Patience and prayers are said to be the two doors through which Divine help is received: “O you who believe, seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely Allāh is with the patient” (2:153).
Courage was another great quality on which stress was laid. The heart in which there was fear of God could not entertain fear of any other than God, and this makes a Muslim fearless in the face of severest opposition: “Those to whom men said: Surely people have gathered against you, so fear them; but this increased their faith, and they said: Allāh is sufficient for us and He is an excellent Guardian … (So) no evil touched them and they followed the pleasure of Allāh … It is the devil who only frightens his friends, but fear them not and fear Me, if you are believers” (3:173-175). “Fear not, surely I am with you — I do hear and see” (20:46). “Those who deliver the messages of Allāh and fear Him, and fear none but Allāh, and Allāh is Sufficient to take account” (33:39). “Surely those who say, Our Lord is Allāh, then continue on the right way, on them is no fear, nor shall they grieve” (46:13). “Now surely the friends of Allāh, they have no fear, nor do they grieve” (10:62). It was on account of their fearlessness and great moral courage that the Muslims, in the Holy Prophet’s time, defended themselves in battles against three to ten times their numbers and won on all occasions. Later, in the battles they had to fight against Persia and the Roman Empire, their numbers bore no comparison with the enemy forces, and they were almost always victorious. The courage which they showed on the battle-fields was in fact due to their firm faith.
But while facing so boldly all opposition to the cause of truth, the Muslims were required to develop the quality of humility: “And go not about in the land exultingly …” (17:37); “And turn not thy face away from people in contempt, nor go about in the land exultingly. Surely Allāh loves not any self-conceited boaster” (31:18); “Surely He loves not the proud” (16:23). Humility, in fact, should be deeply rooted in a Muslim’s heart because of the five daily prayers, when all standing on terms of perfect equality bow down and prostrate themselves before their Lord as one body. The Holy Prophet’s own example is a beacon-light in this respect. In his dealings with others he was humble and never placed himself on a higher pedestal. And