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The story of Prophet Ayyub (ʿalayhi al-Salām) stands out from among the stories of the prophets. His firm belief and strength in the face of immense suffering is a guiding light for us as believers. He stood alone and relied solely on Allah, making him a central figure in our series on facing adversity.
Prophet Ayyub (ʿalayhi al-Salām) was once a man of immense wealth, with a loving family by his side, and vibrant health.
Yet, his life took a dramatic turn. He lost his possessions, his family was taken from him, and a debilitating illness ravaged his body.
Despite these crushing blows, his faith (ʿalayhi al-Salām) in Allah never wavered. His story reminds us that true wealth lies not in material possessions but in the strength of our conviction.
Lessons from his trials
Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) describes the tests of Prophet Ayyub (ʿalayhi al-Salām) with empathy, while noting his admirable stance in facing challenges.
“And We tested Ayyub with hardship. And he said, ‘Indeed, hardship has struck me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.'” [1]
Ayyub’s patience (ʿalayhi al-Salām) wasn’t simply passive acceptance. It was a dynamic expression of faith. He didn’t just endure his suffering; he actively engaged with it, constantly seeking Allah’s mercy and holding onto an unshakeable belief in His divine wisdom.
His story (ʿalayhi al-Salām) teaches us that adversity isn’t a punishment, but a test of our faith and character.
in a narration recorded by Tirmidhi, the Messenger ﷺ said,
“The most sorely tested of people are the prophets, then the next best, and the next best.” [2]
Why were the prophets given such trials?
Ibn al-Qayyim nicely summarises some of the wisdoms for this.
“Just as Allah protects the prophets and takes care of them, so, too, He tests them as He wills with the kuffār’s persecution of them.
1 — So that they may attain a level where they deserve His honour in full.
2 — So that those who come after them of their nations and successors will be consoled if they are persecuted by the people; they will see what happened to the messengers and prophets, so they will be patient and content and will follow their example.
3 — So that the kuffār may get carried away in their sin and thus will deserve the punishment that is prepared for them in this world and in the Hereafter, so Allah will destroy them because of their enmity and aggression, and the Earth will be cleansed of them.
“These are some of the reasons why Allah tested His prophets and messengers with the persecution of their people. Great Wisdom is His and from Him come complete blessings. There is no god but Him and no Lord besides Him.” [3]
A divine restoration
In response to Ayyub’s immense faith and patience, Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) restored his health, showered him with even greater blessings than before, and reunited him with his family.
He (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) says,
“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.” [4]
This divine intervention serves as a powerful reminder: those who remain patient in the face of trials are ultimately rewarded.
In commentary on the above verse, Ibn Kathīr mentions,
“‘…as a mercy from Us…’ means: in return for his patience, steadfastness, repentance, humility, and constant turning to Allah.
“‘…and a reminder for those who understand’ means: as they understand that the consequence of patience is a solution and a way out.'” [5]
Action points
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Cultivate patience; nurture it as a way to endure adversity and sensibly apply it in all your affairs.
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Know that trials are temporary; your īmān and patience are what brings you out of adversity!
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Have positive thoughts of Allah; for us as believers, we always find good in both good and bad experiences.
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Source: Islam21c
Notes
[1] al-Qur’ān, 21:83
[2] Jāmi’ al-Tirmidhi, 2,398; https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2398
[3] Badā’i’ al-Fawā’id, 2/452
[4] al-Qur’ān, 38:43
