Healing and Patience

Tafsir of Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Saadi

Sheikh as-Saadi explains: “Ayyub endured the most severe illnesses and the loss of all his children and his property over many years, yet he remained patient. His dua is a model of complaint to Allah alone and not about Allah.”

Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir

Ibn Kathir relates the story of Ayyub’s trial: “Allah answered his humble supplication at once, commanding him to strike the ground with his foot, whereupon a healing spring gushed forth, restoring to him his health, his family and his wealth.”

Tafsir al-Baghawi

“…And (mention) Ayyub, when he called upon his Lord…” That is, he supplicated to his Lord.

There is disagreement concerning when he supplicated, the reason he said, “Indeed, harm has touched me…,” and the duration of his trial.

It is narrated from Shihab that Anas reported that Ayyub’s trial lasted eighty years.

Wahb said: Ayyub remained in trial for three years, and not a day longer.

Ka‘b said: Ayyub remained in trial for seven years, seven months, and seven days.

Al-Hasan said: Ayyub was left in a rubbish pit among the Children of Israel for seven years and several months, where animals would pass by, and no one among the people came near him except his wife. She showed him compassion and was patient with him, and she was sincere in this. She brought him food and praised Allah when he praised Him. Throughout this, Ayyub did not cease remembering Allah and showing patience in this trial.

When Ayyub saw that he had no food, drink, or companion, he fell prostrate before Allah and said: “O my Lord!”

“…Indeed, harm has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful!” Then it was said to him: “Raise your head. Your supplication has been answered. Strike the ground with your foot!” He struck the ground with his foot, and a spring gushed forth from it.

He washed in that water, and no visible trace of his illness remained—it all went away. His youth returned, and he became more handsome than he had been. Then he struck the ground with his foot once more, and another spring gushed forth, from which he drank. After that, no illness remained inside his body either.

He stood up, healthy, and put on his clothes. Then he looked closely and found that Allah had increased his family and wealth.

A question may arise: Allah called him patient, yet he complained and showed impatience, saying, “Indeed, harm has touched me,” and, “Indeed, Satan has touched me with hardship and torment!” (Surah Sad, verse 41).

The answer is that this is not a complaint, but a supplication. The proof of this is the words of Allah, the Exalted: “So We answered him…” Moreover, impatience is when a person complains to a created being; when he complains to Allah, it is not considered impatience, nor is it considered an abandonment of patience. As Ya‘qub said: “I only complain of my anguish and sorrow to Allah…” (Surah Yusuf, verse 86).

Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah said: Likewise, if a person expresses his complaint to people while being content with Allah’s decree, this too is not considered a lack of patience. The proof of this is that when Jibril came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) while he was ill and said, “How are you feeling?”, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, “I feel sorrowful, and I feel distressed” (part of a hadith, al-Tabarani). Similarly, when Aishah said, “Oh, my head!”, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, “No! Oh, my head!” (al-Bukhari).