Abu Qilaaba Al-Jurmiyy (RAH)
And I said to myself, in what way shall I approach this man to explain to him this [while he is in that state!]? And after some time, I remembered the Prophet Ayyoob (may peace be on him) [and how he was tried]. So I returned to the man, and entered; gave him salaams, and he replied the salaams and he said: Arent you my friend? [I.e. you are the same person who was here right?)
And I replied: Indeed. So he said: What happened to what I asked of you? And I replied: Are you more excellent in the sight of Allaah- or is the Prophet Ayyoob [May peace be on him]? He replied: Of course, the Prophet Ayyoob [may peace be on him] is. Then I said: You know what Allaah did with Him, how He tested him through his wealth, his family, and his children? He replied: Of course. So I said: And how did He find him? He replied: Patient, thankful, and praising His Lord. So I said: And that was until after [his trial was so hard that] his friends and his relatives abandoned him, do you know that? He replied: Yes. So I said: And that was until after [his trial was so hard that] the passers-by used to look down upon him [Ayyoob, due to the state he was in], do you know that? He replied: Yes. So I said: And how did his Lord find him? He replied: patient, thankful, and praising His Lord.
May Allaah have mercy on you; Be concise. Thus I said: The boy you sent me to search for, I found him in between two sand-dunes; and had been attacked by a beast of prey and it killed and ate him! So may Allaah bestow on you patience and increase you in reward!! So he said: All perfect praise is for Allaah who did not create from my off-spring those who would become open sinners such that they would have to be punished by the fire. Then he said the istirjaa [We are from Allaah, and to Him we shall all return (legislated to be said at times of calamity)), and [suddenly] he gave out some groans, and he then fell dead! Indeed we are from AIlaah, and to Him we shall all return!! My calamity and despair just became greater. [What shall I do??] To be concluded next edition insha Allaah.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited