Prophet Ayoub (Job)
Often placed with Ibrahim or later (c. 18th–16th century BCE; Islamic tradition).
Ayoub (Job) was a prophet renowned for his patience and gratitude. Allah allowed Iblis to test him: first his wealth and children were destroyed, and Ayoub prostrated to his Lord and remained thankful; then his body was afflicted with severe illness until he was reduced to skin and bone, and only his wife remained to care for him. After years of suffering he called upon Allah: "Verily distress has seized me and You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy." Allah answered him, commanded him to strike the ground with his foot (a spring gushed forth), restored his health and family, and gave him the like thereof. A hadith mentions that when gold locusts fell on him while bathing, he gathered them and said he could not shun Allah's blessings.
Allah praised Ayoub: "Truly We found him patient. How excellent a slave! Verily he was ever oft-returning in repentance to Us!" (Sad 38:44) He was of the progeny of Ibrahim (Al-An'am 6:84). The angels spoke of him as the best creature on earth—a man of noble character who remembered his Lord, fed and clothed the poor, and freed slaves. Iblis grew jealous and complained to Allah that Ayoub worshipped only to keep his wealth. Allah allowed Iblis to afflict him to prove his sincerity.
In this story
- Ayoub’s character and Iblis’s envy
- Loss of wealth, children, and health
- His prayer and restoration
Where the Quran tells it
- Al-Anbiya 21:83-84
- Sad 38:41-44
- Al-An'am 6:84
- An-Nisa 4:163