Surah Sad (Sad) 38 : 41

Overview (Verses 41 - 44)

The Symbol of Patience in Adversity

We are then given more of the story of tests, patience in adversity, followed by favours bestowed from on high. This time, the prophet who is tested is Job: Remember Our servant Job who cried out to his Lord: ‘Satan has afflicted me with weariness and suffering!’ ‘Strike [the ground! with your foot! Here is cool water for you to wash with and to drink.’ We restored his family to him, and doubled their number as an act of grace from Us, and as a reminder to those who are endowed with insight. ‘Take in your hand a bunch of grass and strike with it, and you will not then break your oath.’ We found him patient in adversity. How excellent a servant of Ours; he would always turn to Us. (Verses 41-44) The story of Job and his steadfastness in face of a severe test is well known, and often cited as an example of patience in adversity. However, it is also coloured with Israelite distortions. The part that sounds correct in the story is that Job was God’s good servant who always turned to Him in humility and submission. God tested him and he remained patient. It seems that the test he endured entailed the loss of his wealth, family and health. Nevertheless, he maintained his bond with God, trusting to Him, and was satisfied with what God had given him.

He had a few well-wishers who remained faithful to him, including his wife, but Satan tried to convince these that had God loved Job, He would not have subjected him to such a-severe situation. When they told him this, it was harder for him than the test itself. His wife spoke to him repeating some such whispers, and Job was very upset. He swore that should God restore his health, he would beat her up, specifying the number of times he would hit her, which is said to be one hundred.

At this point Job complained to God about the trouble Satan’s schemes and whispers were causing him: “Satan has afflicted me with weariness and suffering!” (Verse 41) When he had proved his sincerity beyond any doubt, and when he had rejected all Satan’s attempts to weaken him, complaining that these were hard for him, God bestowed His grace on him, ending his test, and restoring his health. He ordered him to hit the ground with his leg, and a cool spring would gush forth. He was to wash himself with its water and drink from it. This was enough for him to recover his health: “Strike (the ground] with your foot! Here is cool water for you to wash with and to drink.” (Verse 42)

The sūrah states: “We restored his family to him, and doubled their number as an act of grace from Us, and as a reminder to those who are endowed with insight.” (Verse 43) Some reports suggest that God brought back to life his sons who had died earlier or that He gave him a similar number of sons. However, there is nothing in the Qur’ānic text to suggest that He brought anyone back to life. It may actually be that the Qur’ānic statement means that when his health was restored, he regained his family that had almost been lost to him. He also gave him more as additional favours. This serves as a reminder to those who have insight and understanding.

What is important in the stories related in this sūrah is that they show how God bestows favours and grace on His servants. Although He subjects them to tests they remain patient in adversity, bearing their hardship with assured resignation, knowing that whatever God decides is ultimately good.

God also bestowed His grace on Job and his wife with regard to the oath he had made about beating her. She had looked after him during his days of hardship and was also patient during their adversity. Therefore, God ordered Job to take in his hand a bunch of dried sticks, in the number he had stated in his oath, and hit her with the bunch once only. In this way, he would fulfil his oath: “Take in your hand a bunch of grass and strike with it, and you will not then break your oath.” (Verse 44) Such care and blessings were in return for what God knew of Job’s patience in adversity, his being a model of obedience, always turning to Him for support: “We found him patient in adversity. How excellent a servant of Ours; he would always turn to Us.” (Verse 44)