“Patience is the key to relief.”

Often credited to ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, and sometimes to the Prophet (peace be upon him), but we found no early source that ties it to either. Al-Maydani lists it among the proverbs of the muwalladun — the later, post-classical speakers — in Majma‘ al-Amthal, and az-Zamakhshari records a close relative: patience is the key to victory, and reliance on Allah the key to relief. The meaning is firmly grounded all the same: “indeed, with hardship will be ease” (94:5).