Iblis became desperate. He
consulted his helpers but they asked him:
"How is it that your cleverness cannot work against Ayoub (A), yet you succeeded
in misleading Adam, the father of man, out of paradise?"
Iblis went to Ayoub (A)’s wife in the form of a man. "Where is your husband?" he
asked her.
She pointed to an almost lifeless form crumpled on the bed and said: "There he
is, suspended between life and death."
Iblis reminded her of the days when he had enjoyed good health, wealth and
children. The painful memory of years of hardship overwhelmed her. She burst
into tears and asked her husband:
"How long are you going to bear this torture from our Lord? Are we to remain
without wealth, children or friends forever? Why don’t you call upon Allah to
remove this suffering?"
Ayoub (A) sighed, and replied softly:
"Iblis must have whispered to you and made you dissatisfied. Tell me, how long
did I enjoy good health and riches?"
She replied, "For eighty years."
Then he asked, "How long have I been suffering like this?"
She said, "Seven years."
Then he told her: "In that case I am ashamed to call on my Lord to remove the
hardship, for I have not suffered longer than the years of good health and
plenty that I enjoyed. Your faith seems to have weakened and you are
dissatisfied with the fate decreed by Allah. If I ever regain health, I swear I
will punish you with a hundred strokes! From this day, I shall not eat or drink
anything from your hand. Leave me alone and let my Lord do with me as He
pleases."
Crying bitterly, with no other choice, she left with a heavy heart. In his
helpless state, Ayoub (A) turned to Allah, not to complain but to seek His
mercy:
"And (remember) Ayyub (Job), when he cried to his Lord: ‘Verily, distress has
seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy.’ 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 those who worship Us” (Al-Anbiya
21:83-84).
Almighty Allah further says in the Quran:
"And remember Our slave Ayyub (Job), when he invoked his Lord (saying): ‘Verily
Shaitan (Satan) has touched me with distress (by ruining my health) and torment
(by ruining my wealth)!’ (Allah said to him): "Strike the ground with your foot:
This is (a spring of) water to wash in, and a cool and (refreshing) drink." 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 (Sad 38:41-43).
Ayoub (A) obeyed Allah’s instructions, and almost immediately his good health
was restored. Meanwhile, his faithful wife who could no longer bear to be parted
from her husband returned to beg his forgiveness, and to serve him. On entering
the house, she was amazed at the sudden change she saw. Ayoub (A) had regained
his health! She embraced him and thanked Allah for His mercy.
Ayoub (A) was now worried about the oath he had taken to punish her with a
hundred strokes if he regained health. He did not wish to hurt her but could not
break a promise to Allah. Therefore, Allah in His wisdom and mercy, came to the
assistance of His faithful servant, and instructed him:
"And take in your hand a bundle of thin grass and strike therewith (your wife),
and break not your oath" (Sad 38:44).
Thus Allah the Most Merciful rewards His faithful and grateful servants.
Source: Ibn Kathir
This story should remind us that we should never make our worship and sincerity
toward Allah contingent on our perceived blessings. Allah tests us in many ways
and we should, therefore, be steadfast in His worship constantly.