Tafsir

The Prophet Ayyub Allah tells us about Ayyub (Job), and the trials that struck him, affecting his wealth, children and physical health.

He had plenty of livestock, cattle and crops, many children and beautiful houses, and he was tested in these things, losing every thing he had. Then he was tested with regard to his body, and he was left alone on the edge of the city and there was no one who treated him with compassion apart from his wife, who took care of him. It was said that it reached the stage where she was in need, so she started to serve people (to earn money) for his sake. The Prophet said:«أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ بَلَاءً الْأَنْبِيَاءُ، ثُمَّ الصَّالِحُونَ، ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَل»(The people who are tested the most severely are the Prophets, then the righteous, then the next best and the next best). According to another Hadith:«يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى قَدْرِ دِينِهِ، فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ صَلَابَةٌ زِيدَ فِي بَلَائِه»(A man will be tested according to his level of religious commitment; the stronger his religious commitment, the more severe will be his test.) The Prophet of Allah, Ayyub, upon him be peace, had the utmost patience, and he is the best example of that.

Yazid bin Maysarah said: "When Allah tested Ayyub, upon him be peace, with the loss of his family, wealth and children, and he had nothing left, he started to focus upon the remembrance of Allah, and he said: `I praise You, the Lord of lords, Who bestowed His kindness upon me and gave me wealth and children, and there was no corner of my heart that was not filled with attachment to these worldly things, then You took all of that away from me and You emptied my heart, and there is nothing to stand between me and You. If my enemy Iblis knew of this, he would be jealous of me. ' When Iblis heard of this, he became upset. And Ayyub, upon him be peace, said: `O Lord, You gave me wealth and children, and there was no one standing at my door complaining of some wrong I had done to him. You know that. I used to have a bed prepared for me, but I forsook it and said to myself: You were not created to lie on a comfortable bed. I only forsook that for Your sake."' This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said:«لَمَّا عَافَى اللهُ أَيُّوبَ أَمْطَرَ عَلَيْهِ جَرَادًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ، فَجَعَلَ يَأْخُذُ مِنْهُ بِيَدِهِ وَيَجْعَلُهُ فِي ثَوْبِهِ، قَالَ: فَقِيلَ لَهُ: يَا أَيُّوبُ أَمَا تَشْبَعُ؟ قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ وَمَنْنَيشْبَعُ مِنْ رَحْمَتِك»(When Allah healed Ayyub, He sent upon him a shower of golden locusts, and he started to pick them up and gather them in his garment. It was said to him, "O Ayyub, have you not had enough" He said, "O Lord, who can ever have enough of Your mercy) The basis of this Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs, as we shall see below.وَءَاتَيْنَـهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُمْ مَّعَهُمْ(and We restored his family to him (that he had lost) and the like thereof along with them) It was reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "They themselves were restored to him." This was also narrated by Al-`Awfi from Ibn `Abbas. Something similar was also narrated from Ibn Mas`ud and Mujahid, and this was the view of Al-Hasan and Qatadah.

Mujahid said: "It was said to him, `O Ayyub, your family will be with you in Paradise; if you want, We will bring them back to you, or if you want, We will leave them for you in Paradise and will compensate you with others like them.' He said, `No, leave them for me in Paradise.' So they were left for him in Paradise, and he was compensated with others like them in this world."رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا(as a mercy from Ourselves) means, `We did that to him as a mercy from Allah towards him.'وَذِكْرَى لِلْعَـبِدِينَ(and a Reminder for all those who worship Us.) means, `We made him an example lest those who are beset by trials think that We do that to them because We do not care for them, so that they may take him as an example of patience in accepting the decrees of Allah and bearing the trials with which He tests His servants as He wills.' And Allah has the utmost wisdom with regard to that.

Commentary

Story of Sayyidna Ayyub (علیہ السلام)The story of Sayyidna Ayyub (علیہ السلام) is based mostly on Jewish legends. Those which are considered as historically reliable by scholars of hadith are being reproduced here. The Holy Qur'an tells us only that he suffered from some serious disease but he endured his suffering with fortitude. Ultimately he prayed to Allah for recovery which was granted. During his illness all his family members and friends disappeared. They either died or just abandoned him to his fate. Then Allah Ta` ala restored him to complete health and gave him back all his children and also an equal number in addition. The remaining elements of this story have come down to us either through authentic sayings or by way of historical accounts. Hafiz Ibn Kathir has recorded the story as follows:Allah Ta` ala had bestowed upon Sayyidna Ayyub (علیہ السلام) ، in the early days of his life, all sorts of material comforts such as wealth, property, magnificent houses, children, servants and attendants.

But later he faced a trial whereby the prophets are normally tested by Allah, and was deprived of all these comforts. Moreover he suffered from a serious disease which was like leprosy and which affected his whole body except the heart and the tongue. In this miserable condition too he spent his time in prayers and in giving thanks to Allah Ta` ala with his heart and tongue. Because of this serious illness all his relatives, friends and neighbors avoided him and placed him near a garbage-dump outside the city. Nobody went near him except his wife who used to take care of him. She was either the daughter or grand daughter of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) and her name was Layya daughter of Misha Ibn Yusuf (علیہ السلام) . (Ibn Kathir) All his wealth having been lost, she worked and earned a living for him and for herself and also nursed him in his illness. The ordeal of Sayyidna Ayyub (علیہ السلام) was nothing new, nor something to be wondered at.

The Holy Prophet ﷺ has said اژدّ النّاس بلاء الانبیاء چّم الصّالحُون چّم الامثل فالامثل that is the prophets face the most severe tests, and then come the other believers according to their degree of piety. In another tradition it is reported that every man is tested according to his adherence and devotion to religion. The stronger his beliefs, the harder is the test to which he is subjected, so that his rewards are in proportion to his sufferings. Sayyidna Ayyub (علیہ السلام) occupies a distinctive position among all the prophets for firmness in his devotion and endurance in his sufferings in the same manner as Dawud (علیہ السلام) enjoyed distinction for offering thanks to Allah Ta` ala. Sayyidna Ayyub (علیہ السلام) is a model of endurance and fortitude in the most trying circumstances. Yazid Ibn Maisara reports that when Allah Ta` ala deprived him of all his worldly possessions and subjected him to a severe ordeal, he concentrated all his mind and efforts upon the sole purpose of remembering Allah Ta’ ala and offering prayers to Him.

While thanking Allah Ta’ ala for all sorts of worldly comforts and children granted to him earlier and whose love had filled his heart completely, he also thanked Him for their total withdrawal because nothing remained to distract him from total devotion to Allah Ta’ ala.

The invocation of Sayyidna Ayyub I is not counter to patience

The ordeal of Sayyidna Ayyub (علیہ السلام) was very severe indeed. He not only lost all his worldly possessions but was also afflicted by a terrible disease because of which people avoided his company. He spent seven years and some months lying near a garbage dump outside the city, but never once did he lose his heart nor did he ever utter a word of complaint about his fate. His wife, Layya once asked him to pray to Allah for His Mercy as his sufferings had become unbearable, to which he replied that having enjoyed for seventy years the best of health surrounded by all the luxuries that money could buy, it would be unworthy of him to complain because a mere seven years has been spent in pain and poverty. His firm prophetic resolve, self-discipline and fortitude prevented him from beseeching Allah Ta` ala's mercy on his condition, lest it should be construed as an act contrary to the unquestioning submission to the will of Allah Ta` ala (Although to invoke Allah's Mercy for relief from sufferings does not mean absence of fortitude).

Ultimately something happened which made him pray to Allah Ta` ala for His Mercy but as mentioned earlier this was just a prayer and did not express a sense of complaint. As such Allah Ta` ala has put His seal in acknowledgment of his extreme endurance in these words إِنَّا وَجَدْنَاهُ صَابِرً‌ا (Surely We found him a steadfast man - 38:44). There are numerous versions of this story which have been omitted for their length.

Ibn Abi Hatim has reported on the authority of Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn ` Abbas ؓ that when Sayyidna Ayyub's (علیہ السلام) supplication was granted, he was told to rub his heels on the ground and a stream of fresh and clear water would gush forth. He should then bathe himself in the water and also drink it, and the disease would disappear. Sayyidna Ayyub (علیہ السلام) did as he was told and in no time his body, which was covered with boils and was reduced to skin and bones regained its original shape and health. Allah Ta’ ala sent him garments from Paradise which he wore and sat down in a corner away from the garbage dump. His wife came to see him as usual and when she did not find him, she started crying. She did not recognize Ayyub (علیہ السلام) who was sitting nearby in a corner because his appearance had changed completely. Then she turned to him and asked him if he had any information about the sick man who was lying there, and whether he had gone somewhere or had been eaten up by dogs and wolves.

She spoke to him for some time without realizing that the man was none other than her husband. Then Sayyidna Ayyub (علیہ السلام) revealed himself, but even then she did not recognize him and asked him why he was making fun of her. Sayyidna Ayyub (علیہ السلام) then told her to look at him again and try to recognize him. He also informed her that Allah Ta’ ala had healed his body after he invoked His Mercy. Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ reports that after this, Allah Ta’ ala restored to him all his wealth and children and gave him more children equal in number to the children which he had before (Ibn Kathir).

Sayyidna Ibn Masud ؓ says that Sayyidna Ayyub (علیہ السلام) had seven sons and seven daughters but they all died while he was undergoing the ordeal. When his days of hardship were over, his children were brought back to life by Allah Ta` ala and his wife also gave birth to as many more children, to which the Qur'an refers to as وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ (and the like thereof alongwith them - 21:84). According to Tha'labi this version is closer to the text of the Qur'an. (Qurtubi)Some scholars say that he was granted as many new children as he had before and the word مِثل (the like) refers to an equal number of grand children. (Only Allah knows best).

يذكر تعالى عن أيوب ، عليه السلام ، ما كان أصابه من البلاء ، في ماله وولده وجسده ، وذلك أنه كان له من الدواب والأنعام والحرث شيء كثير ، وأولاد كثيرة ، ومنازل مرضية . فابتلي في ذلك كله ، وذهب عن آخره ، ثم ابتلي في جسده - يقال : بالجذام في سائر بدنه ، ولم يبق منه سليم سوى قلبه ولسانه ، يذكر بهما الله عز وجل ، حتى عافه الجليس ، وأفرد في ناحية من البلد ، ولم يبق من الناس أحد يحنو عليه سوى زوجته ، كانت تقوم بأمره ، ويقال : إنها احتاجت فصارت تخدم الناس من أجله ، وقد قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : " أشد الناس بلاء الأنبياء ، ثم الصالحون ، ثم الأمثل فالأمثل " وفي الحديث الآخر : " يبتلى الرجل على قدر دينه ، فإن كان في دينه صلابة زيد في بلائه " .وقد كان نبي الله أيوب ، عليه السلام ، غاية في الصبر ، وبه يضرب المثل في ذلك .وقال يزيد بن ميسرة : لما ابتلى الله أيوب ، عليه السلام ، بذهاب الأهل والمال والولد ، ولم يبق له شيء ، أحسن الذكر ، ثم قال : أحمدك رب الأرباب ، الذي أحسنت إلي ، أعطيتني المال والولد ، فلم يبق من قلبي شعبة ، إلا قد دخله ذلك ، فأخذت ذلك كله مني ، وفرغت قلبي ، ليس يحول بيني وبينك شيء ، لو يعلم عدوي إبليس بالذي صنعت ، حسدني .

قال : فلقي إبليس من ذلك منكرا .قال : وقال أيوب ، عليه السلام : يا رب ، إنك أعطيتني المال والولد ، فلم يقم على بابي أحد يشكوني لظلم ظلمته ، وأنت تعلم ذلك . وأنه كان يوطأ لي الفراش فأتركها وأقول لنفسي : يا نفس ، إنك لم تخلقي لوطء الفرش ، ما تركت ذلك إلا ابتغاء وجهك . رواه ابن أبي حاتم .وقد ذكر عن وهب بن منبه في خبره قصة طويلة ، ساقها ابن جرير وابن أبي حاتم بالسند عنه ، وذكرها غير واحد من متأخري المفسرين ، وفيها غرابة تركناها لحال الطول .وقد روي أنه مكث في البلاء مدة طويلة ، ثم اختلفوا في السبب المهيج له على هذا الدعاء ، فقال الحسن وقتادة ، ابتلي أيوب ، عليه السلام ، سبع سنين وأشهرا ، ملقى على كناسة بني إسرائيل ، تختلف الدواب في جسده ففرج الله عنه ، وعظم له الأجر ، وأحسن عليه الثناء .وقال وهب بن منبه : مكث في البلاء ثلاث سنين ، لا يزيد ولا ينقص .وقال السدي : تساقط لحم أيوب حتى لم يبق إلا العصب والعظام ، فكانت امرأته تقوم عليه وتأتيه بالزاد يكون فيه ، فقالت له امرأته لما طال وجعه : يا أيوب ، لو دعوت ربك يفرج عنك؟ فقال : قد عشت سبعين سنة صحيحا ، فهل قليل لله أن أصبر له سبعين سنة؟

فجزعت من ذلك فخرجت ، فكانت تعمل للناس بأجر وتأتيه بما تصيب فتطعمه ، وإن إبليس انطلق إلى رجلين من فلسطين كانا صديقين له وأخوين ، فأتاهما فقال : أخوكما أيوب أصابه من البلاء كذا وكذا ، فأتياه وزوراه واحملا معكما من خمر أرضكما ، فإنه إن شرب منه برأ . فأتياه ، فلما نظرا إليه بكيا ، فقال : من أنتما؟ فقالا : نحن فلان وفلان! فرحب بهما وقال : مرحبا بمن لا يجفوني عند البلاء ، فقالا : يا أيوب ، لعلك كنت تسر شيئا وتظهر غيره ، فلذلك ابتلاك الله؟ فرفع رأسه إلى السماء ثم قال : هو يعلم ، ما أسررت شيئا أظهرت غيره . ولكن ربي ابتلاني لينظر أأصبر أم أجزع ، فقالا له : يا أيوب ، اشرب من خمرنا فإنك إن شربت منه برأت . قال : فغضب وقال : جاءكما الخبيث فأمركما بهذا؟ كلامكما وطعامكما وشرابكما علي حرام . فقاما من عنده ، وخرجت امرأته تعمل للناس فخبزت لأهل بيت لهم صبي ، فجعلت لهم قرصا ، وكان ابنهم نائما ، فكرهوا أن يوقظوه ، فوهبوه لها .فأتت به إلى أيوب ، فأنكره وقال : ما كنت تأتيني بهذا ، فما بالك اليوم؟ فأخبرته الخبر . قال : فلعل الصبي قد استيقظ ، فطلب القرص فلم يجده فهو يبكي على أهله . [ فانطلقي به إليه . فأقبلت حتى بلغت درجة القوم ، فنطحتها شاة لهم ، فقالت : تعس أيوب الخطاء!

فلما صعدت وجدت الصبي قد استيقظ وهو يطلب القرص ، ويبكي على أهله ] ، لا يقبل منهم شيئا غيره ، فقالت : رحم الله أيوب فدفعت القرص إليه ورجعت . ثم إن إبليس أتاها في صورة طبيب ، فقال لها : إن زوجك قد طال سقمه ، فإن أراد أن يبرأ فليأخذ ذبابا فليذبحه باسم صنم بني فلان فإنه يبرأ ويتوب بعد ذلك . فقالت ذلك لأيوب ، فقال : قد أتاك الخبيث . لله علي إن برأت أن أجلدك مائة جلدة . فخرجت تسعى عليه ، فحظر عنها الرزق ، فجعلت لا تأتي أهل بيت فيريدونها ، فلما اشتد عليها ذلك وخافت على أيوب الجوع حلقت من شعرها قرنا فباعته من صبية من بنات الأشراف ، فأعطوها طعاما طيبا كثيرا فأتت به أيوب ، فلما رآه أنكره وقال : من أين لك هذا؟ قالت : عملت لأناس فأطعموني . فأكل منه ، فلما كان الغد خرجت فطلبت أن تعمل فلم تجد فحلقت أيضا قرنا فباعته من تلك الجارية ، فأعطوها من ذلك الطعام ، فأتت به أيوب ، فقال : والله لا أطعمه حتى أعلم من أين هو؟

فوضعت خمارها ، فلما رأى رأسها محلوقا جزع جزعا شديدا ، فعند ذلك دعا ربه عز وجل : ( أني مسني الضر وأنت أرحم الراحمين ) .وقال ابن أبي حاتم : حدثنا أبي ، حدثنا موسى بن إسماعيل ، حدثنا حماد ، حدثنا أبو عمران الجوني ، عن نوف البكالي; أن الشيطان الذي عرج في أيوب كان يقال له : " سوط " ، قال : وكانت امرأة أيوب تقول : " ادع الله فيشفيك " ، فجعل لا يدعو ، حتى مر به نفر من بني إسرائيل ، فقال بعضهم لبعض : ما أصابه ما أصابه إلا بذنب عظيم أصابه ، فعند ذلك قال : " رب إني مسني الضر وأنت أرحم الراحمين " .وحدثنا أبي ، حدثنا أبو سلمة ، حدثنا جرير بن حازم ، عن عبد الله بن عبيد بن عمير قال : كان لأيوب ، عليه السلام ، أخوان فجاءا يوما ، فلم يستطيعا أن يدنوا منه ، من ريحه ، فقاما من بعيد ، فقال أحدهما للآخر : لو كان الله علم من أيوب خيرا ما ابتلاه بهذا؟ فجزع أيوب من قولهما جزعا لم يجزع من شيء قط ، فقال : اللهم ، إن كنت تعلم أني لم أبت ليلة قط شبعان وأنا أعلم مكان جائع ، فصدقني . فصدق من السماء وهما يسمعان . ثم قال : اللهم ، إن كنت تعلم أني لم يكن لي قميصان قط ، وأنا أعلم مكان عار ، فصدقني ، فصدق من السماء وهما يسمعان . اللهم بعزتك ثم خر ساجدا ، ثم قال اللهم بعزتك لا أرفع رأسي أبدا حتى تكشف عني .

فما رفع رأسه حتى كشف عنه .وقد رواه ابن أبي حاتم من وجه آخر مرفوعا بنحو هذا فقال : أخبرنا يونس بن عبد الأعلى ، أخبرنا ابن وهب أخبرني نافع بن يزيد ، عن عقيل ، عن الزهري ، عن أنس بن مالك ، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : " إن نبي الله أيوب لبث به بلاؤه ثماني عشرة سنة ، فرفضه القريب والبعيد ، إلا رجلين من إخوانه ، كانا من أخص إخوانه ، كانا يغدوان إليه ويروحان ، فقال أحدهما لصاحبه : تعلم - والله - لقد أذنب أيوب ذنبا ما أذنبه أحد من العالمين . فقال له صاحبه : وما ذاك؟ قال : منذ ثماني عشرة سنة لم يرحمه الله فيكشف ما به . فلما راحا إليه لم يصبر الرجل حتى ذكر ذلك له ، فقال أيوب ، عليه السلام : ما أدري ما تقول ، غير أن الله عز وجل يعلم أني كنت أمر على الرجلين يتنازعان فيذكران الله ، فأرجع إلى بيتي فأكفر عنهما ، كراهة أن يذكرا الله إلا في حق .

قال : وكان يخرج في حاجته ، فإذا قضاها أمسكت امرأته بيده حتى يبلغ ، فلما كان ذات يوم أبطأت عليه ، فأوحي إلى أيوب في مكانه : أن اركض برجلك ، هذا مغتسل بارد وشراب " .رفع هذا الحديث غريب جدا .وقال ابن أبي حاتم : حدثنا أبي ، حدثنا موسى بن إسماعيل ، حدثنا حماد ، أخبرنا علي بن زيد ، عن يوسف بن مهران ، عن ابن عباس ، قال : وألبسه الله حلة من الجنة ، فتنحى أيوب فجلس في ناحية ، وجاءت امرأته ، فلم تعرفه ، فقالت : يا عبد الله ، أين ذهب المبتلى الذي كان هاهنا؟ لعل الكلاب ذهبت به أو الذئاب ، فجعلت تكلمه ساعة ، فقال : ويحك! أنا أيوب ! قالت : أتسخر مني يا عبد الله؟ فقال : ويحك! أنا أيوب ، قد رد الله علي جسدي .وبه قال ابن عباس : ورد عليه ماله وولده عيانا ، ومثلهم معهم .وقال وهب بن منبه : أوحى الله إلى أيوب : قد رددت عليك أهلك ومالك ومثلهم معهم ، فاغتسل بهذا الماء ، فإن فيه شفاءك ، وقرب عن صاحبتك قربانا ، واستغفر لهم ، فإنهم قد عصوني فيك . رواه ابن أبي حاتم .[ وقال ] أيضا : حدثنا أبو زرعة ، حدثنا عمرو بن مرزوق ، حدثنا همام ، عن قتادة ، عن النضر بن أنس ، عن بشير بن نهيك ، عن أبي هريرة ، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : " لما عافى الله أيوب ، أمطر عليه جرادا من ذهب ، فجعل يأخذ بيده ويجعله في ثوبه " .

قال : " فقيل له : يا أيوب ، أما تشبع؟ قال : يا رب ، ومن يشبع من رحمتك " .أصله في الصحيحين ، وسيأتي في موضع آخر .