After failing to make Ayyoob give up his worship of Allaah after
destroying his wealth and children, Iblees (Satan), may Allaah curse
him, called on Allaah: "O my Lord! Ayyoob's wealthis gone, his
children are dead, but he is still healthy in body, and as long as he
enjoys good health he will continue toworship You in the hope of
regaining his wealth and producing more children. Grant me authority
over his body so that I may weaken it. He will surely neglect
worshipping You and willthus become disobedient."
Allaah wanted to teach Iblees a lesson that Ayyoob was a devoted
servant of his Lord, so He granted Iblees his third request but placed
a condition: "Igive you authority over his body but not over his soul,
intellect or heart, for in these places residesthe knowledge of Me
andMy religion."
Armed with this new authority, Iblees began to take revenge on
Ayyoob's body, and filled it with disease until it was reduced to mere
skinand bone and he suffered severe pain. But through all the
suffering, Ayyoob remained strong in his faith, patiently bearing all
the hardships without complaining.
Allaah's righteous servantdid not despair or turn toothers for help
but remained hopeful of Allaah's mercy. Even closerelatives and
friends deserted him. Only his kind, loving wife stayed with him. In
his hour of need, she showered her kindness on him and cared for him.
She remained his sole companion and comforter through the many years
of suffering.
The life-summary of Ayyoob
Imaam Ibn 'Asaakir narrated: "Ayyoob was a man having much wealth of
all kinds; beasts, slaves, sheep, vastlands, and many children.All
those favours were withdrawn from him andhe was physically afflicted
as well. Never a single organ of his was sound, except his heart and
tongue, with both ofwhich he glorified Allaah,the Almighty,
constantly, day and night. His disease lasted for a long time until
his visitors felt disgusted with him. His friends kept away from him
and people abstained from visiting him. No one felt sympathy for him
except his wife. She took good care of him, knowing his former charity
and pity for her."
Therefore, Iblees became desperate. He consulted his helpers, but they
could not advise him. They asked: "How is it that your cleverness
cannot work against Ayyoob, yet you succeeded in misleading Aadam, the
father of man, out of Paradise ?"
Iblees went to Ayyoob's wife in the form of a man. "Where is your
husband?" he asked her. She pointed to an almost lifeless form
crumbled onthe bed and said: "There he is, suspended between life and
death." Iblees reminded her of the days when Ayyoob had good health,
wealth and children. Suddenly, the painful memories of years of
hardship overcame her, and she burst into tears. She said to Ayyoob
:"How long are you going to bear this torture from our Lord? Are we to
remain without wealth, children or friends forever? Why don't you call
upon Allaah to remove this suffering?"
Ayyoob sighed, and ina soft voice replied:"Iblees must have whispered
to you and made you dissatisfied. Tell me, how long did I enjoy good
health and riches?" She replied:"Eighty years." Then Ayyoob asked:
"How long have I been suffering like this?" She replied: "Seven
years." Ayyoob then told her:"In that case I am ashamed to call on my
Lord to remove the hardship, for I have not suffered longer than the
years of my good health and plenty. It seems your faith has weakened
and you are dissatisfied with the fate of Allaah. If I everregain
health, I swear I will punish you with a hundred strokes! From this
day onward, I forbid myself to eat or drink anything by your hand.
Leave me alone and let my Lord do with me as Hepleases."
Crying bitterly and with aheavy heart, she had no choice but to leave
him and seek shelter elsewhere. In this helpless state, Ayyoob turned
to Allaah, not to complain, but to seek His mercy, saying (what
means): "…'Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the most
merciful of the merciful.' SoWe responded to him and removed what
afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the
like thereof with them as a mercy from Us and a reminder for the
worshippers [of Allaah]." [Quran 21:83-84]
Almighty Allaah records Prophet Ayyoob's invocation in the verses
(which mean): "And remember Our servant Ayyoob, when he called to his
Lord: 'Indeed, Satan has touched me with hardship and torment.' [So he
was told]: 'Strike [the ground] with your foot; this is a [spring for]
a cool bath and drink.' And We granted him his family and a like
[number] with them as mercy from Us and a reminder forthose of
understanding." [Quran 38:41-43]
Ayyoob obeyed this instruction, and almost immediately his good health
was restored. Meanwhile, his faithful wife could no longer bear to be
parted from her husband and returned to him to beg his forgiveness,
desiring to serve him. On enteringher house, she was amazed at the
sudden change: Ayyoob was again healthy! She embraced him and thanked
Allaah for His mercy.
Ayyoob was worried, for he had taken an oath to punish her with a
hundred strokes if he had regained health but he had no desire to hurt
her. He knew if he did not fulfil the oath, he would be guilty of
breaking a promise to Allaah. Therefore, out of His wisdom and mercy,
Allaah came to the assistance of His faithful servant and advised him
with (what means): "…'Takein your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike
with it and do not break your oath.' Indeed, We found him patient, an
excellent servant. Indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to
Allaah]." [Quran 38:44]
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said: " While Ayyoob was naked,
taking a bath,a swarm of gold locusts fell on him, and so he started
collecting them in his garment. His Lord called him: "O Ayyoob! Have I
not made you too rich to need what you see?" He said: "Yes, My Lord!
But I cannot shun Your [Al-Bukhaari]
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