Juz 17: Al-Anbiyāʾ and Al-Ḥajj
Section 8 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
8. Trials and Mercy: Ayyub, Dhul-Kifl, and Yunus
The stories of the prophets in Surah Al-Anbiya demonstrate different aspects of Allah's relationship with His chosen messengers. While some prophets like Sulaiman were granted extraordinary worldly power, others faced severe trials that tested their patience, faith, and submission to Allah's decree. Among these were Ayyub, Dhul-Kifl, and Yunus (peace be upon them all).
The story of Ayyub (peace be upon him) is particularly notable for the extraordinary patience he displayed in the face of debilitating affliction. Allah mentions:
وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
“And (remember) Ayyub when he called out to his Lord saying, 'Here I am, afflicted by pain, and You are the most merciful of all the merciful.'”
This simple, profound supplication captures the essence of Ayyub's character. Despite suffering from severe illness for an extended period, his complaint was not directed at Allah, but rather he acknowledged his affliction while simultaneously affirming Allah's mercy. This perfect balance of acknowledging one's difficulty while maintaining absolute trust in Allah's wisdom exemplifies the highest level of patience.
Allah's response was immediate and complete:
فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ فَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِ مِن ضُرٍّ
“So We responded to him and removed the affliction he had.”
The relief granted to Ayyub was not just a return to his previous state but a complete restoration and enhancement of all that he had lost. This demonstrates an important principle in Allah's dealings with His servants: when He tests with hardship and finds patience, He rewards with something greater than what was lost.
Similarly, the story of Yunus (peace be upon him), also known as Dhun-Nun, offers profound insights into divine mercy following repentance:
وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
“And (remember) Dhun-Nun (Yunus) when he left in anger and thought that We would never put him to hardship. Then, he called out in depths of darkness saying, 'There is no god but You. Pure are You. Indeed I was among the wrongdoers.'”
In the darkness of the whale's belly, surrounded by three layers of darkness—the night, the sea, and the creature's interior—Yunus uttered one of the most powerful supplications in the Quran. It contains three essential elements: tawhid (affirming Allah's oneness), tanzih (declaring Allah's transcendence), and i'tiraf (acknowledging one's own wrongdoing).
Allah's response reveals a universal principle:
فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus We save the believers.”
This final statement—"And thus We save the believers"—transforms these prophetic stories from historical accounts to living principles applicable to all believers. The same divine response that saved Ayyub from illness and Yunus from the whale's belly is available to every believer who turns to Allah with sincerity in times of distress.