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Prophet 12 of 25

The Story of Prophet Ayyub

Afflicted, patient, and answered: a spring struck from the ground and his family restored.

The Quran tells Ayyub's story in two short passages and holds him up as the example of patience. It gives no details of his illness and this page adds none.

۞ وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

Surah Al-Anbiya 21:83
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Chapter 1 of 2

Adversity has touched me

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

Ayyub called to his Lord: adversity has touched me, and You are the most merciful of the merciful. Allah responded, removed what afflicted him, and restored his family to him with the like of them in addition, as a mercy and a reminder for the worshippers.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Al-Anbiya 21:83–84

۞ وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ ﴿83﴾ فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ فَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِۦ مِن ضُرٍّۢ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ أَهْلَهُۥ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةًۭ مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَٰبِدِينَ ﴿84﴾

(83) And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful." (84) So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allah].

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Chapter 2 of 2

Strike the ground

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

In Surah Sad, Ayyub calls out that Satan has touched him with hardship and torment, and is told: strike the ground with your foot; here is a cool bath and drink. His family is given back to him, and he is told to take a bundle of grass and strike with it so as not to break an oath. Allah found him patient: an excellent servant, who kept turning back to Him.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Sad 38:41–44

وَٱذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَآ أَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ بِنُصْبٍۢ وَعَذَابٍ ﴿41﴾ ٱرْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ ۖ هَٰذَا مُغْتَسَلٌۢ بَارِدٌۭ وَشَرَابٌۭ ﴿42﴾ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ أَهْلَهُۥ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةًۭ مِّنَّا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ ﴿43﴾ وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًۭا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَٰهُ صَابِرًۭا ۚ نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ ﴿44﴾

(41) And remember Our servant Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, Satan has touched me with hardship and torment." (42) [So he was told], "Strike [the ground] with your foot; this is a [spring for] a cool bath and drink." (43) And We granted him his family and a like [number] with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for those of understanding. (44) [We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].

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Sources note. Reports describing the nature and length of Ayyub's illness are not from the Quran and are not included.
Where is this story mentioned?

Passages about Ayyub in the Quran

Opening passage, rendered from the stored text:

  1. Surah Al-Anbiya21:83

    ۞ وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

    And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful."

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The story of Ayyub

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