Prophet Ayyub - The man of patience

The story of Prophet Ayyub (as) is a wonderful example of how we should all deal with calamities.

There is no one of us who has not experienced loss. Loss of life, wealth, health. We all face difficulties. How we react and how we act is our test.

In Sura Al-Baqara, verses 155-157, Allah subhanallahu ta’ala reminds us:

Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger; some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Who say when afflicted with calamity: “Inna lillahi wa innaa ilayhi raji-oon (To Allah we belong and to Him is our return)” They are those on whom (descend) blessings from Allah and Mercy and they are the ones that receive guidance.

From these verses we can see that in a Muslim’s life, hardship and suffering should never come as a complete surprise.

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 Ayyub (peace be upon him) was a pattern of humility and faith in Allah.

The Prophet Ayyub was Well-Off:

The Prophet Ayyub (peace be upon him) was a prosperous man with firm faith in Allah.   He possessed vast farms, enormous wealth, many cattle and valuable property but these things did not make him arrogant.  His wealth provided him with a medium by means of which he sought Allah's grace. 

Prophet Ayyub’s Tests:

His cattle were destroyed, his servants killed, and his family crushed under his roof. But he held fast to his faith in Allah. As a further calamity, his body was filled with ugly sores covered by worms. But throughout this ordeal, his faith remained rock-solid, unswerving, undiminished.

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 Prophet Ayyub called out to Allah:

‘Satan has afflicted me with exhaustion and suffering.‘ (Surah Sâd, 41)

And Allah (swt) responded to Ayyub’s supplications and rewarded him for his patience.  We read:

‘Stamp your foot! Here is a cool bath and water to drink.’ We gave him back his family and the same again with them as a mercy from Us and a reminder for people of intellect. ‘Take a bundle of rushes in your hand and strike with that but do not break your oath.’ We found him steadfast. What an excellent servant! He truly turned to his Lord. (Surah Sâd, 42-44)

Prophet Ayyub (peace be upon him) prayed to Allah:

"And (remember) Ayûb (Job), when he cried to his Lord: "Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy."  (21:83)

Allah accepted his prayer. The Holy Qur'an affirms:

"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."  (21:84)

(And a Reminder for all those who worship Us), in the verse 21:84 means, `We made him (Ayub) 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.

May Allah help us to be patient during calamities.

Here is a wonderful narration of the Story of Prophet Ayyub(as) by Yusuf Estes: