Prophet Ayyub
The Restraint of His Du'a
The most striking thing about Ayyub's prayer is what is NOT in it. He does not name his losses. He does not list the children, the cattle, the disease. He does not even ask for restoration. He says only: 'adversity has touched me' (anni massaniya d-durr) — and then immediately turns to who Allah is: 'You are the Most Merciful of the merciful' (anta arhamu r-rahimin). The classical mufassirun (al-Razi, Ibn al-Qayyim) note that Ayyub's adab in this prayer — naming the trial as gently as possible, naming Allah with His most beautiful attribute — is itself the answer he gave the trial. He did not let pain inflate his speech.
Qur'an 21:83-84وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ فَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِ مِن ضُرٍّ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَابِدِينَ
Wa Ayyuba idh nada rabbahu anni massaniya d-durru wa anta arhamu r-rahimin. Fa-stajabna lahu fa-kashafna ma bihi min durrin, wa ataynahu ahlahu wa mithlahum ma'ahum rahmatan min 'indina wa dhikra li-l-'abidin.
And [mention] Ayyub, when he called to his Lord: 'Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.' So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him his family and a like number with them, as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers.
Read the complete story of Ayyub
Quran passages in the complete story
Prophet Nuh
Nine and a Half Centuries of Calling
Allah says: 'And We certainly sent Nuh to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years.' (Qur'an 29:14) For nine and a half centuries Nuh called them — by day, by night, openly, secretly. He himself describes his methods in Surah Nuh: 'My Lord, I have called my people night and day, but my calling only increased them in flight. Whenever I called them so that You might forgive them, they thrust their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with great arrogance.' (Qur'an 71:5-7) He never tired, never softened the message, and never raised his voice in anger.
Qur'an 29:14وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًا فَأَخَذَهُمُ الطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ
Wa la-qad arsalna Nuhan ila qawmihi fa-labitha fihim alfa sanatin illa khamsina 'ama, fa-akhadhahumu t-tufanu wa hum zalimun.
And We certainly sent Nuh to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years. Then the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers.
Qur'an 71:5-7قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُ قَوْمِي لَيْلًا وَنَهَارًا فَلَمْ يَزِدْهُمْ دُعَائِي إِلَّا فِرَارًا وَإِنِّي كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوا أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَاسْتَغْشَوْا ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا اسْتِكْبَارًا
Qala rabbi inni da'awtu qawmi laylan wa nahara. Fa-lam yazidhum du'a'i illa firara. Wa inni kullama da'awtuhum li-taghfira lahum ja'alu asabi'ahum fi adhanihim wa-staghshaw thiyabahum wa asarru wa-stakbaru-stikbara.
He said: 'My Lord, I have called my people night and day, but my calling only increased them in flight. Whenever I called them so that You might forgive them, they thrust their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with great arrogance.'
Read the complete story of Nuh
Quran passages in the complete story
Prophet Yusuf
The Reunion
Yusuf devised a plan to bring his youngest brother Benyamin to him, and finally to bring his father. When at last he stood before his brothers and they recognized him, he said: 'No blame upon you today. May Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.' (Qur'an 12:92) He sent his shirt to be cast upon Ya'qub's face, and his father's sight, lost from years of grief, was restored. They all came to Egypt. Yusuf placed his parents upon the throne, and they fell prostrate before him in honor. He said: 'O my father, this is the realization of my vision from before. My Lord has made it reality. He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you here from bedouin life after Satan had induced enmity between me and my brothers.' (Qur'an 12:100)
Read the complete story of Yusuf
Quran passages in the complete story