The Story of Prophet Ayyub (Job)
Summary
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1) Prophet Job was born from the descendants of the prophet Isaac and his wife, Rahma was born from the descendants of the prophet Joseph. The mother of the prophet Job was born of the descendants of the prophet Lut. This shows that they are all descendants of the prophet Abraham or called ‘The House of Abraham’ by the English. Prophet Job was endowed with wealth, a healthy body, many children, strong faith and he was highly respected by his people. When he preached, everyone would fight to listen and even everyone wanted to accompany him.
2) The destiny of the prophet Job was overtaken by God’s test one by one. First, God withdrew his wealth. All property, houses, livestock, all destroyed and lost. Job fell poor in the blink of an eye. Then God withdrew his offspring. Prophet Job had many children but one by one his children died before his eyes until no more children were alive. Each time his son died, he simply said, “Everything belongs to God and every human being will return to Him.” Then God withdrew his health. Prophet Job fell so ill that only his tongue could move and he used it to praise Allah. His internal organs became damaged and he got a skin disease that damaged the skin all over his body so that it seemed difficult to identify. Due to his skin disease, people started to stay away from him so that no one else wanted to accompany him. Job was very patient. Although one by one the trials came, he still had a strong faith in God. Prophet Job never complained or asked God to remove his suffering, he was very patient and only accepted God’s provisions.
3) The Prophet Job lost everything except one, his wife. Rahma together went through all the tests that her husband went through and took care of her husband when he was sick. She spends her wealth to buy medicine and food for her husband. When his money ran out, he had to find a job. Everyone knows about the disease of the prophet Job. When Rahma went to look for a job, they refused to accept it for fear of contracting the skin disease of the prophet Job. No one wants to take him to work. Rahma was sad and complained to the prophet Job. He asked, “How long do we want to be like this?” The Prophet Job asked, “How long have I lived in pleasure?” Rahma replied, “80 years old.” The Prophet Job asked again, “And how long have I lived in misery?” Rahma replied, “7 years.” Then the Prophet Job replied, “So how can I complain if my misery is very small compared to the pleasure that God has given me? I promise, when I am healthy I will beat you 100 times “. The prophet Job was angry because his wife complained about the provisions of God.
4) Day by day, Rahma became more desperate to find money. She needs money to buy food and medicine for her husband. Rahma decides to cut her long hair and sell it. So from that little money she can buy food for her husband. When the prophet Job asked where he got the money from, Rahma was afraid to tell the truth because she knew her husband would be angry. So Rahma says that she works and gets paid. Her hair was the only property left so she shaved part of her head little by little and sold her hair. The Prophet Job was unaware of the condition of his wife’s hair because he always covered his head. Until one day, Rahma had to shave her whole head to buy food for her husband. This time, the prophet Job insisted on finding out where Rahma got the money because he knew that the people refused to take him to work. Rahma untied the cloth on her head and showed her bald head.
5) After the prophet Job saw the condition of his wife, he finally prayed to God for help – Refer to the Quran (21:83). God sent a revelation to the sick prophet Job to stomp his feet on the ground. When the prophet Job stomped his feet, he came out and poured cold water from under his feet for the prophet Job to drink and bathe – Refer to the Quran (38:42). After the prophet Job drank the cold water, all his internal organs recovered and his skin was replaced with new skin. His health recovered, even healthier than before. When Rahma returned, the prophet Job was not in the usual place so she looked for her husband. When the prophet Job came to his wife, Rahma did not recognize her husband’s appearance because he had been ill for so long that she forgot her husband’s original appearance. She also asked the man she did not know if she had seen her husband or not. The Prophet Job said, “Here I am, Job, your husband. God has given me health. ”
6) God has sent a test on the prophet Job to test his patience and faith. As a reward, Allah bestowed on the prophet Job the offspring twice as much as before – Refer to the Quran (38:43). And there is a hadith that tells, when the prophet Job was taking a bath, God sent a golden locust from heaven to rain on his bath. Job gathered the golden locusts and was grateful for the bounty of God.
7) Kegembiraan kembali keoada nabi Ayub. Namun baginda ada satu lagi perkara yang belum selesai. Baginda telah bernazar untuk merotan isterinya sebanyak 100 kali. Allah menurunkan wahyu kepada nabi Ayub untuk mengumpulkan 100 batang lalang dan merotan isterinya sebanyak satu kali, dan hutang nazarnya akan selesai – Rujuk al Quran (38:44). Maka nabi Ayub pun merotan Rahma sebanyak satu kali menggunakan 100 batang lalang. Sampai tahap itu Allah kasih dan bantu nabi Ayub.
8 ) Pengajaran yang boleh diambil adalah seteruk mana pun keadaan hidup kita, bersabarlah. Allah sedang menguji kita. Dan ganjaran untuk sabar itu sangatlah besar, hanya tunggu dan lihat.
Detailed of Story
Job’s Family History
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:
And 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. Al-Quran [6: 83-84]
Allah’s Praises of Job
Allah the Almighty praised His worshiper Job in His Glorious Quran:
Truly! We found him patient. How excellent (a) slave! Verily, he was ever oft-returning in repentance (to Us)! Al-Quran [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 worshipers of Allah. In return, his Lord has blessed him with a long life and plenty of riches, yet he is never haughty or selfish. His family, his 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’s Jealousy of Job
Iblis, overhearing all 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 to him about the good things in life, but Job was a true believer and would not let evil thoughts tempt him. This disturbed Iblis more; thus he began to hate Job even more.
Iblis Destroys Job’s Wealth
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 a while. He gives to whom He wills and withholds from whom He wills.” With these words, Job again prostrated to his Lord.
Iblis Destroys Job’s Children
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 then see how Job will reject You.”
Allah granted Iblis authority, but warned him that it would not reduce Job’s faith in his Lord nor his patience.
Iblis again gathered his helpers and set about his evil deeds. He shook the foundation 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 Destroys Job’s Health
Iblis again called on Allah. “O my Lord, Job’s wealth is gone, his children are dead, but 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 and will thus become disobedient.”
Allah wanted to teach Iblis a lesson that Job was a devoted servant of his Lord, so He granted Iblis his third 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 his suffering.
Job’s Life – Summary
Ibn Asaker narrated: “Job was a man having much wealth of all kinds: beasts, 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.”
Job’s Prayer for Mercy
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 crumpled 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: “For eighty years.”
Then Job asked: “How long am I suffering like this?”
She said: “For seven 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 from your hand. Leave me alone and let my Lord do with me as He pleases.”
Job’s Health is Restored
Crying bitterly and with a heavy heart, she had no choice but to leave him and seek shelter elsewhere. In this helpless state, 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.” Al-Quran [21: 83-84]
Almighty Allah also instructed:
And 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, 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. Al-Quran [38: 41-43]
Job obeyed, and almost immediately his good health was restored. Meanwhile, his faithful wife could no 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 now worried, for he had taken an oath to punish her with a hundred strokes if he 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: And 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)!” Al-Quran [38: 44]
Prophet Muhammad’s Account About Job
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: ‘0 Job! Have I not made you too rich to need what you see?’ He said: ‘Yes, 0 Lord! But I cannot shun Your Blessings.” (Al Bukhari)