Stories
The patience of Job
Wealth, children, health: he lost them all, and never complained against God.
3 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 3
Ayyub had wealth, family and health. He lost them, and suffered a long illness. Most of the details come from later tradition. The Qur'an gives only the outline: affliction, and his prayer.
Lesson
The Qur'an keeps to the essentials of Ayyub's trial. The fuller story comes from later commentary.
Part 2 of 3
In his affliction, Ayyub prayed. His prayer is famous for what it does not say: "Harm has touched me, and You are the most merciful of the merciful." He describes his state and names God's mercy, without demanding.
Qur'an 21:83
۞ وَأَيُّوبَ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ ٱلضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرۡحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ ٨٣
83 And [remember] Job, when he cried out to his Lord, “I have been struck by adversity, and You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.”
The passage continues in Read.
Lesson
Ayyub stated his need and named God's mercy, with no blame and no demand.
Part 3 of 3
Ayyub's prayer was answered. God told him to strike the ground with his foot. A spring came for washing and drinking, and he was healed. His family was restored and doubled. The Qur'an sums him up: what an excellent servant.
Qur'an 38:42-43
ٱرۡكُضۡ بِرِجۡلِكَۖ هَٰذَا مُغۡتَسَلُۢ بَارِدࣰ وَشَرَابࣰ ٤٢ وَوَهَبۡنَا لَهُۥٓ أَهۡلَهُۥ وَمِثۡلَهُم مَّعَهُمۡ رَحۡمَةࣱ مِّنَّا وَذِكۡرَىٰ لِأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ ٤٣
42 [Allah said], “Stamp [the ground] with your foot: here is a cool spring for bathing and drinking.”
43 And We restored his family to him and the like of them as a mercy from Us and as a reminder for people of understanding.
The passage continues in Read.
Lesson
In the Qur'an's words, Ayyub's patience was turning back to God, again and again.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
Wealth, children, health: he lost them all, and never complained against God.