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Ayyub (Job), the model of patience
Ayyub (Job)
The Trial of Ayyub
His Exemplary Patience
His Prayer
The Divine Answer
The Miraculous Healing
Faithful to His Oath
The Example of the Prophet ﷺ
The Reward of Patience
Important Note
This collection brings together a selection of authentic texts about the Prophet Ayyub (peace be upon him). The English translations are given as a guide.
- Refer to the original Arabic texts
- Consult the commentaries of the scholars
- Study the historical context of each account
- Check the authentic sources
Ayyub, prophet of Islam: discover his inspiring story
Ayyub is among the most revered prophets of Islam. His story is a perfect illustration of patience in the face of divine trials. Allah had granted him wealth, a large family and perfect health.
Satan then asked permission to tempt him. The trials fell on Ayyub one after another. He lost his property and his children, and then his health broke down badly. His skin was covered with painful sores. Only his wife stayed faithful to him, though in the end even she began to doubt.
Despite this terrible suffering, Ayyub never stopped praising Allah. He did not complain of his lot. His faith stayed unshakeable. That exemplary bearing in adversity makes him a model for every believer.
The Quran tells his story in several surahs. The verses underline his extraordinary patience and his complete submission to the divine will. After years of trial, Allah restored his health, his property and his family twofold.
The central lesson of this story is about trust in Allah. Trials are part of a believer's life. They test our faith and our endurance. Ayyub shows us that the divine decree is to be accepted with serenity.
His legendary patience still inspires Muslims the world over. When someone goes through hardship, people often say they have "the patience of Ayyub". The phrase reminds us that trials can be overcome through faith.
To deepen your knowledge of the prophets of Islam, you can also turn to the Quran directly. The supplications of Ayyub are also models of supplication in adversity.
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ReadYou may be wondering…
Who is the Prophet Ayyub (Job) in Islam?
Ayyub, called Job in the Bible, is a prophet known for his exemplary patience. Allah had granted him wealth, a large family and good health, then tested him: he lost his property and his children, and was struck by a grave illness. Through it all he never stopped praising Allah, who calls him an excellent servant (Surah Sad, verse 44).
What is Ayyub's prayer in the Quran?
The Quran records Ayyub's prayer in Surah Al-Anbiya (verse 83): Adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful. This supplication, full of modesty and trust, is a model of prayer in hardship. Allah answered him, removed his affliction and restored his family (verse 84).
How was Ayyub healed?
Allah commanded him: Strike the ground with your foot: here is cool water to wash with and to drink (Surah Sad, verse 42). Washing in that spring and drinking from it, Ayyub recovered his health. Allah then restored his family and as many again with them, as a mercy and as a reminder for the believers.
How long did Ayyub's trial last?
The Quran does not say how long Ayyub's trial lasted. Some accounts related by the commentators speak of long years of illness, but those figures do not rest on certainly authentic texts. What is established is that the trial was long and very hard, and that only his wife stayed at his side until he was healed.
What does "the patience of Ayyub" mean?
To say of someone that they have the patience of Ayyub is to recognise that they are bearing a very heavy trial without complaining or losing faith. The phrase comes from the bearing of the Prophet Ayyub, who accepted Allah's decree with serenity. His story reminds us that trials are part of a believer's life and that divine reward follows perseverance.