Prophet
Job (Ayoub)
Ibn Ishaaq stated that he was a man of
Rum. His name was Job, Ibn Mose, Ibn Razeh, Ibn Esau, Ibn Isaac (pbuh), Ibn
Abraham (pbuh). Someone else said he was Job, Ibn Mose, Ibn Rimil, Ibn Esau,
Ibn Isaac, Ibn Jacob. There have also been other statements on his lineage. Ibn
Asaker narrated that his mother was a daughter of Lot (pbuh). It was said, also
that his father was one who believed in Abraham (pbuh) when he was cast into
the fire.
The first opinion is the most
plausible, because he was a descendant of Abraham's offspring as 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, Job, Joseph, Moses,
and Aaron. Thus do We reward the good doers. (Ch 6:83-84)
Allah the Almighty praised His
worshipper Job 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)
Job (pbuh) was repentant, remembering
Allah with thankfulness, patience, and steadfastness. This was the cause of his
rescue and the secret of Allah's praising him.
A group of angels were discussing
Allah's other human creatures, how those who were humble earned Allah's
pleasure, while those who were arrogant incurred His displeasure. One of the
angels remarked: "The best creature on earth today is Job, a man of noble
character who displays great patience and always remembers his Generous 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, as well as the needy and
the poor share in his good fortune; he feeds and clothes the poor and buys
slaves to set them free. He makes those who receive his charity feel as if they
are favoring him so kind and gentle is he."
Iblis overhearing all of this, became
annoyed. He planned to tempt Job to corruption and disbelief, so he hastened to
him. He tried to distract Job from his prayers by whispering him about the good
things in life but Job was a true believer and would not let evil thoughts
tempt him. This disturbed Iblis even more; thus he began to hate Job even more.
Iblis complained to Allah about Job. He
said that although he was continuously glorifying Allah he was not doing so out
of his sincerity but to satisfy Allah so that his wealth should not be taken
away. It was all a show, all out of greed. "If You remove his wealth then
You will find that his tongue will no longer mention Your name and his praying
will stop."
Allah told Iblis that Job was one of
His most sincere devotees. He did not worship Him because of the favors; his
worship stemmed from his heart and had nothing to do with material things. But
to prove to Iblis the depth of Job's sincerity and patience, Allah allowed him
to do whatever he and his helpers wished with Job's wealth.
Iblis was very happy. he gathered his
helpers and set about destroying Job's cattle, servants and farms until he was
left with no possessions. Rubbing his hands in glee, Iblis appeared before Job
in the guise of a wise old man and said to him: "All your wealth is lost,
some people say that it is because you gave too much charity and that you are
wasting your time with your continuous prayers to Allah. Others say that Allah
has brought this upon you in order to please your enemies. If Allah had the
capacity to prevent harm, then He would have protected your wealth."
True to his belief, Job replied:
"What Allah has taken away from me belongs to Him. I was only its trustee
for awhile. He gives to whom He wills and withholds from whom He wills."
With these words, Job again prostrated to his Lord.
When Iblis saw this, he felt
frustrated, so he again addressed Allah: "I have stripped Job of all his
possessions, but he still remains grateful to You. However he is only hiding
his disappointment, for he places great store by his many children. The real
test of a parent is through his children. You will see how Job will reject
You."
Allah granted Iblis authority but
warned him that it would not reduce Job' faith in His Lord nor his patience.
Iblis again gathered his helpers and
set about his evil deeds. He shook the fountain of the house in which Job's
children were living and sent the building crashing, killing all of them. Then
he went to Job disguised as a man who had come to sympathize with him. In a
comforting tone he said to Job: "The circumstances under which your
children died were sad. Surely, your Lord is not rewarding you properly for all
your prayers." Having said this, Iblis waited anxiously hoping Job was now
ready to reject Allah.
But again Job disappointed him by
replying: "Allah sometimes gives and sometimes takes. He is sometimes
pleased and sometimes displeased with our deeds. Whether a thing is beneficial
or harmful to me, I will remain firm in my belief and remain thankful to my
Creator." then Job prostrated to his Lord. At this Iblis was extremely
vexed.
Iblis called on Allah. "O my Lord,
Job's wealth is gone, his children are dead, and he is still healthy in body,
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 that I may weaken it. He will surely neglect worshipping You
an will thus become disobedient."
Allah wanted to teach Iblis a lesson
that Jo was a devoted servant of his Lord so He granted Iblis his 3rd request
but placed a condition: "I give you authority over his body but not over
his soul, intellect or heart, for in these places reside the knowledge of Me
and My religion."
Armed with this new authority, Iblis
began to take revenge on Job's body and filled it with disease until it was
reduced to mere skin and bone and he suffered severe pain. But through all the
suffering Job remained strong in his faith, patiently bearing all the hardships
without complaining. Allah's righteous servant did not despair or turn to
others for help but remained hopeful of Allah's mercy. Even close relatives 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.
Ibn Asaker narrated: "Job 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."
Therefore Iblis became desperate. He
consulted his helpers, but they could not advise him. They asked : "How is
it that your cleverness cannot work against Job, yet you succeeded in
misleading Adam the father of man, out of Paradise?"
Iblis went to Job's wife in the form of
a man. "Where is your husband?" he asked her.
She pointed to an almost lifeless form
crumbled on the bed and said: "There he is, suspended between life and
death."
Iblis reminded her of the days, when
Job had good health, wealth and children. Suddenly, the painful memory of years
of hardship overcame her, and she burst into tears. She said to Job: "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 Allah to remove
this suffering?"
Job sighed, and in a soft voice replied
: "Iblis must have whispered to you and made you dissatisfied. Tell me how
long did I enjoy good health and riches?"
She replied: "80 years."
Then Job replied: "How long am I
suffering like this?"
She said: "7 years."
Job 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 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 onward,
I forbid myself to eat or drink anything by your hand. Leave me alone and let
my Lord do with me as He pleases."
Crying bitterly and with a heavy heart,
she had no choice but to leave him and seek shelter elsewhere. In this helpless
sate, Job 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 Job, 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)
Job obeyed and almost immediately his
good health was restored. Meanwhile, his faithful wife could not longer bear to
be parted from her husband and returned to him to beg his forgiveness, desiring
to serve him. On entering her house, she was amazed at the sudden change: Job
was again healthy! She embraced him and thanked Allah for His mercy.
Job was not 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 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)
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with
him) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "While Job 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 Job! 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)
