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Prophets

What did Ibn Kathir say about Prophet Ayyūb?

Ayyūb (Job) is the archetype of ṣabr in the Qur'an and the prophetic tradition. Ibn Kathir gathers the Qur'anic verses and the classical narrations about his trial and restoration.

10 passages from 5 books in the library

The cited passage about the prophet Ayyūb (Job) recalls a moment of his testing and restoration: "he heard ten thousand voices from a cloud asking, O Job, from where do you possess this?" — reflecting the abundance Allah returned to him after his trial. In the tradition Ayyūb stands as the model of ṣabr, patient endurance through affliction. The remaining passages on the page mostly concern others who share the name, such as the Companion Abu Ayyūb al-Ansari, so the deeper account of Ayyūb's patience is best heard in the full book.

Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.

Where the answer comes from

The classical approach.

These passages are drawn from 5 books by Ibn Kathir, Imam al-Ghazali, and Imam al-Dhahabī — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.

Read them closely. If a passage doesn't sit right, open the full book in the library and listen to the chapter around it. Context in the classical tradition is everything.

Cover of Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
Ibn Kathir · Al-Bidāya wal-Nihāya

14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir → · Provenance →

  1. "until both overflowed. This account is considered rare and possibly a non-elevated report. Ibn Abbas narrated that Allah clothed Ayyub in a garment from paradise, and when his wife saw him, she did not recognize him. She thought the afflicted man might have been taken by animals. Ayyub revealed himself to her, saying, I am Ayyub, Allah has restored my body to me. Ibn Abbas also mentioned that Allah restored Ayyub's wealth and children, and Wahab ibn Munabbi added that Allah instructed Ayyub to bathe in the water for healing and to seek forgiveness for his companions."

  2. "Abu Hurairah narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that when Allah cured Ayyub, he showered him with a cloud of gold locusts. Ayyub began collecting them, and when asked if he was not satisfied, he replied, O Lord, who would be satisfied with your mercy? Imam Ahmad narrated a similar account where golden locusts were sent upon Ayyub, and he gathered them into his garment. When asked if it was enough, he responded, Yes, my Lord, but who can be free of the bounty of your favor? This narration is considered mawkuf, but there is also a marfu version from another chain. In another narration, while Ayyub was bathing,"

  3. "relieving his affliction. When they returned to Job, one of them could not contain himself and mentioned this to him. Job said, I know not what you say, but Allah, exalted and mighty, knows that I used to pass by two men arguing and mentioning Allah, so I would return home and atone for them, disliking that they mention Allah in anything but truth. It is said that Ayyub would go out to fulfill his needs, and when he finished his wife would guide him back. One day she was late, and Allah revealed to Ayyub, Strike with your foot, this is a cool washing place and a drink, as mentioned in Surah Saad. When his wife finally arrived,"

  4. "until he was indeed relieved. It is reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, Indeed, the Prophet of Allah, Job, endured his trial for eighteen years during which his relatives and kin abandoned him, except for two men who were among his closest brothers. They used to visit him morning and evening. One of them said to the other, By Allah, Job has committed a sin that none among the worlds has committed. His companion asked, What could that be? He replied, For eighteen years his Lord has not shown him mercy by relieving his affliction. When they returned to Job, one of them could not contain himself"

Cover of Volume 3 — The Sīrah: From the First Revelation to Badr
Volume 3 — The Sīrah: From the First Revelation to Badr
Ibn Kathir · Al-Bidāya wal-Nihāya

14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir → · Provenance →

  1. "They replied, We do not know this, three times. It is narrated that when the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, stayed at the house of Abu Ayyub, he chose to reside in the lower part of the house, while Abu Ayyub and his wife stayed in the upper part. Abu Ayyub expressed his discomfort, saying, By my father and mother, O Messenger of Allah, I dislike being above you while you are below me."

  2. "The Prophet, peace be upon him, insisted, I will not be above a roof under which you are. Eventually, the Prophet moved to the upper part, and Abu Ayyub stayed below. Abu Ayyub would prepare food for the Prophet and trace the place of his fingers on the dish. When the Prophet did not eat a meal containing garlic, Abu Ayyub asked if it was forbidden."

  3. "both light and heavy pronunciation. Al-Yasa is one name of a prophet among the prophets. I have previously recounted the story of Dhul-Kifl after the story of Ayyub, peace be upon them, as it has been said that he is the son of Ayyub. But Allah knows best. One day, while walking, he heard a voice from the sky. Looking up, he saw the angel who had come to him at Hira, sitting on a chair between the heavens and the earth. Terrified, he returned home and said, Wrap me up, wrap me up. Then Allah revealed, O you who are wrapped up, arise and worn, and your Lord glorify, and your garments purify, and abandon idolatry. As Allah"

Cover of Book 1: The Book of Knowledge
Book 1: The Book of Knowledge
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din

11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali → · Provenance →

  1. "Do you not see that Allah tested Ibrahim, then empowered him, tested Musa, then empowered him, tested Ayyub, then empowered him, and tested Sulayman, then empowered him and granted him dominion? Empowerment is the best of ranks, Allah says, 'Thus We established Yusuf in the land. After the great tribulation of Ayyub, he was empowered, Allah says, 'And We granted him his family and the like thereof with them.'" This statement from al-Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him, highlights his deep understanding of the secrets of the Qur’an and his knowledge of the spiritual states of those journeying towards Allah, among the Prophets and saints."

Cover of Volume 1
Volume 1
Imam al-Dhahabī · Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalā

13th–14th century · Damascus, Syria
Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ — the monumental biographical dictionary of Islamic scholarship, from the companions of the Prophet ﷺ through al-Dhahabī's own era. A working-scholar reference used for seven centuries.
More on Imam al-Dhahabī → · Provenance →

  1. "peace be upon him, who was staying with them. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, came out and asked, "What are you doing, Abu Ayyub?" Abu Ayyub explained the situation, and the Prophet said, "For you and your wife is Paradise." I said, "By Allah, this is Muhammad, the Messenger of Mercy." I greeted him and then presented him with a toothpick, placing it before him. He asked, "What is this, my son?" I replied, "It is charity." He said, "We do not eat from charity." So I took it back and offered him something else from my garment, saying, "This is a gift." He ate from it and shared it with those around him."

Cover of Al-Kabā'ir — The Major Sins
Al-Kabā'ir — The Major Sins
Imam al-Dhahabī · Timeless Classics

13th–14th century · Damascus, Syria
Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ — the monumental biographical dictionary of Islamic scholarship, from the companions of the Prophet ﷺ through al-Dhahabī's own era. A working-scholar reference used for seven centuries.
More on Imam al-Dhahabī → · Provenance →

  1. "to maintaining family ties and obeying Allah as all acts of righteousness are considered good conduct. The phrase or reconciliation among people is something the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him encouraged. He once said to Abu Ayyub Abu Ayyub replied yes O Messenger of Allah. The Prophet said reconcile between people when they become estranged and bring them closer when they become distant. Umm Habiba may Allah be pleased with her narrated that the Prophet peace be upon him said all of the words of the son of Adam are against him except for what is enjoining good forbidding what is wrong or remembering"

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