Ibn Ishaaq stated that he was a
man of Rum. His name was Job, Ibn Mose, Ibn Razeh, Ibn Esau, Ibn Isaac
(pbuh), Ibn Abraham (pbuh). Someone else said he was Job, Ibn Mose,
Ibn Rimil, Ibn Esau, Ibn Isaac, Ibn Jacob. There have also been other
statements on his lineage. Ibn Asaker narrated that his mother was a
daughter of Lot (pbuh). It was said, also that his father was one who
believed in Abraham (pbuh) when he was cast into the fire.
The first opinion is the most plausible, because he
was a descendant of Abraham's offspring as Allah Almighty declared:
"That was Our proof which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise
whom We will in degrees. Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All Knowing.
And We bestowed upon him Isaac and Jacob, each of them We guided and
before him, We guided Noah, and among his progeny David, Solomon, Job,
Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. Thus do We reward the good doers. (Ch
6:83-84)
Allah the Almighty praised His worshipper Job in His
Glorious Quran: Truly! We found him patient. How excellent a slave!
Verily, he was ever oft returning in repentance to Us! (Ch 38:44)
Job (pbuh) was repentant, remembering Allah with
thankfulness, patience, and steadfastness. This was the cause of his
rescue and the secret of Allah's praising him.
A group of angels were discussing Allah's other human
creatures, how those who were humble earned Allah's pleasure, while
those who were arrogant incurred His displeasure. One of the angels
remarked: "The best creature on earth today is Job, a man of noble
character who displays great patience and always remembers his Generous
Lord. He is an excellent model for the worshippers of Allah. In
return, his Lord has blessed him with a long life and plenty of
servants, as well as the needy and the poor share in his good fortune;
he feeds and clothes the poor and buys slaves to set them free. He
makes those who receive his charity feel as if they are favoring him so
kind and gentle is he."
Iblis overhearing all of this, became annoyed. He
planned to tempt Job to corruption and disbelief, so he hastened to him.
He tried to distract Job from his prayers by whispering him about the
good things in life but Job was a true believer and would not let evil
thoughts tempt him. This disturbed Iblis even more; thus he began to
hate Job even more.
Iblis complained to Allah about Job. He said that
although he was continuously glorifying Allah he was not doing so out of
his sincerity but to satisfy Allah so that his wealth should not be
taken away. It was all a show, all out of greed. "If You remove his
wealth then You will find that his tongue will no longer mention Your
name and his praying will stop."
Allah told Iblis that Job was one of His most sincere
devotees. He did not worship Him because of the favors; his worship
stemmed from his heart and had nothing to do with material things. But
to prove to Iblis the depth of Job's sincerity and patience, Allah
allowed him to do whatever he and his helpers wished with Job's wealth.
Iblis was very happy. he gathered his helpers and set
about destroying Job's cattle, servants and farms until he was left with
no possessions. Rubbing his hands in glee, Iblis appeared before Job
in the guise of a wise old man and said to him: "All your wealth is
lost, some people say that it is because you gave too much charity and
that you are wasting your time with your continuous prayers to Allah.
Others say that Allah has brought this upon you in order to please your
enemies. If Allah had the capacity to prevent harm, then He would have
protected your wealth."
True to his belief, Job replied: "What Allah has
taken away from me belongs to Him. I was only its trustee for awhile.
He gives to whom He wills and withholds from whom He wills." With these
words, Job again prostrated to his Lord.
When Iblis saw this, he felt frustrated, so he again
addressed Allah: "I have stripped Job of all his possessions, but he
still remains grateful to You. However he is only hiding his
disappointment, for he places great store by his many children. The
real test of a parent is through his children. You will see how Job
will reject You."
Allah granted Iblis authority but warned him that it would not reduce Job' faith in His Lord nor his patience.
Iblis again gathered his helpers and set about his evil
deeds. He shook the fountain of the house in which Job's children were
living and sent the building crashing, killing all of them. Then he
went to Job disguised as a man who had come to sympathize with him. In a
comforting tone he said to Job: "The circumstances under which your
children died were sad. Surely, your Lord is not rewarding you properly
for all your prayers." Having said this, Iblis waited anxiously hoping
Job was now ready to reject Allah.
But again Job disappointed him by replying: "Allah
sometimes gives and sometimes takes. He is sometimes pleased and
sometimes displeased with our deeds. Whether a thing is beneficial or
harmful to me, I will remain firm in my belief and remain thankful to my
Creator." then Job prostrated to his Lord. At this Iblis was
extremely vexed.
Iblis called on Allah. "O my Lord, Job's wealth is
gone, his children are dead, and he is still healthy in body, and as
long as he enjoys good health he will continue to worship You in the
hope of regaining his wealth and producing more children. Grant me
authority over his body so that I may weaken it. He will surely neglect
worshipping You an will thus become disobedient."
Allah wanted to teach Iblis a lesson that Jo was a
devoted servant of his Lord so He granted Iblis his 3rd request but
placed a condition: "I give you authority over his body but not over his
soul, intellect or heart, for in these places reside the knowledge of
Me and My religion."
Armed with this new authority, Iblis began to take
revenge on Job's body and filled it with disease until it was reduced to
mere skin and bone and he suffered severe pain. But through all the
suffering Job remained strong in his faith, patiently bearing all the
hardships without complaining. Allah's righteous servant did not
despair or turn to others for help but remained hopeful of Allah's
mercy. Even close relatives and friends deserted him. Only his kind,
loving wife stayed with him. In his hour of need, she showered her
kindness on him and cared for him. She remained his sole companion and
comforter through the many years of suffering.
Ibn Asaker narrated: "Job was a man having much wealth
of all kinds; beats, slaves, sheep, vast lands of Haran and many
children. All those favors were taken from him and he was physically
afflicted as well. Never a single organ was sound except his heart and
tongue, with both of which he glorified Allah, the Almighty all the time
day and night. His disease lasted for a long time until his visitors
felt disgusted with him. His friends kept away from him and people
abstained from visiting him. No one felt sympathy for him except his
wife. She took good care of him, knowing his former charity and pity
for her."
Therefore Iblis became desperate. He consulted his
helpers, but they could not advise him. They asked : "How is it that
your cleverness cannot work against Job, yet you succeeded in misleading
Adam the father of man, out of Paradise?"
Iblis went to Job's wife in the form of a man. "Where is your husband?" he asked her.
She pointed to an almost lifeless form crumbled on the bed and said: "There he is, suspended between life and death."
Iblis reminded her of the days, when Job had good
health, wealth and children. Suddenly, the painful memory of years of
hardship overcame her, and she burst into tears. She said to Job: "How
long are you going to bear this torture from our Lord? Are we to remain
without wealth, children or friends forever? Why don't you call upon
Allah to remove this suffering?"
Job sighed, and in a soft voice replied : "Iblis must
have whispered to you and made you dissatisfied. Tell me how long did I
enjoy good health and riches?"
She replied: "80 years."
Then Job replied: "How long am I suffering like this?"
She said: "7 years."
Job then told her: "In that case I am ashamed to call on
my Lord to remove the hardship, for I have not suffered longer than the
years of good health and plenty. It seems your faith has weakened and
you are dissatisfied with the fate of Allah. If I ever regain health, I
swear I will punish you with a hundred strokes! From this day onward, I
forbid myself to eat or drink anything by your hand. Leave me alone
and let my Lord do with me as He pleases."
Crying bitterly and with a heavy heart, she had no
choice but to leave him and seek shelter elsewhere. In this helpless
sate, Job turned to Allah, not to complain but to seek His mercy:
"Verily! distress has seized me and You are the Most Merciful of all
those who show mercy." so We answered his call, and we removed the
distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him (that he had
lost), and the like thereof along with them as a mercy from Ourselves
and a Reminder for all who worship Us." (Ch 21:83-84)
Almighty Allah also instructed: "Remember Our slave Job,
when he invoked His Lord saying: "Verily! Satan has touched me with
distress (by losing my health) and torment (by losing my wealth)!"
Allah said to him: "Strike the ground with your foot: This is a spring
of water to wash in and cool and a refreshing drink." 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. (Ch 38:41-43)
Job obeyed and almost immediately his good health was
restored. Meanwhile, his faithful wife could not longer bear to be
parted from her husband and returned to him to beg his forgiveness,
desiring to serve him. On entering her house, she was amazed at the
sudden change: Job was again healthy! She embraced him and thanked
Allah for His mercy.
Job was not worried, for he had taken an oath to punish
her with a hundred strokes if he had regained health but he had no
desire to hurt her. He knew if he did not fulfill the oath, he would be
guilty of breaking a promise to Allah. Therefore in His wisdom and
mercy, Allah came to the assistance of His faithful servant and advised
him: "take in your hand a bundle of thin grass and strike therewith your
wife, and break not your oath." Truly! We found him patient. How
excellent a slave! Verily, he was ever oft returning in repentance to
Us!" (Ch 38:44)
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated
that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "While Job was naked, taking a
bath, a swarm of gold locusts fell on him, and he started collecting
them in his garment. His Lord called him: "O Job! Have I not made you
too rich to need what you see?" He said: "Yes, My Lord! But I cannot
shun Your Blessings." (Al Bukhari)
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