Prophet Ayyub (A.S.)
Quran References:
Prophet Ayyub (AS) is mentioned 4 times in the following verses of the Quran:
(Quran, 4:163, 6:84, 21:83, 38:41)
Praise of Ayyub’s Patience:
A group of angels were discussing Allah’s human creatures and one angel said: the best creature on Earth today is Ayyub, a man of noble character who displays great patience and always remembers his Lord. He is an excellent model for the worshippers of Allah. In return, his Lord has blessed him with a long life and plenty of servants.
Shaytan, hearing this, was annoyed and he planned to tempt Ayyub (AS) into disbelief. He began to whisper into his ear, but the Prophet of Allah would not let the evil thoughts tempt him.
Shaytan began to hate Ayyub (AS) even more and he went to Allah SWT and said: Ayyub is only glorifying you, so you do not take his wealth away.
Shaytan said: If you remove his wealth, he will stop praying.
Allah SWT told Shaytan that Ayyub (AS) was one of his most sincere worshippers and said that his worship came from his heart and had nothing to do with materialistic things.
Test of Ayyub’s Wealth:
To prove Ayyub’s sincerity and patience, Allah SWT allowed Shaytan to do whatever to his wealth.
Shaytan then destroyed all of his worldly possessions. After doing this, he went to Ayyub (AS) in the form of an old man and said: All your wealth is lost. Some people say it is because you gave too much charity or because you are wasting your time with your continuous prayers to Allah.
Ayyub (AS) replied: what Allah had taken away from me belongs to Him.
Prophet Ayyub (AS) then prostrated to Allah SWT.
Test of Ayyub’s Children:
Shaytan then went back to Allah SWT and said: I have stripped Ayyub’s possessions, but he is still grateful to You. The real test of a parent is through his children, you will see how Ayyub rejects you.
Allah SWT granted Shaytan authority but warned him that it still would not reduce his faith.
Shaytan shook the foundations of Ayyub’s house, and it crashed and killed his children. He then approached him in the form of a man and said: the circumstances in which your children died were sad. Surely, your Lord is not rewarding you properly for your prayers.
Ayyub (AS) replied: Allah sometimes gives and sometimes takes. I will remain firm in my belief and remain thankful to my creator.
Prophet Ayyub (AS) once again prostrated to Allah SWT.
Test of Ayyub’s Health:
Shaytan went back to Allah SWT and said: His children are dead, but he is still healthy and as long as he enjoys good health, he will continue to worship You in the hope of regaining his wealth and producing more children. Grant me authority over his body so I can weaken it. He will surely neglect worshipping You and will become disobedient.
Allah SWT granted him authority over his body but not his soul, intellect or heart.
Shaytan then filled his body with diseases until it was reduced to just little skin and bone. Despite this, Prophet Ayyub (AS) remained strong in his faith patiently handling all of the hardships he faced without complaining.
Prophet Ayyub’s close friends and family left him, but his wife remained by his side.
Every single organ was damaged apart from his heart and tongue. However, he continued to Glorify Allah throughout the days and nights.
Trial Through His Wife:
Shaytan now went to Ayyub’s wife and said: where is your husband?
She pointed at his lifeless body and Shaytan reminded her of the days when he had good health, wealth and children.
She told her husband: How long are we going to bear this torture from our Lord? Why don’t you call upon Allah to remove the suffering.
Ayyub (AS) replied: Shaytan must have whispered to you and made you dissatisfied. Tell me how long I enjoyed health and wealth? His wife replied: Eighty years.
Prophet Ayyub (AS) asked: How long have I been suffering? She replied: Seven years.
Ayyub (AS) then said: I am ashamed to call my Lord to remove the hardship for I have not suffered longer than the years of good health and plenty. It seems your faith has weakened, and you are dissatisfied with the fate of Allah. If I ever regain health, I swear I will punish you with a hundred strokes. From this day forward, I forbid you to eat or drink anything by hand. Leave me alone and let my Lord do as He pleases.
Prophet Ayyub’s wife was saddened by this and she left him to live somewhere else.
Despite all the trials and tribulations he was facing, Prophet Ayyub (AS) continued to pray to Allah SWT.
Ayyub’s Relief from Allah SWT:
Allah SWT then instructed Ayyub (AS): strike the ground with your feet.
He did this and immediately, his good health was restored.
This miracle is mentioned in the Quran, where Allah SWT says: ‘Stamp your foot, this is a cool water spring for washing and drinking’. (Quran, 38:42)
Prophet Ayyub’s wife couldn’t stay away from her husband for much longer and eventually, she returned to him to beg for his forgiveness.
When she entered the house, she was amazed that he had regained his health and she embraced him and thanked Allah SWT for his mercy.
Prophet Ayyub (AS) then remembered he took an oath to punish his wife if he had regained his health and he knew that if he did not fulfil the oath, he would be guilty of breaking a promise to Allah SWT.
Out of His mercy, Allah advised him: ‘take in your hand a bundle of grass and strike therewith your wife and break not your oath’. (Quran, 38:44)
The Quran on Prophet Ayyub (AS):
Allah SWT mentions in the Quran how Ayyub (AS) called upon Him in his hardship. Prophet Ayyub said: ‘Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.’ (Quran, 21:83)
Prophet Ayyub (AS) was well-renowned for his patience and Allah SWT praised him in the Quran saying: ‘Indeed, We found him patient. What an excellent servant! Indeed, he was ever turning to Allah.’ (Quran, 38:44)