Ayyub
a.s. (Job as quoted in many English translation of Al-Quran) was the son of
Mous, the son of Razaak, the son of Al-Ees, the son of Ishaq a.s., the son of
Ibrahim a.s. Ayyub a.s. was a Messenger
of Allah s.w.t. raised from among the people of Haran. He was a wealthy man. Allah s.w.t. blessed Ayyub a.s. with health
and physical strength. Allah s.w.t. also
blessed him with 7 strong and handsome sons and 7 beautiful daughters.
Allah
s.w.t. began to withdraw the blessings of good life that Ayyub a.s. was
enjoying. He became very poor. His children died one after the other. He was left alone with just his wife. A severe disease attacked him. He became weak and was not even able to
stand. His flesh began to decay and his
bones were almost exposed, people began to desert him, even his close friends
and family members. Only his loyal and
beloved wife came close to him.
His wife
reminds him that as a prophet and messenger of Allah s.w.t., his prayers would
surely be answered and he would be relieved from all the sufferings. He just thanked Allah s.w.t. They had enjoyed the period of prosperity and
ease for 80 years. Whereas he has been
suffering for only 7 years. He was shy
to ask for relieve from Allah s.w.t. When
the wife persisted, Ayyub a.s. became annoyed and swore to hit her with 100
lashes if he recovered. Ayyub a.s.
endure all these personal calamities and suffering for 18 years.
Soon
people refuse to hire Ayyub’s a.s. wife to work for them out of fear that she
might transmit the disease. They had no
food. After a few days of hunger, she
brought him some food. She had secretly
cut half of her beautiful hair and sold it for some food. When the provisions were consumed, she had
the rest of her hair cut and sold for the much needed food. Ayyub a.s. asked her how she obtained the
food. Quietly she uncovered her head to
reveal the cut hair.
Ayyub
a.s. clearly ascribed his calamities to the Evil One. He blamed it entirely upon Shaitan, the
devil. For his patience, Allah s.w.t.
relieved him from the suffering. Allah s.w.t.
commanded him to stamp his foot. Ayyub a.s.
did so and water emerged from the land. Allah
s.w.t. commanded Ayyub a.s. wash and bathe himself with the water and also
drink it. The water cleansed him from
the disease. Immediately he regained his
strength. All signs and scars of the
disease disappeared. His wife came but
did not recognize him.
Allah
s.w.t. continued to bless Ayyub a.s. for the patience he endured. Allah s.w.t. also honored and blesses his
wife for being patient and faithful to her husband. Allah s.w.t. made her young and strong
again. Allah s.w.t. blessed them both with
a new batch of 28 sons and daughters. Allah
s.w.t. also immediately increased his wealth and strengthens his health. Ayyub a.s. had previously sworn to hit his
wife with 100 lashes. Allah s.w.t.
ordered him to hit her with some straws of grass, just for him to honor his
oath.
Such
was the story of Ayyub a.s., an example of piety despite his enormous wealth
and continued piety with enduring patience in facing of great personal
calamities. Zulkifli a.s. (Ezekiel) as
mentioned in Al-Quran was the son of Ayyub a.s.
Zulkifli a.s. was trained by his father and was also known for his
patience. His original name was Bishir
son of Ayyub a.s.
STORIES
OF THE PROPHETS IN AL-QURAN
(Lessons that we can
extract, lessons that we can apply)
(Teaser extraction
from the book)
To be continued…
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