Faithfulness is Never Forgotten
Nabi
Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) remained in the state of sickness for more than
eighteen years, yet he and his respected wife remained patient and steadfast.
One day, Shaitaan approached the wife of Nabi
Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) in the form of a doctor. As he had adopted this form
and appeared to be a normal person, she did not realise that it was actually
Shaitaan in front of her. Thinking him to be a doctor, she asked him, out of
concern for her husband, whether he had any cure for his illness. Shaitaan said, “I do have a cure. However, in return for the cure,
he must address me and say, ‘You have cured me’. I do not want any other
compensation for my treatment.”
The wife of Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam)
returned to him and informed him of what had transpired. As soon as he heard
this, he realized that the ‘man’ was no doctor, but was none other than
Shaitaan. Being the Nabi of Allah Ta‘ala,
Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) was angered that his wife would even suggest to
him that he speak such words, attributing the cure to Shaitaan. Hence,
Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) vowed to lash his wife one hundred times.
This incident greatly grieved Nabi Ayyoob
(‘alaihis salaam), as Shaitaan had now even begun to try and mislead his wife.
It is in reference to this attempt of Shaitaan that Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis
salaam) made du‘aa to Allah Ta‘ala, asking Allah Ta‘ala to cure him, saying,
“Indeed Shaitaan has afflicted me with distress and suffering.” (Surah Saad, v41) Allah Ta‘ala accepted his du‘aa
and instructed him in the following words, “Strike with your foot, here is
(water for) a cool bath and to drink”. (Surah Saad, v42)
As he did so, a spring of water gushed forth.
Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) then drank the water and bathed in it. Allah Ta‘ala placed the cure for his illness in this water, and
through drinking it and bathing in it, he was completely cured of his illness.
Thereafter, Allah Ta‘ala sent him a garment of
Jannah. When his wife arrived to care for him, according to her routine and
habit, she failed to find him. She saw a man seated nearby and asked him, “Have
you seen the ill-man who used to be here?” She was
greatly grieved and thought that he had perhaps been killed by wild animals. At
that moment, the man informed her that he was actually Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis
salaam). Initially, she struggled to believe him, but he then told her of how
Allah Ta‘ala had cured him of his illness.
Allah
Ta‘ala then restored the youth of his wife, allowing her to bear Nabi Ayyoob
(‘alaihis salaam) children once again. According to some
reports, she gave birth to twenty-six sons, while other reports mention that
Allah Ta‘ala even brought his children, who had passed away, back to life.
Allah Ta‘ala also sent two clouds to him; the first filled his threshing floor
with gold, and the second filled his other threshing floor with silver. In this
manner, Allah Ta‘ala replaced everything that he had lost and granted him more
than he initially had.
Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) now needed to
fulfil his vow. Allah Ta‘ala told Nabi Ayyoob
(‘alaihis salaam) that instead of lashing her one hundred times, he should take
a bundle containing one hundred pieces of straw, and lash her once with it. In
this manner, the vow will be fulfilled. Allah Ta‘ala says, “And take in your
hand a bunch of grass and strike with it, and do not break your oath.” (Surah Saad, v44)
Allah
Ta‘ala instructed Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) to fulfil his vow in this
manner as Allah Ta‘ala valued her loyalty, faithfulness and obedience to her
husband, as well as the patience and obedience of Nabi Ayyoob
(‘alaihis salaam). Therefore, Allah Ta‘ala mentions immediately thereafter,
“Indeed, We found him patient. What an excellent servant! Indeed, he always
turned to Allah.” (Surah Saad, v44)
(Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah vol. 1, pgs. 262 – 266 and Bazzaar &
Abu Yaa’la - Majma‘uz Zawaaid #13821)
Lessons:
1. Many people have good intentions and
praiseworthy motives. They sincerely wish to assist people and bring about
betterment. However, together with the
intention being correct, it is necessary that the means adopted be pleasing to
Allah Ta‘ala.
2. The Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam) were such
that their happiness and their displeasure were purely for the sake of Allah
Ta‘ala. In other words, if they suffered any personal grievance, they would
overlook and forgive. However,
if the law of Allah Ta‘ala was broken, they would become angry, for the sake of
Allah Ta‘ala, and act in accordance with the command of Allah Ta‘ala. Similarly,
the Ambiyaa (‘alaihmus salaam) would only express happiness if the occasion was
one which Allah Ta‘ala approved of. Hence,
the challenge is for us to similarly make our pleasure and displeasure be
subject to the pleasure and displeasure of Allah Ta‘ala. Accordingly,
if our children do not perform their salaah, it should anger us and prompt us
to discipline them. However, if they accidentally break some item of ours, we
should overlook and forgive.
3. Allah Ta‘ala never forgets the loyalty of His
servants. Hence, whether in this world or the next, He will most certainly
acknowledge their efforts and reward them. Thus, due
to her patience, perseverance and loyalty, Allah Ta‘ala Himself told Nabi
Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) of a method through which his wife would be saved from
the hundred lashes. Similarly, if we remain loyal to Allah
Ta‘ala, He will be there for us in our time of need.
4. As severe as the sickness of Nabi Ayyoob
(‘alaihis salaam) was, he bore it patiently and did not become greatly worried
or perturbed. However, when Shaitaan attempted to misguide his wife, he became
extremely worried and turned to Allah Ta‘ala in du‘aa. Hence, we understand that one of the greatest worries and concerns
that we should have is for the guidance and piety of our families. For
this, we should constantly make du‘aa and encourage them towards righteousness.
