Tarikh (al-Tabari) 180
Chapter mentioning the offspring of Abraham (peace and blessings be upon him)
وَكَانَ مِنْ حَدِيثِهِ وَسَبَبِ بَلَائِهِ أَنَّ إِبْلِيسَ سَمِعَ تَجَاوُبَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ بِالصَّلَاةِ عَلَى أَيُّوبَ حِينَ ذَكَرَهُ اللَّهُ فَحَسَدَهُ، وَسَأَلَ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُسَلِّطَهُ عَلَيْهِ لِيَفْتِنَهُ عَنْ دِينِهِ، فَسَلَّطَهُ عَلَى مَالِهِ حَسْبَ، فَجَمَعَ إِبْلِيسُ عُظَمَاءَ أَصْحَابِهِ مِنَ الْعَفَارِيتِوقَالَ عُلَمَاءُ التَّفْسِيرِ، وَالتَّارِيخِ، وَغَيْرُهُمْ: كَانَ أَيُّوبُ رَجُلًا كَثِيرَ الْمَالِ مِنْ سَائِرِ صُنُوفِهِ وَأَنْوَاعِهِ مِنَ الْأَنْعَامِ وَالْعَبِيدِ وَالْمَوَاشِي وَالْأَرَاضِي الْمُتَّسِعَةِ بِأَرْضِ الْبَثْنِيَّةِ مِنْ أَرْضِ حُورَانَ. وَحَكَى ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ: أَنَّهَا كُلَّهَا كَانَتْ لَهُ، وَكَانَ لَهُ أَوْلَادٌ وَأَهْلُونَ كَثِيرٌ، فَسُلِبَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ جَمِيعِهِ، وَابْتُلِيَ فِي جَسَدِهِ بِأَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَاءِ، وَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ سَلِيمٌ سِوَى قَلْبِهِ وَلِسَانِهِ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِهِمَا، وَهُوَ فِي ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ صَابِرٌ مُحْتَسِبٌ ذَاكِرٌ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي لَيْلِهِ وَنَهَارِهِ، وَصَبَاحِهِ وَمَسَائِهِ، وَطَالَ مَرَضُهُ حَتَّى عَافَهُ الْجَلِيسُ، وَأَوْحَشَ مِنْهُ الْأَنِيسُ، وَأُخْرِجَ مِنْ بَلَدِهِ وَأُلْقِيَ عَلَى مَزْبَلَةٍ خَارِجَهَا، وَانْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ النَّاسُ، وَلَمْ يَبْقَ أَحَدٌ يَحْنُو عَلَيْهِ سِوَى زَوْجَتِهِ كَانَتْ تَرْعَى لَهُ حَقَّهُ، وَتَعْرِفُ قَدِيمَ إِحْسَانِهِ إِلَيْهَا وَشَفَقَتِهِ عَلَيْهَا، فَكَانَتْ تَتَرَدَّدُ إِلَيْهِ فَتُصْلِحُ مِنْ شَأْنِهِ، وَتُعِينُهُ عَلَى قَضَاءِ حَاجَتِهِ وَتَقُومُ بِمَصْلَحَتِهِ، وَضَعُفَ حَالُهَا، وَقَلَّ مَالُهَا حَتَّى كَانَتْ تَخْدِمُ النَّاسَ بِالْأَجْرِ لِتُطْعِمَهُ، وَتَقُومَ بِأَوَدِهِ ؓ وَأَرْضَاهَا وَهِيَ صَابِرَةٌ مَعَهُ عَلَى مَا حَلَّ بِهِمَا مِنْ فِرَاقِ الْمَالِ وَالْوَلَدِ، وَمَا يَخْتَصُّ بِهَا مِنَ الْمُصِيبَةِ بِالزَّوْجِ، وَضِيقِ ذَاتِ الْيَدِ، وَخِدْمَةِ النَّاسِ بَعْدَ السَّعَادَةِ وَالنِّعْمَةِ وَالْخِدْمَةِ، وَالْحُرْمَةِ، فَإِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، وَقَدْ ثَبَتَ فِي الصَّحِيحِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ بَلَاءً الْأَنْبِيَاءُ، ثُمَّ الصَّالِحُونَ، ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ، يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ صَلَابَةٌ زِيدَ فِي بَلَائِهِ. وَلَمْ يَزِدْ هَذَا كُلُّهُ أَيُّوبَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِلَّا صَبْرًا وَاحْتِسَابًا، وَحَمْدًا وَشُكْرًا، حَتَّى إِنَّ الْمَثَلَ لَيُضْرَبُ بِصَبْرِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَيُضْرَبُ الْمَثَلُ أَيْضًا بِمَا حَصَلَ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَايَا، وَقَدْ رُوِيَ عَنْ وَهْبِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، وَغَيْرِهِ مِنْ عُلَمَاءِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي قِصَّةِ أَيُّوبَ خَبَرٌ طَوِيلٌ فِي كَيْفِيَّةِ ذَهَابِ مَالِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ، وَبَلَائِهِ فِي جَسَدِهِ، وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِصِحَّتِهِ، وَعَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: كَانَ أَيُّوبُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَصَابَهُ الْجُدَرِيُّ. مدة بلاء أيوب عليه السلام ومرضه وَقَدِ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي مُدَّةِ بَلْوَاهُ عَلَى أَقْوَالٍ؛ فَزَعَمَ وَهْبٌ أَنَّهُ ابْتُلِيَ ثَلَاثَ سِنِينَ لَا تَزِيدُ وَلَا تَنْقُصُ. وَقَالَ أَنَسٌ ابْتُلِيَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ وَأَشْهُرًا، وَأُلْقِيَ عَلَى مَزْبَلَةٍ لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ تَخْتَلِفُ الدَّوَابُّ فِي جَسَدِهِ حَتَّى فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، وَعَظَّمَ لَهُ الْأَجْرَ، وَأَحْسَنَ الثَّنَاءَ عَلَيْهِ. وَقَالَ حُمَيْدٌ: مَكَثَ فِي بَلْوَاهُ ثَمَانِيَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً. وَقَالَ السُّدِّيُّ: تَسَاقَطَ لَحْمُهُ حَتَّى لَمْ يَبْقَ إِلَّا الْعَظْمُ وَالْعَصَبُ، فَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ تَأْتِيهِ بِالرَّمَادِ تَفْرُشُهُ تَحْتَهُ، فَلَمَّا طَالَ عَلَيْهَا قَالَتْ: يَا أَيُّوبُ لَوْ دَعَوْتَ رَبَّكَ لَفَرَّجَ عَنْكَ. فَقَالَ: قَدْ عِشْتُ سَبْعِينَ سَنَةً صَحِيحًا فَهُوَ قَلِيلٌ لِلَّهِ أَنْ أَصْبِرَ لَهُ سَبْعِينَ سَنَةً، فَجَزِعَتْ مِنْ هَذَا الْكَلَامِ، وَكَانَتْ تَخْدُمُ النَّاسَ بِالْأَجْرِ، وَتُطْعِمُ أَيُّوبَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ ، ثُمَّ إِنَّ النَّاسَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَسْتَخْدِمُونَهَا لِعِلْمِهِمْ أَنَّهَا امْرَأَةُ أَيُّوبَ خَوْفًا أَنْ يَنَالَهُمْ مِنْ بَلَائِهِ أَوْ تُعْدِيَهُمْ بِمُخَالَطَتِهِ، فَلَمَّا لَمْ تَجِدْ أَحَدًا يَسْتَخْدِمُهَا عَمَدَتْ فَبَاعَتْ لِبَعْضِ بَنَاتِ الْأَشْرَافِ إِحْدَى ضَفِيرَتَيْهَا بِطَعَامٍ طَيِّبٍ كَثِيرٍ فَأَتَتْ بِهِ أَيُّوبَ. فَقَالَ: مِنْ أَيْنَ لَكِ هَذَا ؟ وَأَنْكَرَهُ فَقَالَتْ: خَدَمْتُ بِهِ أُنَاسًا. فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْغَدُ لَمْ تَجِدْ أَحَدًا فَبَاعَتِ الضَّفِيرَةَ الْأُخْرَى بِطَعَامٍ فَأَتَتْهُ بِهِ فَأَنْكَرَهُ أَيْضًا، وَحَلَفَ لَا يَأْكُلُهُ حَتَّى تُخْبِرَهُ مِنْ أَيْنَ لَهَا هَذَا الطَّعَامُ ؟ فَكَشَفَتْ عَنْ رَأْسِهَا خِمَارَهَا، فَلَمَّا رَأَى رَأْسَهَا مَحْلُوقًا. قَالَ فِي دُعَائِهِ: أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ. وعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ قَالَ: كَانَ لِأَيُّوبَ أَخَوَانِ فَجَاءَا يَوْمًا فَلَمْ يَسْتَطِيعَا أَنْ يَدْنُوَا مِنْهُ مِنْ رِيحِهِ فَقَامَا مِنْ بَعِيدٍ. فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا لِصَاحِبِهِ: لَوْ كَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِمَ مِنْ أَيُّوبَ خَيْرًا مَا ابْتَلَاهُ بِهَذَا. فَجَزِعَ أَيُّوبُ مِنْ قَوْلِهِمَا جَزَعًا لَمْ يَجْزَعْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ قَطُّ مِثْلَهُ، قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَبِتْ لَيْلَةً قَطُّ شَبْعَانًا، وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ مَكَانَ جَائِعٍ فَصَدِّقْنِي. فَصُدِّقَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَهُمَا يَسْمَعَانِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي لَمْ يَكُنْ لِي قَمِيصَانِ قَطُّ، وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ مَكَانَ عَارٍ فَصَدِّقْنِي. فَصُدِّقَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَهُمَا يَسْمَعَانِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ بِعِزَّتِكَ وَخَرَّ سَاجِدًا، فَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ بِعِزَّتِكَ لَا أَرْفَعُ رَأْسِي أَبَدًا حَتَّى تَكْشِفَ عَنِّي فَمَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ حَتَّى كَشَفَ عَنْهُ. وعَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ: إِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَيُّوبَ لَبِثَ بِهِ بَلَاؤُهُ ثَمَانِيَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً ، فَرَفَضَهُ الْقَرِيبُ وَالْبَعِيدُ إِلَّا رَجُلَيْنِ مِنْ إِخْوَانِهِ كَانَا مِنْ أَخَصِّ إِخْوَانِهِ لَهُ كَانَا يَغْدُوَانِ إِلَيْهِ وَيَرُوحَانِ، فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا لِصَاحِبِهِ: تَعْلَمُ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَذْنَبَ أَيُّوبُ ذَنْبًا مَا أَذْنَبَهُ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ. قَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ: وَمَا ذَاكَ ؟ قَالَ: مُنْذُ ثَمَانِيَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً لَمْ يَرْحَمْهُ رَبُّهُ فَيَكْشِفَ مَا بِهِ. فَلَمَّا رَاحَا إِلَيْهِ لَمْ يَصْبِرِ الرَّجُلُ حَتَّى ذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ، فَقَالَ أَيُّوبُ: لَا أَدْرِي مَا تَقُولُ غَيْرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ أَمُرُّ عَلَى الرَّجُلَيْنِ يَتَنَازَعَانِ فَيَذْكُرَانِ اللَّهَ، فَأَرْجِعُ إِلَى بَيْتِي فَأُكَفِّرُ عَنْهُمَا كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ يَذْكُرَا اللَّهَ إِلَّا فِي حَقٍّ. وَقِيلَ: كَانَ سَبَبُ دُعَائِهِ أَنَّهُ كَانَ قَدِ اتَّبَعَهُ ثَلَاثَةُ نَفَرٍ عَلَى دِينِهِ اسْمُ أَحَدِهِمْ بَلْدَدُ وَالْآخَرُ الِيفَرُ، وَالثَّالِثُ صَافَرُ، فَانْطَلَقُوا إِلَيْهِ وَهُوَ فِي الْبَلَاءِ فَبَكَّتُوهُ أَشَدَّ تَبْكِيتٍ، وَقَالُوا لَهُ: لَقَدْ أَذْنَبْتَ ذَنْبًا مَا أَذَنَبَهُ أَحَدٌ، فَلِهَذَا لَمْ يُكْشَفِ الْعَذَابُ عَنْكَ. وَطَالَ الْجِدَالُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَهُ، فَقَالَ فَتًى كَانَ مَعَهُمْ لَهُمْ كَلَامًا يَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَقَالَ: قَدْ تَرَكْتُمْ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ أَحْسَنَهُ، وَمِنَ الرَّأْيِ أَصْوَبَهُ، وَمِنَ الْأَمْرِ أَجْمَلَهُ، وَقَدْ كَانَ لِأَيُّوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَالذِّمَامِ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الَّذِي وَصَفْتُمْ، فَهَلْ تَدْرُونَ حَقَّ مَنِ انْتَقَصْتُمْ وَحُرْمَةَ مَنِ انْتَهَكْتُمْ، وَمَنِ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي عِبْتُمْ ؟ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ أَيُّوبَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ وَخِيرَتُهُ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ يَوْمَكُمْ هَذَا ؟ ثُمَّ لَمْ تَعْلَمُوا وَلَمْ يَعْلَمْكُمُ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ سَخِطَ شَيْئًا مِنْ أَمْرِهِ وَلَا أَنَّهُ نَزَعَ شَيْئًا مِنَ الْكَرَامَةِ الَّتِي كَرَّمَ اللَّهُ بِهَا عِبَادَهُ وَلَا أَنَّ أَيُّوبَ فَعَلَ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ فِي طُولِ مَا صَحِبْتُمُوهُ، فَإِنْ كَانَ الْبَلَاءُ هُوَ الَّذِي أَزْرَى بِهِ عِنْدَكُمْ وَوَضَعَهُ فِي نُفُوسِكُمْ، فَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْتَلِي النَّبِيِّينَ، وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ، وَالشُّهَدَاءَ، وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَلَيْسَ بَلَاؤُهُ لِأُولَئِكَ دَلِيلًا عَلَى سُخْطِهِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا عَلَى هَوَانِهِمْ عَلَيْهِ وَلَكِنَّهَا كَرَامَةٌ وَخَيْرَةٌ لَهُمْ. وَأَطَالَ فِي هَذَا النَّحْوِ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُمْ: وَقَدْ كَانَ فِي عَظَمَةِ اللَّهِ وَجَلَالِهِ وَذِكْرِ الْمَوْتِ مَا يَكِلُّ أَلْسِنَتَكُمْ وَيَكْسِرُ قُلُوبَكُمْ وَيَقْطَعُ حُجَّتَكُمْ، أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ لِلَّهِ عِبَادًا أَسْكَتَتْهُمْ خَشْيَتُهُ عَنِ الْكَلَامِ مِنْ غَيْرِ عَيٍّ وَلَا بَكَمٍ ؟ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَهُمُ الْفُصَحَاءُ الْأَلِبَّاءُ الْعَالِمُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ، وَلَكِنَّهُمْ إِذَا ذَكَرُوا عَظْمَةَ اللَّهِ انْكَسَرَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ، وَانْقَطَعَتْ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ، وَطَاشَتْ أَحْلَامُهُمْ، وَعُقُولُهُمْ فَزَعًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَهَيْبَةً لَهُ، فَإِذَا أَفَاقُوا اسْتَبَقُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ بِالْأَعْمَالِ الزَّاكِيَةِ يَعُدُّونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ مَعَ الظَّالِمِينَ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَأَبْرَارٌ، وَمَعَ الْمُقَصِّرِينَ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَأَكْيَاسٌ أَتْقِيَاءُ، وَلَكِنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْثِرُونَ لِلَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - الْكَثِيرَ وَلَا يَرْضَوْنَ لَهُ الْقَلِيلَ وَلَا يُدِلُّونَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْأَعْمَالِ فَهُمْ أَيْنَمَا لَقِيتَهُمْ خَائِفُونَ مَهِيمُونَ وَجِلُونَ. فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَيُّوبُ كَلَامَهُ قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَزْرَعُ الْحِكْمَةَ بِالرَّحْمَةِ فِي قَلْبِ الصَّغِيرِ، وَالْكَبِيرِ، فَمَتَّى كَانَتْ فِي الْقَلْبِ ظَهَرَتْ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ وَلَا تَكُونُ الْحِكْمَةُ مِنْ قِبَلِ السِّنِّ، وَالشَّيْبَةِ، وَلَا طُولِ التَّجْرِبَةِ، وَإِذَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَبْدًا حَكِيمًا عِنْدَ الصِّبَا لَمْ تَسْقُطْ مَنْزِلَتُهُ عِنْدَ الْحُكَّامِ. ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى الثَّلَاثَةِ، فَقَالَ: رَهِبْتُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُسْتَرْهَبُوا، وَبَكَيْتُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُضْرَبُوا، كَيْفَ بِكُمْ لَوْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ تَصَدَّقُوا عَنِّي بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُخَلِّصَنِي، أَوْ قَرِّبُوا قُرْبَانًا لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَتَقَبَّلَ وَيَرْضَى عَنِّي ؟ وَإِنَّكُمْ قَدْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ أَنْفُسُكُمْ فَظَنَنْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ عُوفِيتُمْ بِإِحْسَانِكُمْ فَبَغَيْتُمْ وَتَعَزَّزْتُمْ، لَوْ صَدَقْتُمْ وَنَظَرْتُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ رَبِّكُمْ لَوَجَدْتُمْ لَكُمْ عُيُوبًا سَتَرَهَا اللَّهُ بِالْعَافِيَةِ، وَقَدْ كُنْتُ فِيمَا خَلَا وَالرِّجَالُ يُوَقِّرُونَنِي وَأَنَا مَسْمُوعٌ كَلَامِي، مَعْرُوفٌ مِنْ حَقِّي، مُنْتَصَفٌ مِنْ خَصْمِي، فَأَصْبَحْتُ الْيَوْمَ وَلَيْسَ لِي رَأْيٌ وَلَا كَلَامٌ مَعَكُمْ، فَأَنْتُمْ أَشَدُّ عَلَيَّ مِنْ مُصِيبَتِي. ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهُمْ، وَأَقْبَلَ عَلَى رَبِّهِ مُسْتَغِيثًا بِهِ مُتَضَرِّعًا إِلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: رَبِّ، لِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْتَنِي ! لَيْتَنِي إِنْ كَرِهْتَنِي لَمْ تَخْلُقْنِي، يَا لَيْتَنِي كُنْتُ حَيْضَةً مُلْقَاةً، وَيَا لَيْتَنِي عَرَفْتُ الذَّنْبَ الَّذِي أَذْنَبْتُ فَصَرَفْتَ وَجْهَكَ الْكَرِيمَ عَنِّي ! لَوْ كُنْتَ أَمَتَّنِي فَالْمَوْتُ أَجْمَلُ بِي ! أَلَمْ أَكُنْ لِلْغَرِيبِ دَارًا، وَلِلْمِسْكِينِ قَرَارًا، وَلِلْيَتِيمِ وَلِيًّا، وَلِلْأَرْمَلَةِ قَيِّمًا ؟ إِلَهِي أَنَا عَبْدٌ ذَلِيلٌ إِنْ أَحْسَنْتُ فَالْمَنُّ لَكَ، وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُ فَبِيَدِكَ عُقُوبَتِي ! جَعَلْتَنِي لِلْبَلَاءِ غَرَضًا فَقَدْ وَقَعَ عَلِيَّ الْبَلَاءُ لَوْ سَلَّطْتَهُ عَلَى جَبَلٍ لَضَعُفَ عَنْ حَمْلِهِ فَكَيْفَ يَحْمِلُهُ ضَعْفِي ! ذَهَبَ الْمَالُ فَصِرْتُ أَسْأَلُ بِكَفِّي فَيُطْعِمُنِي مَنْ كُنْتُ أَعُولُهُ اللُّقْمَةَ الْوَاحِدَةَ فَيَمُنُّهَا عَلَيَّ وَيُعَيِّرُنِي ! هَلَكَ أَوْلَادِي، وَلَوْ بَقِيَ أَحَدُهُمْ أَعَانَنِي. فَقَدْ مَلَّتْنِي أَهْلِي وَعَقَّنِي أَرْحَامِي فَتَنَكَّرَتْ مَعَارِفِي، وَرَغِبَ عَنِّي صَدِيقِي، وَجُحِدَتْ حُقُوقِي، وَنُسِيَتْ صَنَائِعِي. أَصْرُخُ فَلَا يُصْرِخُونَنِي، وَأَعْتَذِرُ فَلَا يَعْذِرُونَنِي. دَعَوْتُ غُلَامِي فَلَمْ يُجِبْنِي، وَتَضَرَّعْتُ إِلَى أَمَتِي فَلَمْ تَرْحَمْنِي، وَإِنَّ قَضَاءَكَ هُوَ الَّذِي آذَانِي وَأَقْمَأَنِي، وَإِنَّ سُلْطَانَكَ هُوَ الَّذِي أَسْقَمَنِي. فَلَوْ أَنَّ رَبِّي نَزَعَ الْهَيْبَةَ الَّتِي فِي صَدْرِي وَأَطْلَقَ لِسَانِي حَتَّى أَتَكَلَّمَ مِلْءَ فَمِي، ثُمَّ كَانَ يَنْبَغِي لِلْعَبْدِ أَنْ يُحَاجَّ مَوْلَاهُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ - لَرَجَوْتُ أَنْ تُعَافِيَنِي عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ، وَلَكِنَّهُ أَلْقَانِي وَعَلَا عَنِّي فَهُوَ يَرَانِي وَلَا أَرَاهُ، وَيَسْمَعُنِي وَلَا أَسْمَعُهُ، لَا نَظَرَ إِلَيَّ فَرَحِمَنِي، وَلَا دَنَا مِنِّي فَأَتَكَلَّمَ بِبَرَاءَتِي وَأُخَاصِمَ عَنْ نَفْسِي. فَلَمَّا قَالَ أَيُّوبُ ذَلِكَ أَظَلَّتْهُمْ غَمَامَةٌ وَنُودِيَ مِنْهَا: يَا أَيُّوبُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ قَدْ دَنَوْتُ مِنْكَ وَلَمْ أَزَلْ مِنْكَ قَرِيبًا، فَقُمْ فَأَدْلِ بِحُجَّتِكَ، وَتَكَلَّمْ بِبَرَاءَتِكَ، وَقُمْ مَقَامَ جَبَّارٍ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُخَاصِمَنِي إِلَّا جَبَّارٌ. تَجْعَلُ الزِّيَارَ فِي فَمِ الْأَسَدِ، وَاللِّجَامَ فِي فَمِ التِّنِّينِ، وَتَكِيلُ مِكْيَالًا مِنَ النُّورِ، وَتَزِنُ مِثْقَالًا مِنَ الرِّيحِ، وَتُصِرُّ صُرَّةً مِنَ الشَّمْسِ، وَتَرُدُّ أَمْسِ. لَقَدْ مَنَّتْكَ نَفْسُكَ أَمْرًا لَا تَبْلُغُهُ بِمِثْلِ قُوَّتِكَ. أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تُكَابِرَنِي بِضَعْفِكَ أَمْ تُخَاصِمَنِي بِعَيِّكَ أَمْ تُحَاجِّنِي بِخَطَلِكَ ! أَيْنَ أَنْتَ مِنِّي يَوْمَ خَلَقْتُ الْأَرْضَ ؟ هَلْ عَلِمْتَ بِأَيِّ مِقْدَارٍ قَدَّرْتُهَا ؟ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ مَعِي يَوْمَ رَفَعْتُ السَّمَاءَ سَقْفًا فِي الْهَوَاءِ لَا بِعَلَائِقَ وَلَا بِدَعَائِمَ تَحْمِلُهَا ؟ هَلْ تَبْلُغُ حِكْمَتُكَ أَنْ تُجْرِيَ نُورَهَا، أَوْ تُسَيِّرَ نُجُومَهَا، أَوْ يَخْتَلِفَ بِأَمْرِكَ لَيْلُهَا وَنَهَارُهَا ؟ وَذَكَرَ أَشْيَاءَ مِنْ مَصْنُوعَاتِ اللَّهِ. فَقَالَ أَيُّوبُ: قَصَّرْتُ عَنْ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ ! لَيْتَ الْأَرْضَ انْشَقَّتْ لِي فَذَهَبْتُ فِيهَا وَلَمْ أَتَكَلَّمْ بِشَيْءٍ يُسْخِطُكَ ! إِلَهِي اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيَّ الْبَلَاءُ، وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ كُلَّ الَّذِي ذَكَرْتَ صُنْعُ يَدَيْكَ، وَتَدْبِيرُ حِكْمَتِكَ لَا يُعْجِزُكَ شَيْءٌ وَلَا تَخْفَى عَلَيْكَ خَافِيَةٌ، تَعْلَمُ مَا تُخْفِي الْقُلُوبُ، وَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ بَلَائِي مَا لَمْ أَكُنْ أَعْلَمُهُ. كُنْتُ أَسْمَعُ بِسَطْوَتِكَ سَمْعًا فَأَمَّا الْآنَ فَهُوَ نَظَرُ الْعَيْنِ. وَإِنَّمَا تَكَلَّمْتُ بِمَا تَكَلَّمْتُ بِهِ لِتَعْذِرَنِي، وَسَكَتُّ لِتَرْحَمَنِي، وَقَدْ وَضَعْتُ يَدَيَّ عَلَى فَمِي، وَعَضِضْتُ عَلَى لِسَانِي، وَأَلْصَقْتُ بِالتُّرَابِ خَدِّي فَدَسَسْتُ فِيهِ وَجْهِي فَلَا أَعُودُ لِشَيْءٍ تَكْرَهُهُ. وَدَعَا. فَقَالَ اللَّهُ: يَا أَيُّوبُ، نَفَذَ فِيكَ حُكْمِي، وَسَبَقَتْ رَحْمَتِي غَضَبِي، قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكَ وَرَدَدْتُ عَلَيْكَ أَهْلَكَ، وَمَالَكَ، وَمِثْلَهُمْ مَعَهُمْ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آيَةً وَعِبْرَةً لِأَهْلِ الْبَلَاءِ وَعَزَاءً لِلصَّابِرِينَ، فَـ ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ هَذَا مُغْتَسَلٌ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ، وَقَرِّبْ عَنْ أَصْحَابِكَ قُرْبَانًا وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ قَدْ عَصَوْنِي فِيكَ. فَرَكَضَ بِرِجْلِهِ فَانْفَجَرَتْ لَهُ عَيْنُ مَاءٍ، فَاغْتَسَلَ فِيهَا، فَرَفَعَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ الْبَلَاءَ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَجَلَسَ وَأَقْبَلَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ فَسَأَلَتْهُ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ: هَلْ تَعْرِفِينَهُ ؟ قَالَتْ: نَعَمْ، مَالِي لَا أَعْرِفُهُ ! فَتَبَسَّمَ، فَعَرَفَتْهُ بِضَحِكِهِ، فَاعْتَنَقَتْهُ فَلَمْ تُفَارِقْهُ مِنْ عِنَاقِهِ حَتَّى مَرَّ بِهِمَا كُلُّ مَالٍ لَهُمَا وَوَلَدٍ. وقيل: وَكَانَ يَخْرُجُ فِي حَاجَتِهِ فَإِذَا قَضَاهَا أَمْسَكَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ بِيَدِهِ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ أَبْطَأَتْ عَلَيْهِ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى أَيُّوبَ فِي مَكَانِهِ أَنِ: ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ هَذَا مُغْتَسَلٌ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ فَاسْتَبْطَأَتْهُ فَتَلَقَّتْهُ تَنْظُرُ، وَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهَا قَدْ أَذْهَبُ اللَّهُ مَا بِهِ مِنَ الْبَلَاءِ، وَهُوَ عَلَى أَحْسَنِ مَا كَانَ، فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ قَالَتْ: أَيْ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيكَ، هَلْ رَأَيْتَ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ هَذَا الْمُبْتَلَى ؟ فَوَاللَّهِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ مَا رَأَيْتُ رَجُلًا أَشْبَهَ بِهِ مِنْكَ إِذْ كَانَ صَحِيحًا. قَالَ: فَإِنِّي أَنَا هُوَ. قَالَ: وَكَانَ لَهُ أَنْدَرَانِ؛ أَنْدَرٌ لِلْقَمْحِ وَأَنْدَرٌ لِلشَّعِيرِ، فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ سَحَابَتَيْنِ فَلَمَّا كَانَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى أَنْدَرِ الْقَمْحِ أَفْرَغَتْ فِيهِ الذَّهَبَ حَتَّى فَاضَ، وَأَفْرَغَتِ الْأُخْرَى فِي أَنْدَرِ الشَّعِيرِ الْوَرِقَ حَتَّى فَاضَ. هَذَا لَفْظُ ابْنِ جَرِيرٍ. وعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: وَأَلْبَسُهُ اللَّهُ حُلَّةً مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَتَنَحَّى أَيُّوبُ، وَجَلَسَ فِي نَاحِيَةٍ، وَجَاءَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ فَلَمْ تَعْرِفْهُ فَقَالَتْ: يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ هَذَا الْمُبْتَلَى الَّذِي كَانَ هَاهُنَا، لَعَلَّ الْكِلَابَ ذَهَبَتْ بِهِ أَوِ الذِّئَابَ ؟ وَجَعَلَتْ تُكَلِّمُهُ سَاعَةً. قَالَ: وَيْحَكِ أَنَا أَيُّوبُ. قَالَتْ: أَتَسْخَرُ مِنِّي يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ ؟ فَقَالَ: وَيْحَكِ أَنَا أَيُّوبُ قَدْ رَدَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيَّ جَسَدِي. قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: وَرَدَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ مَالَهُ وَوَلَدَهُ بِأَعْيَانِهِمْ وَمِثْلَهُمْ مَعَهُمْ. وَقَالَ وَهْبُ بْنُ مُنَبِّهٍ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ: قَدْ رَدَدْتُ عَلَيْكَ أَهْلَكَ وَمَالَكَ، وَمِثْلَهُمْ مَعَهُمْ، فَاغْتَسِلْ بِهَذَا الْمَاءِ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ شِفَاءَكَ وَقَرِّبْ عَنْ صَحَابَتِكَ قُرْبَانًا، وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ قَدْ عَصَوْنِي فِيكَ. رَوَاهُ ابْنُ أَبِي حَاتِمٍ. وعَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ بَشِيرِ بْنِ نَهِيكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: لَمَّا عَافَى اللَّهُ أَيُّوبَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَمْطَرَ عَلَيْهِ جَرَادًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَجَعَلَ يَأْخُذُ بِيَدِهِ، وَيَجْعَلُ فِي ثَوْبِهِ. قَالَ: فَقِيلَ لَهُ: يَا أَيُّوبُ أَمَا تَشْبَعُ ؟ قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ وَمَنْ يَشْبَعُ مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ. وَقَوْلُهُ: ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ أَيِ اضْرِبِ الْأَرْضَ بِرِجْلِكَ فَامْتَثَلَ مَا أُمِرَ بِهِ فَأَنْبَعَ اللَّهُ لَهُ عَيْنًا بَارِدَةَ الْمَاءِ، وَأُمِرَ أَنْ يَغْتَسِلَ فِيهَا، وَيَشْرَبَ مِنْهَا، فَأَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ مَا كَانَ يَجِدُهُ مِنَ الْأَلَمِ وَالْأَذَى وَالسَّقَمِ وَالْمَرَضِ، الَّذِي كَانَ فِي جَسَدِهِ ظَاهِرًا وَبَاطِنًا، وَأَبْدَلَهُ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ صِحَّةً ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً، وَجَمَالًا تَامًّا، وَمَالًا كَثِيرًا حَتَّى صَبَّ لَهُ مِنَ الْمَالِ صَبًّا مَطَرًا عَظِيمًا جَرَادًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ، وَأَخْلَفَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَهْلَهُ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: وَآتَيْنَاهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُمْ مَعَهُمْ. فَقِيلَ أَحْيَاهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَعْيَانِهِمْ. وَقِيلَ: آجَرَهُ فِيمَنْ سَلَفَ، وَعَوَّضَهُ عَنْهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا بَدَلَهُمْ، وَجَمَعَ لَهُ شَمْلَهُ بِكُلِّهِمْ فِي الدَّارِ الْآخِرَةِ. وَقَوْلُهُ: رَحْمَةً مِنْ عِنْدِنَا. أَيْ رَفَعْنَا عَنْهُ شِدَّتَهُ، وَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِ مِنْ ضُرٍّ رَحْمَةً مِنَّا بِهِ وَرَأْفَةً وَإِحْسَانًا وَذِكْرَى لِلْعَابِدِينَ أَيْ تَذْكِرَةً لِمَنِ ابْتُلِيَ فِي جَسَدِهِ أَوْ مَالِهِ أَوْ وَلَدِهِ فَلَهُ أُسْوَةٌ بِنَبِيِّ اللَّهِ أَيُّوبَ، حَيْثُ ابْتَلَاهُ اللَّهُ بِمَا هُوَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، فَصَبَرَ وَاحْتَسَبَ حَتَّى فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ. وَمَنْ فَهِمَ مِنْ هَذَا اسْمَ امْرَأَتِهِ. فَقَالَ: هِيَ رَحْمَةُ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ فَقَدْ أَبْعَدَ النُّجْعَةَ، وَأَغْرَقَ فِي النَّزْعِ. وَقَالَ الضَّحَّاكُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: رَدَّ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهَا شَبَابَهَا وَزَادَهَا حَتَّى وَلَدَتْ لَهُ سِتَّةً وَعِشْرِينَ وَلَدًا ذَكَرًا. وَعَاشَ أَيُّوبُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ سَبْعِينَ سَنَةً بِأَرْضِ الرُّومِ عَلَى دِينِ الْحَنِيفِيَّةِ، ثُمَّ غَيَّرُوا بَعْدَهُ دِينَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ. رخصة أيوب عليه السلام فِيمَا كَانَ مِنْ حَلِفِهِ لَيَضْرِبَنَّ امْرَأَتَهُ مِائَةَ سَوْطٍ وَقَوْلُهُ: خُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًا فَاضْرِبْ بِهِ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَاهُ صَابِرًا نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ. هَذِهِ رُخْصَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى لِعَبْدِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ أَيُّوبَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِيمَا كَانَ مِنْ حَلِفِهِ لَيَضْرِبَنَّ امْرَأَتَهُ مِائَةَ سَوْطٍ. فَقِيلَ: حَلِفُهُ ذَلِكَ لِبَيْعِهَا ضَفَائِرَهَا. وَقِيلَ: لِأَنَّهُ اعْتَرَضَهَا الشَّيْطَانُ فِي صُورَةِ طَبِيبٍ يَصِفُ لَهَا دَوَاءً لِأَيُّوبَ، فَأَتَتْهُ فَأَخْبَرَتْهُ، فَعَرَفَ أَنَّهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَحَلَفَ لَيَضْرِبَنَّهَا مِائَةَ سَوْطٍ، فَلَمَّا عَافَاهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَفْتَاهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ ضِغْثًا، وَهُوَ كَالْعِثْكَالِ الَّذِي يَجْمَعُ الشَّمَارِيخَ فَيَجْمَعَهَا كُلَّهَا وَيَضْرِبَهَا بِهِ ضَرْبَةً وَاحِدَةً، وَيَكُونُ هَذَا مُنْزَلًا مَنْزِلَةَ الضَّرْبِ بِمِائَةِ سَوْطٍ، وَيَبَرُّ وَلَا يَحْنَثُ. وَهَذَا مِنَ الْفَرَجِ وَالْمَخْرَجِ لِمَنِ اتَّقَى اللَّهَ، وَأَطَاعَهُ، وَلَا سِيَّمَا فِي حَقِّ امْرَأَتِهِ الصَّابِرَةِ الْمُحْتَسِبَةِ الْمُكَابِدَةِ الصِّدِّيقَةِ الْبَارَّةِ الرَّاشِدَةِ ؓ؛ وَلِهَذَا عَقَّبَ اللَّهُ هَذِهِ الرُّخْصَةَ، وَعَلَّلَهَا بِقَوْلِهِ: إِنَّا وَجَدْنَاهُ صَابِرًا نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ. وَقَدِ اسْتَعْمَلَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْفُقَهَاءِ هَذِهِ الرُّخْصَةَ فِي بَابِ الْأَيْمَانِ وَالنُّذُورِ، وَتَوَسَّعَ آخَرُونَ فِيهَا حَتَّى وَضَعُوا كِتَابَ الْحِيَلِ فِي الْخَلَاصِ مِنَ الْأَيْمَانِ، وَصَدَّرُوهُ بِهَذِهِ الْآيَةِ الْكَرِيمَةِ، وَأَتَوْا فِيهِ بِأَشْيَاءَ مِنَ الْعَجَائِبِ وَالْغَرَائِبِ.
Translation
✧ And part of his story and the cause of his affliction was that Iblīs heard the angels responding to one another in blessing upon Job when God mentioned him, so he envied him, and asked God to give him power over him in order to tempt him away from his religion. So He gave him power over his wealth only. Iblīs gathered the chief ones of his companions from among the ʿifrīts. The scholars of exegesis, history, and others said: Job was a man of great wealth of all kinds and types, including livestock, slaves, cattle, and extensive lands in the land of al-Bathaniyyah in the land of Ḥawrān. Ibn ʿAsākir related that all of it belonged to him, and he had many children and family members. Then he was stripped of all of that, and he was afflicted in his body with various kinds of trial, and no limb remained sound except his heart and his tongue, with which he remembered God (mighty and glorious). Throughout all of that he was patient, seeking reward, remembering God (mighty and glorious) by night and day, morning and evening. His illness lasted so long that the companion avoided him, and the intimate friend was estranged from him. He was expelled from his town and cast onto a dung heap outside it. People cut themselves off from him, and no one remained to care for him except his wife. She preserved his right, and she knew his past kindness to her and his compassion for her. She used to come and go to him, setting right his affairs, helping him with his needs, and attending to his welfare. Her condition weakened and her money dwindled until she served people for wages in order to feed him and support him — ؓ and satisfy her — while she remained patient with him through what had befallen them of loss of wealth and children, and through the affliction that was hers particularly because of her husband, the straitened circumstances, and serving people after happiness, blessing, service, and honor. “Indeed we belong to God, and indeed to Him we return.” It is established in the Ṣaḥīḥ that the Messenger of God ﷺ said: “The people most severely tried are the prophets, then the righteous, then the next best and the next best. A man is tried according to his religion; if his religion is firm, his trial is increased.” None of this increased Job ﷺ in anything but patience, seeking reward, praise, and gratitude, to the point that the proverb is struck with his patience ﷺ, and the proverb is also struck with what befell him of various kinds of trials. It has been narrated from Wahb b. Munabbih and others among the scholars of the Children of Israel regarding the story of Job a long account of how his wealth and children were taken and how he was afflicted in his body, but God knows best about its authenticity. From Mujāhid, he said: Job ﷺ was the first person to be afflicted with smallpox. The duration of Job’s trial and illness ﷺ. They differed about the duration of his trial according to various statements. Wahb claimed that he was tried for three years, no more and no less. Anas said: He was tried for seven years and some months, and he was cast onto a dung heap of the Children of Israel, with beasts passing over his body, until God relieved him, magnified his reward, and gave him excellent praise. Ḥumayd said: He remained in his trial for eighteen years. Al-Suddī said: His flesh fell away until nothing remained but bone and sinew. His wife used to bring him ashes and spread them beneath him. When it became long for her, she said: “O Job, if only you would call upon your Lord, He would relieve you.” He said: “I lived seventy years healthy, so it is a small thing for God that I be patient for Him for seventy years.” She despaired at this speech. She used to serve people for wages and feed Job ﷺ. Then people would not employ her because they knew she was Job’s wife, for fear that his affliction would befall them or that they would be infected by association with him. When she found no one to employ her, she went and sold one of her two braids to one of the daughters of the nobles for a great amount of good food, and she brought it to Job. He said: “Where did you get this?” and he disapproved of it. She said: “I served some people for it.” The next day she found no one, so she sold the other braid for food and brought it to him. He disapproved of it as well, and he swore that he would not eat it until she told him where she had gotten this food. She uncovered the veil from her head, and when he saw her head shaved, he said in his supplication: “Truly distress has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.” From ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿUbayd b. ʿUmayr, he said: Job had two brothers. One day they came, but they could not approach him because of his odor, so they stood at a distance. One of them said to his companion: “If God knew any good in Job, He would not have tried him with this.” Job despaired at their words with a despair such as he had never felt at anything before. He said: “O God, if You know that I never spent a night full while knowing of a hungry person, then declare me truthful.” He was declared truthful from heaven while they both listened. Then he said: “O God, if You know that I never had two shirts while knowing of a naked person, then declare me truthful.” He was declared truthful from heaven while they both listened. Then he said: “O God, by Your might,” and he fell prostrate. He said: “O God, by Your might, I will never raise my head until You relieve me.” And he did not raise his head until He relieved him. From Anas b. Mālik, that the Prophet ﷺ said: “God’s prophet Job remained in his trial for eighteen years. Kin and stranger rejected him except two men from among his brothers, who were among his closest brothers. They used to come to him morning and evening. One of them said to his companion: ‘By God, you know that Job has committed a sin that no one in the worlds has committed.’ His companion said to him: ‘And what is that?’ He said: ‘For eighteen years his Lord has not had mercy on him to remove what is in him.’ When they came to him, the man could not refrain from mentioning that to him. Job said: ‘I do not know what you say, except that God (mighty and glorious) knows that I used to pass by two men disputing and mentioning God, and I would return to my house and make expiation for them, out of dislike that they mention God except with truth.’ It was also said: The cause of his supplication was that three men on his religion had followed him: one named Bildad, another Eliphaz, and the third Zophar. They set out to him while he was in affliction, and they rebuked him with the severest rebuke. They said to him: ‘You have committed a sin that no one has committed, and for this the punishment has not been removed from you.’ The dispute between them and him grew long. Then a young man who was with them spoke words to them in reply, saying: ‘You have abandoned the best of speech, the soundest of opinion, and the fairest of conduct. Job had over you a greater right and claim than what you have described. Do you know the right of the one you have disparaged, the sanctity of the one you have violated, and who is the man you have found fault with? Do you not know that Job is God’s prophet and His chosen one among His creation on this day of yours? And you do not know, nor has God made known to you, that He has been displeased with anything of his affair, nor that He has stripped him of any of the honor with which God honors His servants, nor that Job has done anything but the truth throughout the time you have accompanied him. If it is the trial that has belittled him in your eyes and lowered him in your estimation, then you know that God tries the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous, and His trial of them is not evidence of His displeasure with them nor of their being despised by Him; rather it is an honor and a choice for them.’ And he spoke at length in this manner. Then he said to them: ‘And in the greatness and majesty of God and the remembrance of death there is what would weary your tongues, break your hearts, and cut off your argument. Do you not know that God has servants whom fear of Him silences from speaking, without inability or dumbness? They are indeed eloquent, intelligent, knowledgeable about God and His signs, but when they remember the greatness of God their hearts break, their tongues are cut off, and their minds and intellects are confounded out of fear of God and awe of Him. When they recover, they hasten to God with pure deeds, counting themselves among the wrongdoers though they are righteous, and among the negligent though they are shrewd and God-fearing. But they do not consider much done for God (mighty and glorious) as much, nor are they content with little for Him, nor do they make a show of their deeds to Him. Wherever you meet them, they are fearful, bewildered, and trembling.’ When Job heard his words, he said: ‘God plants wisdom by mercy in the heart of the young and the old. Whenever it is in the heart, it appears on the tongue. Wisdom does not come from age, gray hair, or long experience. When God Most High makes a servant wise in youth, his rank does not fall before the judges.’ Then he turned to the three and said: ‘You feared before you were made to fear, and you wept before you were struck. What would become of you if I said to you: Give charity on my behalf from your wealth, perhaps God will deliver me, or offer a sacrifice, perhaps God will accept and be pleased with me? Indeed your souls have pleased you, and you have thought that you have been spared because of your good deeds, so you have transgressed and become proud. If you were truthful and looked between yourselves and your Lord, you would find for yourselves faults that God has concealed with well-being. In the past, men used to honor me, my words were heard, my right was known, and justice was obtained for me against my adversary. But today I have become without opinion or speech with you, and you are harder upon me than my affliction.’ Then he turned away from them and faced his Lord, seeking His help and humbling himself to Him. He said: ‘My Lord, why did You create me! Would that, if You disliked me, You had not created me. Would that I were a cast-off menstrual rag. Would that I knew the sin I committed so that You turned Your noble face away from me! If You had caused me to die, death would be more befitting for me! Was I not a home for the stranger, a refuge for the poor, a guardian for the orphan, and a caretaker for the widow? My God, I am a lowly servant. If I do good, the grace is Yours, and if I do evil, my punishment is in Your hand! You made me a target for affliction, and affliction has fallen upon me. If You had imposed it upon a mountain, it would have been too weak to bear it, so how can my weakness bear it! Wealth has gone, and I have come to beg with my palm. The one I used to support feeds me a single morsel and grants it to me as a favor and reproaches me with it! My children have perished, and had one of them remained he would have helped me. My family has grown weary of me, my kin have been undutiful to me, my acquaintances have become strangers, my friend has turned away from me, my rights have been denied, and my good deeds have been forgotten. I cry out and no one answers me, I apologize and no one excuses me. I called my servant and he did not answer me, I pleaded with my slave-girl and she did not pity me. Indeed Your decree is what has harmed me and humiliated me, and Your authority is what has made me ill. If my Lord removed the awe that is in my breast and loosed my tongue so that I could speak my fill, and then it were befitting for a servant to argue with his master on his own behalf, I would hope that You would then heal me. But He has cast me down and risen above me. He sees me and I do not see Him, He hears me and I do not hear Him. He has not looked at me and had mercy on me, nor drawn near to me so that I might speak of my innocence and plead for myself.’ When Job said that, a cloud overshadowed them and a voice called from it: ‘O Job, God says: I have drawn near to you and have not ceased to be near to you. Arise, present your argument, speak of your innocence, and stand in the station of a mighty one, for none should dispute with Me except a mighty one. Would you put the halter in the mouth of the lion, and the bit in the mouth of the dragon, and measure a measure of light, and weigh a weight of wind, and bind up a bundle of the sun, and bring back yesterday? Your soul has promised you a matter you cannot attain with the like of your strength. Did you wish to contend with Me by your weakness, or dispute with Me by your inability, or argue with Me by your error? Where were you with Me on the day I created the earth? Did you know by what measure I determined it? Where were you with Me on the day I raised the heaven as a roof in the air, without suspensions or pillars to bear it? Can your wisdom reach to make its light run, or to set its stars in motion, or that its night and day alternate by your command?’ And He mentioned things of God’s creations. Job said: ‘I have fallen short of this matter! Would that the earth had split open for me and I had gone into it, and had not spoken anything that displeases You! My God, trial has gathered against me, and I know that everything You have mentioned is the work of Your hands and the arrangement of Your wisdom. Nothing is beyond You and no hidden thing is concealed from You. You know what hearts conceal, and You knew my trial as I did not know it. I used to hear of Your might by hearing, but now it is sight of the eye. I spoke what I spoke only that You might excuse me, and I was silent only that You might have mercy on me. I have placed my hand upon my mouth, bitten my tongue, and pressed my cheek to the dust, burying my face in it. I will not return to anything You dislike.’ And he supplicated. Then God said: ‘O Job, My decree has taken effect in you, and My mercy has preceded My wrath. I have forgiven you and restored to you your family and your wealth, and the like of them with them, so that you may be a sign for those after you and a lesson for the people of trial and a consolation for the patient. So strike with your foot; this is a cool washing-place and a drink, and in it is healing. And offer a sacrifice on behalf of your companions and ask forgiveness for them, for they have disobeyed Me regarding you.’ So he struck with his foot, and a spring of water burst forth for him. He bathed in it, and God removed from him the trial. Then he came out and sat down. His wife came and asked him about him. He said: ‘Do you recognize him?’ She said: ‘Yes, why would I not recognize him!’ He smiled, and she recognized him by his laughter. She embraced him and did not release him from her embrace until every bit of their wealth and children passed by them. It was also said: He used to go out to relieve himself, and when he finished, his wife would take him by the hand until he returned. One day she was late to him, and God revealed to Job in his place: ‘Strike with your foot; this is a cool washing-place and a drink.’ She delayed him, and she went to meet him looking. He came toward her with God having removed from him what was in him of affliction, and he was in the best state he had been. When she saw him, she said: ‘May God bless you, have you seen God’s prophet, this afflicted one? By God, after that I have not seen a man more like him than you when he was healthy.’ He said: ‘Indeed I am he.’ He said: He had two threshing floors; one for wheat and one for barley. God sent two clouds. When one of them was over the wheat floor, it poured gold into it until it overflowed, and the other poured silver into the barley floor until it overflowed. This is the wording of Ibn Jarīr. From Ibn ʿAbbās, he said: And God clothed him in a robe from Paradise. Job moved aside and sat in a corner. His wife came and did not recognize him. She said: ‘O servant of God, this afflicted one who was here — perhaps dogs have taken him or wolves?’ And she kept talking to him for a while. He said: ‘Woe to you, I am Job.’ She said: ‘Do you mock me, O servant of God?’ He said: ‘Woe to you, I am Job; God has restored to me my body.’ Ibn ʿAbbās said: And God restored to him his wealth and his children in their very selves, and the like of them with them. Wahb b. Munabbih said: God revealed to him: ‘I have restored to you your family and your wealth, and the like of them with them. Wash with this water, for in it is your healing, and offer a sacrifice on behalf of your companions, and ask forgiveness for them, for they have disobeyed Me regarding you.’ Narrated by Ibn Abī Ḥātim. From al-Naḍr b. Anas, from Bashīr b. Nahīk, from Abū Hurayrah, from the Prophet ﷺ, he said: “When God healed Job ﷺ, He rained upon him locusts of gold. He began to take them with his hand and put them in his garment. It was said to him: ‘O Job, are you not satisfied?’ He said: ‘O Lord, who can be satisfied with Your mercy?’” And His saying: “Strike with your foot” means strike the earth with your foot. He complied with what he was commanded, and God caused a spring of cool water to gush forth for him. He was commanded to bathe in it and drink from it, and God removed from him the pain, harm, sickness, and illness that had been in his body, outwardly and inwardly. After all that, God gave him in place of it complete outward and inward health, perfect beauty, and abundant wealth, until He poured wealth upon him in a great rain of locusts of gold. God restored his family to him, as He (Most High) said: “And We gave him his family and the like of them with them.” It was said: God brought them back to life in their own persons. It was said: He rewarded him for those who had passed away and compensated him with their replacements in this world, and He will gather his entire family together for him in the Abode of the Hereafter. And His saying: “as a mercy from Us” means We removed his hardship and relieved his distress as a mercy from Us to him, and kindness and goodness, and as a reminder for the worshipers — that is, a reminder for whoever is tried in his body, wealth, or children, that he has an example in God’s prophet Job, where God tried him with what is greater than that, and he was patient and sought reward until God relieved him. And whoever understood from this the name of his wife, saying: “She is Raḥmah from this verse,” has gone far from the point and plunged deep in error. Al-Ḍaḥḥāk said, from Ibn ʿAbbās: God restored to her her youth and increased her, until she bore him twenty-six male children. Job lived after that for seventy years in the land of Rūm upon the religion of ḥanīfiyyah. Then after him they changed the religion of Abraham. Job’s dispensation ﷺ regarding his oath to strike his wife a hundred lashes. And His saying: “Take in your hand a bundle of rushes and strike with it, and do not break your oath. Indeed We found him patient — an excellent servant. Indeed he was one who repeatedly turned back to God.” This is a dispensation from God Most High to His servant and messenger Job ﷺ regarding his oath to strike his wife a hundred lashes. It was said: His oath was because she sold her braids. It was said: Because Satan appeared to her in the form of a physician describing for her a remedy for Job, and she came to him and told him, and he recognized that it was Satan, so he swore to strike her a hundred lashes. When God (mighty and glorious) healed him, He gave him the ruling to take a bundle of rushes, which is like a palm branch that gathers the spikelets, and to gather them all and strike her with it once. This would take the place of striking with a hundred lashes, and he would fulfill his oath without breaking it. This is one of the ways of relief and a way out for whoever fears God and obeys Him, especially in the right of his patient, reward-seeking, enduring, truthful, dutiful, rightly guided wife — ؓ. For this reason God followed this dispensation with its explanation in His saying: “Indeed We found him patient — an excellent servant. Indeed he was one who repeatedly turned back to God.” Many jurists have applied this dispensation in the chapter on oaths and vows, and others expanded upon it until they composed the Book of Legal Stratagems for deliverance from oaths, beginning it with this noble verse, and they brought in it amazing and strange things.
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