38. Surah Sad [88 verses]

Mecca Period 38

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا أَيُّوبَ...

38: 41. Commemorate Our servant Job,

C4198. For this passage, verses 41-44, Cf. 21:83-84.

... إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الشَّيْطَانُ بِنُصْبٍ وَعَذَابٍ ﴿٤١﴾

behold he cried to his Lord: "The Evil One has afflicted me with distress and suffering"!

C4199. The distress was of many kinds. See n. 2739 to 21:83.

He suffered from loathsome sores; he lost his home, his possessions, and his family; and almost his balance of mind. But he did not lose Faith but turned to Allah (see verse 44 below), and the recuperative process began.

ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ...

38: 42. (The command was given:) "Strike with thy foot:

C4200. The recuperative process having begun, he was commanded to strike the earth or a rock with his foot, and a fountain or fountains gushed forth,-to give him a bath and clean his body; to refresh his spirits; and to give him drink and rest.

This is a fresh touch, not mentioned in Surah 21. or in the Book of Job, but adding beautifully to our realisation of the picture.

... هَذَا مُغْتَسَلٌ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ ﴿٤٢﴾

here is (water) wherein to wash, cool and refreshing, and (water) to drink."

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا...

38: 43. And We gave him (back) his people, and doubled their number -- as a Grace from Ourselves,

C4201. Cf. 21:84, and notes n. 2739 - 2740.

... وَذِكْرَى لِأُوْلِي الْأَلْبَابِ ﴿٤٣﴾

and a thing for commemoration, for all who have Understanding.

وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًا...

38: 44. "And take in thy hand a little grass,

... فَاضْرِب بِّهِ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ...

and strike therewith: and break not (thy oath)."

C4202. In his worst distress Job was patient and constant in faith, but apparently his wife was not. According to the Book of Job (2:9-10),

"Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips."

He must have said in his haste to the woman that he would beat her: he is asked now to correct her with only a wisp of grass, to show that he was gentle and humble as well as patient and constant.

... إِنَّا وَجَدْنَاهُ صَابِرًا نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ...

Truly We found him full of patience and constancy:

how excellent in Our service!

C4203. Cf. 38:30 above, where similar words are spoken of Solomon. Patience and constancy are also a form of service, if our attitude is due to an active faith in Allah, and not mere passivity.

So Milton in his Sonnet: "They also serve who only stand and wait. "

... إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ ﴿٤٤﴾

Ever did he turn (to Us)!

Asad’s Version:

38:41 AND CALL to mind Our servant Job, 37 [how it was] when he cried out to his Sustainer, "Behold, Satan has afflicted me with [utter] weariness and suffering!" 38 –

(38:42) [and thereupon was told:] "Strike [the ground] with thy foot: here is cool water to wash with and to drink!" 39

38:43 And We bestowed upon him new offspring, 40 doubling their number as an act of grace from Us, and as a reminder unto all who are endowed with insight.

(38:44) [And finally We told him:] "Now take in thy hand a small bunch of grass, and strike therewith, and thou wilt not break thine oath!" 41 - for, verily, We found him full of patience in adversity: how