive tree, thought dead, burst with new leaves. Its fruit that season was more than any year before. Abdul Hakeem pressed the oil, filled many jars, and distributed them to the poor — just as his father and grandfather had done.

Patience didn’t just save a tree; it revived a legacy of trust in Allah’s promise.

🌿 Reflection Questions:

1️⃣ When was the last time you faced hardship and chose patience over giving up?
2️⃣ What is one thing you are struggling with right now that requires sabr?
3️⃣ How can you remind yourself that Allah is always with the patient?
4️⃣ Have you shared a story of sabr with your children or friends to inspire them?

✨ May Allah grant us all the strength to stand firm like the old olive tree, rooted in patience and trust in His mercy. Ameen.