Al-Huda Foundation of New Jersey  

Newsletter 

of October 2004

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Ayyub: An Example of Faith and Patience


The story of Ayyub (Job) gives consolation to all those who are  ill or deprived of wealth or children.

The angels were discussing the conditions of mankind, their obedience  and disobedience. One of them said that Ayyub was the best man on earth. 

He was an obedient believer, always praying to Allah. Allah blessed Ayyub  to be wealthy for eighty years. During this time he never forgot to worship  or thank Allah. 

He shared his wealth with the poor and clothed the naked. 
Satan could not believe that there was a servant as sincere as Ayyub.  Satan thought that his wealth was the reason for his sincerity, so he asked  Allah for power to take away Ayyub's wealth with the intentions to mislead  him. 

He reacted to his lost by saying that the wealth belongs to Allah and  I thank him for what he has granted me and I thank him for what he has taken.  He then kneeled down in prayer. This made Satan angry. 

Satan tried twice to mislead Ayyub after losing his wealth by asking  Allah for power to take away his children and health. Allah (subhanahu  wa ta'ala) said I will give you power over his body, but I warn you  against approaching his soul, tongue, and heart, because in them lies the  secret of Faith. Ayyub acted in the same manner as when his wealth was  taken away from him. 

Satan realized that he couldn't misguide Ayyub, so he went to his wife  to mislead her, by reminding her of their previous life style. Satan  was successful in misleading his wife. This led to her complaining to  Ayyub about their present state. This caused Ayyub to become upset  with her and he vowed that he would beat her 100 times if Allah gave  him back his health.

Satan was not successful in misguiding Ayyub. Allah then restored him  with all that he had lost. Ayyub now had to fulfill his vow of striking  his wife.

Allah ordered him to strike his wife once with a 100 pieces of good  smelling grass, out of mercy for her.  Indeed Allah is the most merciful.

The story of Ayyub should be a constant reminder for us all. We should  read this story often just to remind ourselves. Many of us complain about  the little things in life. Allah tested Ayyub in ways that we can really  relate to. His faith and patience is something that we as true believing  Muslims should try and implement in our lives, when Allah tests us in  these situations. In the Quraan Allah says, 

"Truly! We found him patient. How excellent (a) slave! Verily, he was  ever oft returning in repentance (to us)." [Quran:38:4]. 

During these times we must remember Allah more, pray harder, and be  more thankful instead of being dissatisfied with our condition. We should  praise and thank Allah for every condition that he tests us with.  As we know these are the times when Satan tries to work on us the  most by playing with our minds, emotions, and weaknesses. Allah would  never forget to reward a servant for such a great task. 

"And (remember) Ayyub when he cried to his Lord: Verily, distress has  seized me and you are the Most Merciful of all who show mercy."  [Quraan:21:83] 

"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 those  who worship us."  [Quraan:21:84]

May Allah give us the faith and the patience when we are tested.  Ameen.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: 
“Faith wears out in the heart of any one of you just as clothes wear  out, so ask Allaah to renew the faith in your hearts.”  (Reported by al-Haakim and its isnaad is saheeh.)

The Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: 
Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most  excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah,  and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from 
the path: and modesty is the branch of faith.  (Sahih Muslim)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: 
“Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it by his  hand (by action), and if he cannot, then by his tongue (by speaking out),  and if he cannot, then by his heart (by feeling that it is wrong), 
and that is the weakest of faith.”  (Al-Bukhaari).

 

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