Who is Prophet Ayub?
Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) is a prophet of Allah. The lineage of the Prophet of Allah, Ayub (peace be upon him), traces back to Isaac, the son of Abraham (peace be upon them). According to the most correct opinion, his prophetic mission took place between the times of Moses and Joseph (peace be upon them). His story was narrated in several chapters of the Quran, including Surah Sad. Our master Ayub (peace be upon him) was a pious, patient, and grateful servant of Allah. Allah Almighty praised him in the Holy Quran with great attributes, commending him for his excellent worship and his patience in the face of adversity.
Prophet Ayub’s Life
Prophet Ayub possessed vast wealth, including sheep, agricultural lands. He had servants and slaves who took care of it, and he had a large progeny. He would feed the poor, assist widows, sponsor orphans, and honor guests.
The Trial of prophet Ayub
Allah tested Prophet Ayub with severe affliction in his body, wealth, and children; his wealth was completely gone, and all of his children passed away. His illness affected nearly every part of his body. He remained in his illness for 18 years, abandoned by many of his relatives and friends, with the exception of two men from his companions. Likewise, his wife remained loyal to him out of her faith in Allah and His Messenger; she would work for people for wages to feed him and serve him for about eighteen years. When the affliction dragged on, his condition grew severe, and the decreed term and specified time came to an end, Prophet Ayub supplicated to his Lord, saying:
”And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, “Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.”
(وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ)
Surah Al-Anbiya (21:83)
Allah’s Response to Our Master Ayub
Allah answered Ayub’s supplication, removed his affliction, and rewarded him for his patience. Allah said in Surah Al-Anbiya, Ayah 84:
”So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allah].”
(فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ فَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِ مِن ضُرٍّ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَابِدِينَ)
The Cure from Allah
Allah commanded him to strike the ground with his foot, causing a cold spring gushed forth, so he drank from it, and his internal ailments were healed. He did that and was cured of all the illnesses he suffered from, by Allah’s permission.
Allah said:
”[So he was told], “Strike [the ground] with your foot; this is a [spring for] a cool bath and drink.”
(ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ ۖ هَٰذَا مُغْتَسَلٌ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ)
Surah Saad:42
The Reward of Prophet Ayub
Allah did not bring Prophet Ayub’s deceased children back to life; rather, He compensated him by granting him new offspring (equal to the number of children he had lost) upon the lifting of his affliction and his recovery from illness. Then promised him even more of them, and so it was for him. Al-Bukhari narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ”While Ayub was bathing naked, a swarm of golden locusts fell upon him. He began to gather them in his garment. His Lord called out to him, saying: O Ayub, have I not enriched you enough to not need what you see? He replied: Yes, my Lord, but I cannot do without Your blessing.”
Allah Almighty restored his wife to him and increased her youthfulness.
Prophet Ayub’s death
Ayub passed away after a long life of ninety-three years. He was a contemporary of the Prophet of Allah, Ya’qub (Jacob); it was also said that he lived after Shu’ayb, and it was said after Sulayman (Solomon).
