
And We gave him (back) his people, and doubled their number,- as a Grace from Ourselves, and a thing for commemoration, for all who have Understanding.
Job (Ayub) was a prosperous man, with faith in
Allah, living somewhere in the north-east comer of
Arabia.
He suffers from a number of calamities:
- his cattle are destroyed,
- his servants slain by the sword,
- and his family crushed under his roof.
But he holds fast to his faith in Allah.
As a further calamity he is covered with loathsome sores
from head to foot. He loses his peace of mind, and he
curses the day he was born. His false friends come and
attribute his afflictions to sin.
These “Job’s comforters” are no comforters at all, and he
further loses his balance of mind, but Allah recalls to him
all His mercies, and he resumes his humility and gives
up self-justification.
He is restored to prosperity, with twice as much as he
had before; his brethren and friends come back to him;
he had a new family of seven sons and three fair
daughters. He lived to a good old age, and saw four
generations of descendants.
All this is recorded in the Book of Job in the Old
Testament.
39
Of all the Hebrew writings, the Hebrew of this Book
comes nearest to Arabic. The account given in the
Biblical sources and the image that it projects of Prophet
Job is decidedly different from that found in the Quran
and the Hadith, which present him as a prophet and
brilliant example of dignified patience becoming of a
great Prophet of Allah ever trustful in Him and His
promises.
Nothing could be farther from truth than saying that he
lost his peace of mind or resorted to curses during the
period of his trial. (R).
References:
Yusuf Ali, Abdullah. Translation and Commentary of the Quran. (surah 38 verse 43). Quran Arabic with English Translation & Commentary (Tafsir) by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Free Download (quran4u.com)