sabar

Sabar is a term used in several languages of the Middle East and South Asia that is commonly translated as patience, perseverance, or forbearance. It describes the capacity to endure hardship, restrain impulse, and continue toward long-term goals. In many Muslim-majority cultures, sabar is regarded as a central ethical quality and a practical virtue in daily life.

Etymology and usage are rooted in the Arabic word ṣabr, meaning patience or endurance, derived from a root associated with restraint. The noun ṣabr and related verb forms appear in classical Arabic texts and have entered other languages through religious and scholarly works. In Malay and Indonesian, sabar is borrowed from Arabic and used with the same general sense of patience.

In Islamic thought, sabar is a foundational ethical concept. It encompasses patience in accepting God’s decree, perseverance in obeying religious duties, and restraint in refraining from forbidden actions. The Qur’an and prophetic traditions describe sabar as essential to faith and often connect it with prayer and gratitude. Scholarly discussions commonly distinguish sabar by context, such as endurance in hardship, constancy in worship, and restraint from sin.

Beyond religious discourse, sabar appears as a widely understood virtue in everyday speech. In Arabic-influenced and Malay-speaking communities, it is commonly invoked as advice or encouragement—urging others to remain calm, steadfast, and hopeful in the face of challenges.

See also: Patience, Endurance, Sabr (Islamic term).