Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (528)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

“And We kept watch over them.” That is, they were unable to resist or disobey him. Rather, Allah kept them under his control through His strength, might, and authority.

⦗529⦘

﴿83–84﴾ “And mention Job, when he called upon his Lord, ‘Indeed, affliction has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.’ So We answered him, removed the affliction that was upon him, and restored his family to him, along with as many more—a mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers.”

That is: Mention Our servant and messenger Job—praising and honoring him and exalting his rank—when Allah subjected him to a severe trial and found him patient and content with Him. Satan was given power over his body as a trial and test from Allah. He blew into his body, causing it to break out in terrible sores, and Job remained in that condition for a long time. His affliction became severe, his family died, and his wealth was lost. He then called upon his Lord: “My Lord, affliction has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.” Thus, he appealed to Allah by describing his own condition—that affliction had reached its utmost severity—and by invoking his Lord’s vast, all-encompassing mercy.

Allah answered him and said, “Strike the ground with your foot. Here is cool water for bathing and drinking.” He struck the ground with his foot, and a spring of cool water gushed forth from where he had struck. He bathed in it and drank from it, whereupon Allah removed the suffering that afflicted him. “And We restored his family to him,” meaning: We restored his family and wealth to him.

“Along with as many more,” by granting him abundant well-being in family and wealth, “as a mercy from Us” toward him. Because he remained patient and content, Allah granted him an immediate reward before the reward of the Hereafter.

“And a reminder for the worshippers.” That is, We made him a lesson for worshippers who benefit from lessons. When they consider the affliction that befell him, then the reward Allah granted him after it had passed, and reflect upon the cause, they find that it was patience. Allah therefore praised him for it, saying, “Indeed, We found him patient—an excellent servant! He was ever returning to Us.” They accordingly take him as an example and model whenever affliction befalls them.

﴿وَكُنَّا لَهُمْ حَافِظِينَ﴾ أي: لا يقدرون على الامتناع منه وعصيانه، بل حفظهم الله له، بقوته وعزته، وسلطانه. ⦗٥٢٩⦘ ﴿٨٣ - ٨٤﴾ ﴿وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ * فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ فَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِ مِنْ ضُرٍّ وَآتَيْنَاهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُمْ مَعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِنْ عِنْدِنَا وَذِكْرَى لِلْعَابِدِينَ﴾ . أي: واذكر عبدنا ورسولنا، أيوب - مثنيا معظما له، رافعا لقدره - حين ابتلاه، ببلاء شديد، فوجده صابرا راضيا عنه، وذلك أن الشيطان سلط على جسده، ابتلاء من الله، وامتحانا فنفخ في جسده، فتقرح قروحا عظيمة ومكث مدة طويلة، واشتد به البلاء، ومات أهله، وذهب ماله، فنادى ربه: رب ﴿أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ﴾ فتوسل إلى الله بالإخبار عن حال نفسه، وأنه بلغ الضر منه كل مبلغ، وبرحمة ربه الواسعة العامة فاستجاب الله له، وقال له: ﴿ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ هَذَا مُغْتَسَلٌ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ﴾ فركض برجله فخرجت من ركضته عين ماء باردة فاغتسل منها وشرب، فأذهب الله عنه ما به من الأذى، ﴿وَآتَيْنَاهُ أَهْلَهُ﴾ أي: رددنا عليه أهله وماله. ﴿وَمِثْلَهُمْ مَعَهُمْ﴾ بأن منحه الله العافية من الأهل والمال شيئا كثيرا، ﴿رَحْمَةً مِنْ عِنْدِنَا﴾ به، حيث صبر ورضي، فأثابه الله ثوابا عاجلا قبل ثواب الآخرة. ﴿وَذِكْرَى لِلْعَابِدِينَ﴾ أي: جعلناه عبرة للعابدين، الذين ينتفعون بالعبر، فإذا رأوا ما أصابه من البلاء، ثم ما أثابه الله بعد زواله، ونظروا السبب، وجدوه الصبر، ولهذا أثنى الله عليه به في قوله: ﴿إِنَّا وَجَدْنَاهُ صَابِرًا نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ﴾ فجعلوه أسوة وقدوة عندما يصيبهم الضر.