18. Mention the two supplications invoked by Ayyub (AS).

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتة      

ﺑِﺴْـــــــﻢِﷲِﺍﻟﺮَّﺣْﻤَﻦِﺍلرَّﺣِﻴﻢ

Answer:

"Verily distress has seized me and you are the Most of all those that are merciful.(21:83)

"Indeed, Shaithan has touched me with hardship and punishment." [38:41]

Explanation;

Seeing the sincerity of Ayyub (AS) in  repentance, gratitude and glorification of Allah, Shaithan became jealous of him.

He used all his tricks on Ayyub (AS) to distract from  but found Ayyub (AS) as a true believer least affected by his temptations. 

Frustrated Iblees complained to Allahuthala and asked, “If You remove his wealth then You will find that his tongue will no longer mention Your name and his praying will stop.”

Allah told Iblis that Ayyub (AS) was one of His most sincere devotees. He did not worship Him because of the favors; his worship stemmed from his heart and had nothing to do with material things. 

Ayyub (AS) said to Shaithan himself, who approached him as an old man, “What Allah has taken away from me belongs to Him. I was only its trustee for awhile. He gives to whom He wills and withholds from whom He wills.” With these words, Ayyub (AS) again prostrated to his Lord.

Ayyub (AS) was shifted from a blissful and favoured life to   extreme trials in wealth, children & health.

During this shifting Ayyub (AS):

● endured it patiently;

● he does not complain about his trails;

● he kept his un-shakeable faith in Allahuthala:

● he accepted the reality;

● never drifted to self-pity; 

● never had “woe is me” mentality; 

● he does not live in denial;

Still he said, “You are the Most Merciful of the merciful

In his tafsir, Ibn Khathir has written as follows:

Shaithan appeared before Allah and claimed though Ayyub (AS) shows his gratitude, if his children are taken away he will reject you. Allah granted him this authority but warned him it would not reduce the faith nor his patience.

But again Ayyub (AS) disappointed him by replying: “Allah sometimes gives and sometimes takes. He is sometimes pleased and sometimes displeased with our deeds. Whether a thing is beneficial or harmful to me, I will remain firm in my belief and remain thankful to my Creator.” then Ayyub (AS) prostrated to his Lord. 

At this Iblis was extremely vexed. Shaithan put some blame on the wife of Ayyub (AS) and separated her from him. She was the only helper that time. At this circumstan- ce Ayyub (AS) took a oath to punish her with 100 strokes.

He called upon Allah by saying:

“Verily distress has seized me and you are the Most of all those that are merciful". (21:83). 

“So We answered his call, and we removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him (that he had lost), and the like thereof along with them as a mercy from Ourselves and a Reminder for all who worship Us.” (21:84)

In another place of Quran, it was revealed, 'And remember Our servant Ayyub (AS), when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, Shaithan has touched me with hardship and punishment."' 

[38:41].

Allah said to him: “Strike the ground with your foot: This is a spring of water to wash in and cool and a refreshing drink."(38:42)

”And We gave him back his family, and along with them the like thereof as a Mercy from Us, and a reminder for those who understand.” (38:43).

Ayyub (AS) obeyed and almost immediately his good health was restored. 

Meanwhile, his faithful wife could returned to him to beg his forgiveness, desiring to serve him. On entering her house, she was amazed at the sudden change: Ayyub (AS) was healthy! She embraced him and thanked Allah for His mercy.

Ayyub (AS) was now worried, for he had taken an oath to punish her with a hundred strokes if he had regained health but he had no desire to hurt her. He knew if he did not fulfill the oath, he would be guilty of breaking a promise to Allah. Therefore in His wisdom and mercy, Allah came to the assistance of His faithful servant and advised him: “take in your hand a bundle of thin grass and strike therewith your wife, and break not your oath” [38:44].

Allah subhanwatawla has praised him in Quran for his patience:

“Verily, we found him patient. How excellent a slave. Indeed, he was the one repeatedly turning back to Allah” (38:44).

الحمدلله