Prophet Ayyub (AS) is known for his incredible patience (sabr) and faith in Allah in the face of extreme suffering. His story serves as a reminder that trials are a test from Allah, and true believers are grateful and patient even in the face of hardship.
The story of Prophet Ayyub (AS) with regards to loss of wealth, health, and family, which the Quran recounts, and yet never faltering in his faith in Allah. In return, Allah blessed him with health, wealth, and everlasting honour.
It is told in several places in the Quran, where Allah commends his patience:
“Indeed, we found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back (to Allah).”
(Surah Sad 38:44)
Birth and Lineage: A Blessed Beginning
The Quran does not directly mention Prophet Ayyub’s (AS) birth or bloodline, but Islamic traditions affirm that he was a child of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Others state that he is from Ishaq (AS), son of Ibrahim (AS), so he belongs to a noble prophetic line.
But he was born into a land of prosperity and rectitude, and Allah had blessed him with many horses and property, a fair degree of money, and a big, loving family. Prophet Ayyub (AS) was known for his piety, charity, and mercy to the poor and needy. He was always humble, he was always grateful to Allah, and he did not have any arrogance or pride.
It was a life of faith and gratitude, but one that Allah would soon challenge as only a few could take.
The Great Test: Loss of Wealth, Family, and Health
To demonstrate his perseverance, Allah determined to test Prophet Ayyub (AS) to test. His tests arrived in phases, taking from him everything he used to have:
1. The Loss of Wealth and Status
The Prophet Ayyub was a rich man who had an economy, lands, cattle, and many servants. But then one terrible day, it all disappeared; his fields died, his cattle died, and his hugely prosperous estate was devastated.
Yet, despite these losses, he remained grateful to Allah, saying:
“Allah gives, and Allah takes. To Him belongs all things.”
2. The Loss of His Children
Along with his family, Ayyub (AS) also had many righteous children, whom he loved very much. Then tragedy struck: All of his children died; some accounts say they died in a natural disaster, others say in a plague, or a collapse of their abode.
Any parent would be destroyed by a loss like that, but such a loss did not make Prophet Ayyub (AS) complain. He kept praising Allah.
3. The Trial of Severe Illness
As a trial, Ayyub (AS) was afflicted by a devastating illness that left him extremely weak and immobilised. His skin was blotched with sores, his body weak, his strength gone.
He was left after some feared his disease was a curse. His friends stopped visiting him, even, and his people had driven him out of the city.
And even in all this pain, Ayyub (AS) did not complain. He never challenged Allah’s will or complained, but rather said:
“My Lord has given me years of ease and good health; should I not also accept years of hardship with patience?”
The Loyalty of His Wife: A Model of Devotion
During these trials, there was one person at his side, his devoted wife. She took care of him, bandaged his wounds, and stood by him when everyone else had deserted him.
But as the circumstances of poverty and hardship became much more challenging for her, she went to despair and told Ayyub (AS) to pray to Allah for some relief. While this was well-intended, the reason Ayyub (AS) didn’t want to ask for ease was because his heart was so dedicated to the wisdom of Allah.
Due to economic circumstances, Ayyub’s (AS) wife was having difficulty finding a job portioning it to support them, and with that, Ayyub (AS) had a very stout determination that he would never try to abandon his patience, even if it meant having everlasting pain.
His story reminds us that faith is not about ease but about devotion in adversity.
The Turning Point: Ayyub’s (AS) Du‘a and Allah’s Mercy
Finally, after years of illness, Prophet Ayyub (AS) eventually turned to Allah and invoked for help, saying; But he never complained or sought relief. Instead, he went to his Lord with humility:
“Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.”
(Surah Al-Anbiya 21:83)
A short but powerful du‘a, there’s a lot we can learn about humility from this one. He simply acknowledged Allah’s infinite mercy; he did not ask for relief.
Allah directly answered his patience and sincerity:
“So we responded to him and removed what afflicted him with adversity. And We gave him back his family and the like thereof as a mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers.”
(Surah Al-Anbiya 21:84)
The Divine Healing: Ayyub (AS) is Restored
Allah commanded Prophet Ayyub (AS) to:
“Strike the ground with your foot; this is a cool spring for bathing and drinking.”
(Surah Sad 38:42)
As soon as Ayyub (AS) obeyed this command, a miraculous fountain gushed out of the earth. He bathed in it and drank from it, and his illness disappeared instantaneously. He regained his strength, his skin healed, and he was made whole.
He was not only healed but also restored to wealth, and Allah granted him more children than he ever had before.
This was Allah’s reward for being patient, double the blessings in return for his steadfastness of faith.
Final Years and Death of Prophet Ayyub (AS)
Prophet Ayyub (AS), after his cure, lived many years, preaching Allah’s message. Through it all, he was a humble, grateful servant and leveraged those experiences to teach others about the strength of faith and patience.
So when his time came, he passed away peacefully, and in his entirety, he left behind a legacy of perseverance and trust in Allah.
His story is among the most powerful examples of patience (sabr) in Islamic history.
Lessons from the Life of Prophet Ayyub (AS)
- Patience in Hardship — No trial is eternal; relief is with faith.
- Thanks in Every State — Thank Allah in ease and hardship.
- Faith in Allah’s Kindness — Allah does not forsake His faithful servants, and abundantly rewards them.
- Disrespectability in pain – Even in sickness, Ayyub (AS) never complained.
- The Secret to an Answered Du‘a – A simple, sincere prayer can change everything.
Conclusion
The story of Prophet Ayyub (AS) is about perseverance and mercy. He lost his most precious belongings, his family and health, but he was still patient and devoted. His story is a beacon of hope for anyone facing trials:
“With hardship comes ease.”
(Surah Ash-Sharh 94:6)
Just like that, Allah will also heal our wounds, relieve our burdens, and bless us when we continue to keep patience and faith. May peace be upon the Prophet Ayyub (AS) and all the prophets of Allah. Aameen!
