INCIDENT OF PROPHET AYYUB (A.S)

Question:

As Salaamu Alaikum,

I am very confused regarding an issue. On one hand the ahlus sunnah wal jamah believe that a prophet of ALLAH can never have a disease or flaw that will make people shun him and stay away from him. But then there is a prophetic tradition It was narrated from Anas Ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah said: “Verily Ayyoob, the Prophet of Allah, suffered his trials for eighteen years, when he was shunned by relatives and strangers alike, except for two of his brothers who were among the closest of his brothers.” It continues further……..Narrated by Abu Ya‘la in al-Musnad, 6/299; Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh, 7/159; al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak, 2/635 This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan. Al-Haakim said: (It is saheeh) according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari and Muslim, although they did not narrate it. This was also stated by adh-Dhahabi in at-Talkhees. In Fath al-Baari, 6/421, Ibn Hajar described it as being the soundest report on this topic. It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah So on one side we have our core belief that a prophet never have a disease which will cause people to shun him while on the other side we have a Hadith which many scholars believe that is sahih. As a muslim what is the middle path to take in such situations?

Answer:

Bismillahi Wa Billahi At Tawfeeq

Wa Alaikum As Salaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh

The disease that Prophet Ayyub (peace be upon him) was afflicted with

The following can be said regarding this disease:

  • Prophet Ayyub (Alaihi As Salam) was afflicted by a severe disease. This illness is mentioned in Surah Al Anmbiya Verse 83 and Surah Saad verse 41.
  • No verse of the Quran or authentic tradition of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) mentions exactly what disease affected him.
  • The specifics of the disease are found in Israili narrations. (Jewish traations)
  • We believe that a Prophet of Allah cannot suffer from an ailment that causes people to loathe/detest/shun him.
  • As such, we do not believe that the ailment that afflicted Prophet Ayyub (Alaihi As Salam) was severe enough to cause people to detest/shun him.

It is important that we look at what the Great Scholars of Islam have said regarding this issue. We will quote a few of their statements.

  1. Maulana Muhammad Hifzur Rehman Seoharvi Sahib (Rahimahullah) writes in his monumental work, Qasas Al Quran: “In the Israili narratives, there are exaggerated accounts of the affliction of Ayyub Alaihi As Salam. His disease was described as a contagious disease like leprosy of ulcers and boils in which human beings develop a kind of aversion for the patient. Some Scholars have opined that a Prophet of God cannot be afflicted with such disease which may make him detestable to human beings around. As such, there is a possibility that his affliction may have preceded the bestowal of Prophethood on him. The second explanation is that the narratives of the Jewish origin are not reliable. The Holy Quran or the Traditions of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) gives us no details as they were not considered to be necessary.” (Qasas Al Quran Vol 1 Part 2 pg 519)
  2. Hadhrat Maulana Shabbir Ahmad Uthmani (Rahimahullah) writes: “The storytellers have exaggerated the incident of Nabi Ayyub (Alaihi As Salam). Any illness that causes people to loathe someone or feel repulsed by someone would undermine the honor/respect of the Prophets (Alaihim As Salam)…..As such, we should only accept that which does not undermine the dignity of Prophethood. (Tafseer Usmani 2/440)
  3. Allama Alusi’s Tafseer Ruh Al Maani states: While a prophet maybe tested with poverty, sickness and loss of family; it is not possible that he would reach such a state that his affliction would cause the people to detest him or to be repulsed by him……Whatever illness afflicted Prophet Ayyub (Alaihi As Salaam), it did not cause the people to loathe/detest him, nor did it cause them to feel repulsed by his condition. (23/208)
  4. Maariful Quran, written by Hadhrat Mufti Shafi Uthmani Sahib (Rahimahullah) mentions the following under commentary of verse 41 of Surah Saad: The Qur’an tells us that Sayyidna Ayyub (Alaihi As Salam) was afflicted with a serious disease, but nothing was said about the nature of this disease. Even in Ahadith, no details about it have been reported from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). Nevertheless, from some reports attributed to the Sahabah, it appears that blisters had erupted all over his body, and people had put him off on a dirt-heap out of nausea. But, some discerning commentators have refused to accept these attributed reports as correct. They say that diseases can afflict the blessed prophets, but they are not made to suffer from such diseases as would make people nauseated with it. Hence, this sort of disease cannot be attributed to Sayyidna Ayyub (Alaihi As Salam). Instead, they say, it was some common disease. Therefore, reports in which blisters have been attributed to Sayyidna Ayyub (Alaihi As Salam) or in which it has been said that he was put off on a dirt-heap are not trustworthy, neither in terms of the authenticity of the report, nor rationally (abridged from Ruh-ul-Ma’ani and Ahkam-ul-Qur’an). (7/ 530)
  5. Mufti Ashiq Ilahi Sahib (Rahimahullah) says the following in his Tafseer Anwarul Bayaan : “The above verses, as well as verses 41 to 44 of Surah Sad (Surah 34), make mention of the severe illness that befell Sayyidina Ayyub (Alaihi As Salaam). However, no verse mentions exactly what disease affected him and for what period he suffered. These facts are not even mentioned in any Ahadith from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). However, it is established that he suffered more than the average Prophet and that he lost all his children in the process. All the narrations that have been mentioned about him, find their source from the Bani Isra’il….However, it should be borne in mind that the narrations stating that Sayyidina Ayyub Alaihi As Salam had to lie in the dumps for a long period does not seem authentic because it contradicts the high standards of purity and cleanliness that the Prophets Alaihim As Salam The narrations stating that worms fell off from his body also do not seem correct because this would cause people to shun him, thereby hindering propagation.” (3/468)

Also refer to Tafseer Qurtubi 18/215

The Tradition of Hadhrat Anas (May Allah be pleased with him)

Hazrat Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) stated: “Verily Ayyub, the Prophet of Allah, suffered his trials for eighteen years, when he was shunned by relatives and strangers alike, except for two of his brothers who were among the closest of his brothers. They used to come to him in the morning and in the evening.…………..

It should be noted that:

  1. The Ulama have declared this tradition to be Saheeh (Authentic).
  2. Some Ulama, like Allama Ibn Kathir (Rahimahullah) have said that this tradition is Mawqoof (i.e. it is a statement of a Companion of the Prophet peace be upon him) and it is not Marfoo’ (i.e. a statement of the Prophet peace be upon him).

(Al Mustadrak Ala As Saheehain (Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadi’i) 2/685, Saheeh Ibn Habban bi-Tarteeb Ibn Balbaan With the tahqeeq of Sheikh Shuaib Al Arna’ut vol 7 Kitab Al Janaaiz Pg 157, Al Bidaya Wa An Nihaya 1/511, Fath Al Baari 6/421, Bughyatur Ra’id fee tahqeeqi Majma Az Zawaid Wa Manba Al Fawaidh Hadith 13800 vol 8 pg 381, Qasas Al Quran 2/191)

  1. Maulana Muhammad Hifzur Rehman Seoharvi (Rahimahullah) has quoted this tradition in his book Qasas Al Quran. After quoting this tradition and one like it he states: “It appears that narratives such as those reproduced above, have been taken from the Israilite traditions, the main source of which is the Sifr-i-Ayuub” [Sifr-i-Ayyub (the Book of Ayyub) is one of the books of the Torah which contains details about the life of Prophet Ayyub Alaihi As Salam]. (Qasas Al Quran Volume 1 Part 2 Page 521 & 513)
  2. Ahkam Al Quran mentions the hadith in question under commentary of verse 41 of Surah Saad and quotes what has been mentioned in Ar Ruh Al Maani. Thereafter he writes: There isn’t anything in the verses of the Quran or in the established traditions that Prophet Ayub Alaihi As Salam was afflicted with any ailment that caused the people to loathe him or shun him.

 

In light of everything that has been mentioned above, it can be safely said that this tradition does not establish that the disease that afflicted Prophet Ayub (Alaihi As Salam) caused the people to loathe/shun him or to be repulsed by him.

And Allah knows best

Mufti Waheeb Saiyed

Darul Uloom T&T

10/03/2022