Prophet Ayoub
Monday, 12 July 2010
Written by Islamstory
Allah Almighty declared:
{That was Our proof which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise whom We will in degrees. Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All Knowing. And We bestowed upon him Isaac and Jacob, each of them We guided and before him, We guided Noah, and among his progeny David, Solomon, Ayoub , Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. Thus do We reward the good doers.} [Ch 6:83-84]
Allah's Praises of Ayoub
Allah the Almighty praised His worshipper Ayoub in His Glorious Quran: {Truly! We found him patient. How excellent a slave! Verily, he was ever oft returning in repentance to Us!} [Ch 38:44]
Ayoub was a man having much wealth of all kinds; beats, slaves, sheep, vast lands of Haran and many children. All those favors were taken from him and he was physically afflicted as well. Never a single organ was sound except his heart and tongue, with both of which he glorified Allah the Almighty all the time 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.
The Prophet Muhammad said: ”The most in their suffering among the people are the prophets, then the best, then the (next) best. One is afflicted in accordance with his deen (faith). If his deen is firm his affliction is hard, and if his deen is weak, his affliction is light. Indeed, one would be so much subjected to adversity until he walks among the people without any sins.” [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi]
Ayoub's Health is restored
Ayoub turned to Allah, not to complain but to seek His mercy:
{Verily, distress has seized me and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy." so We answered his call, and we removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him (that he had lost), and the like thereof along with them as a mercy from Ourselves and a Reminder for all who worship Us.} [Ch 21:83-84]
Almighty Allah also instructed: {Remember Our slave Ayoub , when he invoked His Lord saying: "Verily! Satan has touched me with distress (by losing my health) and torment (by losing my wealth)!" Allah said to him: "Strike the ground with your foot: This is a spring of water to wash in and cool and a refreshing drink." And We gave him back his family, and along with them the like thereof as a Mercy from Us, and a reminder for those who understand.} [Ch 38:41-43]
It is said that one day when Ayoub was still sick, his wife could not find anything to feed him so she cut her long hair and sold it and bought with its price some food for her husband. But Ayoub discovered what she did and said: I swear I will punish you with a hundred strokes!
Ayoub was not worried, for he had taken an oath to punish her with hundred strokes if he had regained health but he had no desire to hurt her. He knew if he did not fulfill the oath, he would be guilty of breaking a promise to Allah. Therefore in His wisdom and mercy, Allah came to the assistance of His faithful servant and advised him: {take in your hand a bundle of thin grass and strike therewith your wife, and break not your oath. Truly! We found him patient. How excellent a slave! Verily, he was ever oft returning in repentance to Us!} [Ch 38:44]
Prophet Muhammad's Account on Ayoub
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"While Ayoub was naked, taking a bath, a swarm of gold locusts fell on him, and he started collecting them in his garment. His Lord called him: "O Ayoub! Have I not made you too rich to need what you see?" He said: Yes, My Lord! But I cannot shun Your Blessings." (al-Bukhari)
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