Is it permissible to supplicate for patience, out of fear that Allah might answer by sending down a great tribulation upon the supplicant?

Patience is a praiseworthy trait, extolled by Allah, and it is a divine grant bestowed upon whomever He wills among His servants. Cultivating patience is achieved through supplication and seeking Allah's help. Patience has categories: patience in obedience, patience in refraining from disobedience, and patience with painful decrees.

Asking Allah for patience is commendable, and it means asking Allah to grant the servant patience in His obedience, in refraining from His disobedience, and with His painful decrees. This request brings much good.

The hadith narrated by Al-Tirmidhi: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) heard a man asking Allah for patience, so he said: 'You have asked Allah for affliction, so ask Him for well-being,'" is weak. Even if it were authentic, it prohibits asking for patience that necessitates asking for affliction.

However, asking for patience in the face of calamities that have already occurred is a good matter. Requesting patience before the occurrence of affliction is a matter of prohibition, but after it has occurred, there is no harm; rather, it is commendable, like the supplication: "Our Lord, pour upon us patience."

Therefore, supplicating for patience with the intention of all its types, or supplicating for patience in the face of afflictions that have already occurred, is good and there is no harm in it.