Example of Patience
Hazrat Habeeb bin Abi Thabit narrates, “Hazrat Abu Ayub (ra) once came to Amir Muawiyah and complained about an outstanding debt. Amir Muawiyah took no notice of what pleased Hazrat Abu Ayub (ra) but instead turned his attention to what displeased him”, i.e. he overlooked Hazrat Abu Ayub’s predicament and instead turned his attention to what had displeased him.
“Upon this, Hazrat Abu Ayub Ansari (ra) said, ‘I heard the Holy Prophet (sa) say, “Later on, you will see that people’s priorities will change.”’ Amir Muawiyah stated, ‘What did the Holy Prophet (sa) command you to do in such circumstances?’ Hazrat Abu Ayub (ra) replied, ‘The Holy Prophet (sa) instructed us to demonstrate patience,’” i.e. when the priorities change and their requests are not heard, then they ought to demonstrate patience.
“Amir Muawiyah said, ‘Then you ought to show patience. If the Holy Prophet (sa) has instructed to demonstrate patience, then you should be patient.’ Hazrat Abu Ayub (ra) then stated, ‘By Allah! I will never make any request from you in the future.’ Hazrat Abu Ayub (ra) then moved to Basra and stayed with Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra). Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) emptied his house for him and said to him, ‘Most certainly I will extend the same hospitality to you just as you extended to the Holy Prophet (sa).’ Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) instructed his family to leave and said to Hazrat Abu Ayub, ‘Whatever is in the house belongs to you.’ He also gave him 40,000 dirhams and 20 servants.”
He made other arrangements for himself and not only gave him 40,000 dirhams, but also 20 servants.
(Kanz al-Ummal, Vol. 13, p. 614-615, Hazrat Abu Ayub Ansari, Hadith 37570, Maktabat Mu‘assisat al-Risalah, Beirut, 1985)