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نُورCodex of Light All prophets

A prophet · link 12 of 25 in the chain

أيوب

Ayyub

Patience under ruin

Wealth, children, health, all stripped away; the tongue never once complained of its Lord.

The story

Ayyub had everything a man can lose: wealth, lands, children, health. Then he lost it, layer by layer, until illness sat on him for years and only his wife's loyalty remained. The whisperer waited for the complaint that never came. When Ayyub finally turned to his Lord, listen to the manners in it: 'Adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful' (21:83). No accusation, no demand, barely even a request; a description laid at the door of Mercy.

The answer restored him with interest: 'Strike the ground with your foot; here is a cool washing and a drink' (38:42). Healing rose from under his own heel, family was returned and doubled, 'a mercy from Us and a reminder for those of understanding' (38:43). Even his tender dilemma, an oath sworn in illness to discipline his wife, was solved by heaven with gentleness: take a bundle of grass and fulfill the oath's letter without its harshness (38:44).

The Qur'an closes his file with the words every sufferer hopes to earn: 'Indeed We found him patient. An excellent servant! He was ever turning back' (38:44).

The Qur'an on it

'Adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.' The politest cry in scripture.

Qur'an 21:83

'Strike the ground with your foot.' Healing from under his own heel.

Qur'an 38:42

'Indeed We found him patient. An excellent servant, ever turning back.'

Qur'an 38:44

The narrations

While Ayyub was bathing, gold locusts fell upon him and he began gathering them in his garment. His Lord called: had I not enriched you? He said: yes my Lord, but I am never free of need for Your blessing.

Sahih al-Bukhari

In numbers

The journey

  1. Everything given
  2. Everything taken
  3. The uncomplaining years
  4. The gentlest du'a
  5. Struck ground, rising spring
  6. Everything restored, doubled

Read beside it

The words

A story