I spent a good deal of 2022 contemplating when you pass Sabr and enter willful AND intentional suffering. When does it cross over from Sabr into downright stupidity and disrepect to yourself. How do navigate patience in a relationships without allowing others to violate your boundaries?

Are we suppose to always turn the other cheek? I think of the Prophet (pbuh) in Taif, as thousands swarmed around him hounding him with rocks and he gracefully ignored it. But then I also think, HE WAS A PROPHET. He had the inside scoop that those hurting him would spawn generations of Muslims.

But what if the rocks pounded against you are your loved ones whose tongue utter the same La illah illalah as yours? How do you balance between being patient and protecting the ties of kinship, when really you’d want nothing more than to be the three fates and sever that thread. Death to those relationships. Perish and leave me alone.

I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand Sabr, but what I do know is the little I have of it is wearing thin.