۞ وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ 83
Translations
And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the most merciful of the merciful."
Transliteration
Wa-ayyuba idh nada rabbahu anni massa-niya ad-durru wa-anta arhamu ar-rahimin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Prophet Ayub (Job) calling upon his Lord, acknowledging that he has been afflicted with hardship while recognizing Allah's supreme mercy. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that despite his suffering, Ayub maintained perfect faith and did not complain to Allah with despair, but rather appealed to His mercy as the Most Merciful of all who show mercy. The ayah illustrates the permissibility of expressing one's pain to Allah while maintaining complete trust in His wisdom and compassion.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Anbiya, which is a Meccan surah listing stories of various prophets. The context here specifically highlights Ayub's patience and faith during his trial of severe illness and loss, presenting his example as encouragement to the early Muslim community facing persecution. The story of Ayub is referenced to demonstrate that all prophets faced trials, and that appealing to Allah's mercy during hardship is an act of faith, not weakness.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim record that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'No fatigue, illness, sorrow, sadness, hurt or anxiety befalls a Muslim, even if it be the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it.' This relates to Ayub's affliction as a means of expiation and purification.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that experiencing hardship does not diminish one's faith; rather, expressing one's pain directly to Allah while affirming His mercy is the pathway to spiritual resilience. In modern times, this reminds us that mental and physical suffering can be voiced to Allah with complete honesty, as such vulnerability before the Divine is an expression of profound faith rather than doubt.
Related Ayahs
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا۟ جَآءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّىَ مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
[They continued] until, when the messengers despaired and were certain that they had been denied, there came to them Our victory, and whoever We willed was saved. And Our punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals.
وَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا ۖ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ
And be patient, [O Muḥammad], for the decision of your Lord, for indeed, you are in Our eyes [i.e., sight]. And exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord when you arise
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allāh is with the patient.
ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allāh, and indeed to Him we will return."