Ayyub in the Qur'an
The Qur'an describes Job as a righteous servant of Allah (God), who was afflicted by suffering for a lengthy period of time. However, the Qur'an clearly states that Job never lost faith in God and forever called to God in prayer, asking Him to remove his affliction:
And Job, when he cried unto his Lord, (saying): Lo! Adversity afflicteth me, and Thou art Most Merciful of all who show mercy.
The narrative goes on to state that after many years of suffering, God ordered Job to "Strike with thy foot!".[20]
At once, Job struck the ground with his foot and God caused a cool
spring of water to gush forth from the Earth, from which Job could
replenish himself. The Qur'an
states that it was then that God removed his pain and suffering and He
returned Job's family to him, blessed him with many generations of
children and granted him great wealth. In addition to the brief
descriptions of Job's narrative, the Qur'an
further mentions Job twice in the lists of those whom God had given
special guidance, wisdom and inspiration (IV: 163) and as one of the men
who received authority, the Book and the gift of prophethood (VI:84).
Job's narrative in Muslim tradition
The Qur'an mentions Job's narrative in a concise manner. Muslim historical literature, however, fleshes out Job's story and describes him as being a late descendant of the patriarch Noah.[21] Similar to the Hebrew Bible narrative, Islamic tradition mentions that Satan heard the angels of God speak of Job as being the most faithful man of his generation.[22] Job, being a chosen prophet
of God, would remain committed in daily prayer and would frequently
call to God, thanking God for blessing him with abundant wealth and a
large family. But Satan planned to turn the God-fearing Job away from God and wanted Job to fall into disbelief and corruption.[22] Therefore, God allowed Satan to afflict Job with distress and intense illness and suffering,[22] as God knew that Job would never turn away from his Lord.
Although Job's possessions were destroyed and he suffered many
calamities, he remained steadfast in his worship of God and remained
committed to his religion. Satan then appeared to Job in the guise of an
old man and suggested that God was not rewarding Job for his prayer.
Job, however, rebuked Satan and told him that God is all-knowing and
does what He thinks is best.[22]
It is said that then Satan, having failed at tempting Job, turned to
Job's wife, who was also a faithful woman. Satan reminded Job's wife of
her life before Job's affliction and how they were abundant in family
and fortune. Job's wife, although she did not lose faith, burst into
tears and asked Job to tell God to remove this suffering from the
household.[22]
Job, in his misery, rebuked his wife and told her that this suffering
had been for a relatively short period of time and, without thinking,
told her that he would beat her with 100 strokes for complaining.[22]
After Satan has given up trying to turn Job away from the Lord, God
removed Job's affliction and returned his family to him, doubling them
in number. He returned Job's wealth and showered Job with gold.[22]
Once Job's wife had seen her husband restored to prosperity and health,
she prayed thanks to God but then worried over the oath her husband had
taken earlier, in which he had promised to beat her with a hundred
strokes. Job was also deeply grieved over the oath he had taken, amidst
his suffering. God, however, sent a revelation to Job, which told him to not beat his wife but to gently hit her with a bundle of soft grass.[23]
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