Wahb ibn Munabbih and other scholars among the Children of Israel transmit a lengthy account (1) of Job’s story—how his wealth vanished, his children died, and his very body was afflicted. Allah knows best how sound that report is.

Mujāhid said: “Job, peace be upon him, was the first person ever to be struck by smallpox.”

They also differ about the length of his ordeal. Wahb maintained that he was tried for exactly three years, no more and no less.

Anas said: “His trial lasted seven years and some months. He was thrown onto a refuse heap belonging to the Children of Israel and beasts would wander over his body, until Allah granted him relief, magnified his reward, and praised him with the finest commendation.”

Humayd stated: “He remained in affliction for eighteen years.”

Al-Suddī reported: “His flesh disintegrated until only bone and sinew were left. His wife used to bring ashes and spread them beneath him. When the hardship dragged on she said, ‘O Job, why do you not pray to your Lord so that He may relieve you?’ He replied, ‘I lived in perfect health for seventy years; it is but little for Allah that I be patient for Him the same number of years.’ She was distressed by these words, yet she continued to hire herself out for wages and feed Job, peace be upon him.

“People, however, stopped employing her once they realized she was Job’s wife, fearing that his affliction might reach them or that they might catch it through her. When she could find no work, she sold one of her two braids to a noblewoman in exchange for ample, wholesome food and brought it to Job. He asked, ‘Where did you get this?’ and disapproved. She replied, ‘I earned it by serving some people.’ The next day she again found no one to hire her, so she sold the other braid for food and brought it to him. He objected again and swore that he would not eat until she told him where it had come from. She removed her head-covering, and when he saw her head shaved bare, he prayed: ‘Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful’ (al-Anbiyāʾ 21:83).”

Ibn Abī Ḥātim said: My father narrated to us—Abū Salamah narrated to us—Jarīr ibn Ḥāzim narrated to us—from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr, who said:

“Job had two brothers. One day they came to him but could not approach because of his odor, so they stood at a distance. One said to the other, ‘If Allah had seen any good in Job, He would not have afflicted him like this.’ Job was more distressed by that remark than by anything he had ever endured. He said, ‘O Allah, if You know that I have never spent a single night satiated while aware of a hungry person, then bear witness for me.’ A voice from the heavens testified to his truth, and they heard it. He then said, ‘O Allah, if You know that I have never possessed two garments while knowing of someone unclothed, then bear witness for me.’ Again a voice from the heavens testified, and they heard it.

“Then he said, ‘O Allah, by Your might,’ and he fell prostrate, declaring, ‘O Allah, by Your might I shall never raise my head again until You remove this affliction from me.’ He did not lift his head until the calamity had been lifted.” (2)