How Prophet Ayyub[Job] passed the test

How Prophet Ayyub[Job] passed the test of Allah to be become the most patient man

"Truly adversity has afflicted me[Ayyub] and You are Most Merciful of all who show mercy…Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he suffered, and We gave him his household and the like thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store and remembrance for the worshippers." --- Qur’an Chapter 21: 83-84

Prophet Ayyub [Job peace be upon him] was one of the descendants of the Prophet Ibrahim [peace be upon him] and a nephew of Prophet Ya'qub [peace be upon him]. He was sent to reform the people who lived in the desert situated in the north eastern corner of Palestine.

According to a historian Ibn Ishaq, Ayyub bun Maus, bun Zarrah bunul ‘Ais bun Ishaq, bun Ibrahim a Roman. And Ibn Asakir said his mother was one of the daughter of prophet Lot. Historians said, Ayyub was more wealthier than his peers at that time. When Ayyub was chosen to be the Prophet, he started to preach to his people about believe in Allah and His religion. He advised the people to do good and shun evil. As usual with all the Prophets, very few people believed in him in the beginning but gradually the number of his followers began to increase.

He used to possessed huge land with live stocks and had many children, then Allah suddenly snatched everything from him and tried and tested him with different kinds of diseases on his skin and none of his body part left uninfected but his heart and tongue that was invoking and glorifying Allah with. He was patient with all these tragedy. He invoked Allah in his days and nights until his family and neighbors moved away from him and he was quarantined and confined.

His parts of body were covered with loathsome sores. He had many ugly looking ulcers on his face and hands. The sores were full of worms. It is narrated that he picked up those worms which fell from his abscess[swells] and praised Allah for creating them. Above all, his false friends attributed his calamities to his sins. They ridiculed and looked down upon him. All the persons deserted him with the exception of his faithful wife, Rahima. She also grew tired of him in the long run and prayed for his death. She cursed her husband for retaining integrity in Allah. When Prophet Ayyub [peace be upon him] was in an extremely pathetic condition he prayed: "Truly adversity has afflicted me[Ayyub] and You are Most Merciful of all who show mercy…Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he suffered, and We gave him his household and the like thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store and remembrance for the worshippers." [Qur’an Chapter 21: 83-84]

Upon all these calamities he had suffered, he did not utter a single word of complaint. One day his big farm was attacked by the thieves. They killed many of his servants and carried away forcibly all his cattle. Prophet Ayyub did not feel sorry at this loss and thanked Allah. After some time the roof of the house fell down and many members of his family were crushed. Prophet Ayyub [peace be upon him] was much shocked but he held fast to his faith in Allah. He neither shed a tear nor heaved a sigh. He prostrated before the Almighty. He remarked that possessions and children were gifts from Allah. If He had taken His things back, it was useless to lament over their loss.

Then suddenly, Allah turned to him with mercy. He was commanded to strike the earth with his foot. He complied with the order from Allah and water from the spring gushed forth. He took a bath with the water and got cured from his evil disease. After this he was restored to prosperity, and Allah miraculously sent forth flies like rain from the sky that would turn gold whenever he touched them. Prophet Ayyub knelt and prayed expressing a deep sense of gratitude to Allah. He never forgot His favors, mercy and love from Allah.

Prophet Ayyub was one of the celebrated Prophets. His example illustrates that those who remain patient under the stress of all circumstances, would never deprived of high rewards. The Holy Qur'an Chapter 2 verses 155-157 affirms: "And surely we try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and crops, but give glad-tidings to the steadfast, who when a misfortune befalls them, say lo! we are Allah's (possession of Allah) and to Him shall we surely return. • Such are they on whom are blessings from their Lord, and mercy. Such are the rightly-guided."

Husseini Yushau BabalWaiz, is the Research & Outreach Coordinator at the Center for Media & Peace Initiatives Inc. New York, Author of three books, including "Islam Promotes Tolerance & Prohibits Terrorism-Reviving the Islamic Advocacy of Mercy and Magnanimity to Mankind" & Tutor in Arabic & Islamic Studies in New York, babalwaiz71@gmail.com

NB: Folks, this is the 16th in the new series entitled: "Delving Deep Inside the Islamic Historic Memory Lane". We just resumed this week after a whole month break to dwell on the brief narrative of the life and legacy of our beloved Prophet Muhammad[PBUH], because those four weeks represent his birth month. So this series will continue to run for months, even years aimed at showcasing the amazing historical phenomena that happened in the pre and post Islamic world. Next week, our series will focus on the story of the people of Rass who were destroyed.

So please read, comment, forward and share with as many people as possible on social media.

References:

Al-bidayah Wal-Nihayah[The Beginning & The End],by Imam Hafiz Ismael Ibn Kathir, vol 1 of[10] vols.

Al-Muntazam-Fii Tareekhil Umam Wal-Mulook, [Periodicals on the History of [medieval] Societies & Kingdoms] by, Abil Faraj, Abdul Rahman Bun Aliyi Bun Muhammad Ibnil Jawzi. vol. [1] of [18] vols.

Qisasil Anbiyah,[Tales of the Prophets] by Abil Fadah, Imam Hafiz Ibn Kathir.

http://www.islam101.com/history/people/prophets/job.htm

When Ayyub suffered from skin disease and got cured with water from the ground.