Al Islam

c. 21:84. (close)

2535. Nusb means, fatigue, toil; affliction, distress, disease; misfortune (Lane). In the present and the next three verses the language used is as fittingly metaphorical as that used in the preceding several verses. It seems that Prophet Job lived in a country of which the ruler was, as the word Shaitan (leader of mischief) shows, a cruel and tyrannical idol-worshipper, who opposed the monotheistic teaching of Job and severely persecuted him. Job had to leave his native land and take refuge in another country and as a result of this emigration he was separated from his family and followers. If the word Shaitan, as some authorities hold, should signify Shaitanul-Falat (satan of the desert), i.e. thirst, the verse would mean that Job in his long and tiresome journey had suffered from extreme thirst and fatigue. According to some other authorities the reference in the words, 'Satan has afflicted me with toil and torment,' is to a skin disease from which Prophet Job is said to have temporarily suffered and which left him very much exhausted. (close)

a. 21:84. (close)

3410. Important Words:

نصب (toil) is derived from نصب (nasaba). They say نصبه المرض i.e. the disease pained him or tired him. نصب (nasiba) means, he was tired and fatigued. نصب فی الامر means, he exerted himself and laboured regarding the affair. نصب (nusbun) means, fatigue, toil, weariness, affliction, difficulty, distress, trouble, disease, misfortune, etc. (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

In the present and the next three verses the language used is as fittingly metaphorical as that used in the preceding several verses. It seems that the Prophet Job lived in a country of which the ruler was, as the word الشیطان (the leader of mischief) shows, a cruel and tyrannical idol-worshipper, who opposed the monotheistic teaching of Job and severely persecuted him. Job had to leave his native land and take refuge in another country and as a result of this migration he was separated from his family and followers.

If the word الشیطان as some authorities hold, should signify شیطان الفلاة (satan of the desert) i.e. thirst, the verse would mean that Job in his long and tiresome journey had suffered from thirst and fatigue. According to some other authorities the reference in the word "Satan has afflicted me with toil and torment" is to a skin disease from which Prophet Job is said to have temporarily suffered and which left him very much exhausted. (close)

2536. Job was enjoined to strike and urge on his riding beast in order to reach a place of safety soon. And as in his long and tiresome journey he greatly suffered from thirst and fatigue, he was comforted with the information that there lay ahead of him a fountain of sweet, cool water where he could slake his thirst and wash himself. Or, the meaning may be that having been left alone at a place where there was no water, he was told by God to urge on his riding beast as there lay ahead a fountain of cool, sweet water where he could take rest, satisfy his thirst and take a bath. Or, the verse may signify that as Job suffered from a skin disease, he was directed by God to take bath in a particular fountain whose water contained such minerals as would cure his skin disease. It seems that the country through which Job had to travel abounded in springs and fountains. (close)

3411. Important Words:

ارکض برجلك (strike with thy foot). رکض الرجل means, the man struck the ground with his foot. رکض الفرس برجله means, he urged the horse or spurred the horse with his feet. ارکض برجلك therefore would mean, strike thou, or tread the ground with thy feet, or as given in the text, "strike and urge the riding beast with thy foot" (Lane &Aqrab). See also 21:13.

Commentary:

In view of the three explanations of the words, "Satan has afflicted me with toil and torment" in the preceding verse, the reference in the present verse, may be to the Divine injunction in pursuance of which Job had to leave the country of the cruel polytheistic king and to resume his journey on his riding beast and to strike and urge it on in order to reach a place of safety soon. And as in his long and tiresome journey he greatly suffered from thirst and fatigue, he was comforted with the information that there lay ahead of him a fountain of sweet, cool water where he could slake his thirst and wash himself. Or the meaning may be that having been left alone at a place where there was no water, he was told by God to urge on his riding beast as there lay ahead a fountain of cool, sweet water where he could take rest, satisfy his thirst and take a bath. Or, the verse may signify that as Job suffered from a skin disease, he was directed by God to take bath in a particular fountain whose water contained such minerals as would cure his skin disease.

It seems that the country through which Job had to travel abounded in springs and fountains. (close)

a. 21:85. (close)

2537. When, in obedience to Divine command, Job continued his journey, he not only found cool and refreshing water with which he washed himself and assuaged his thirst, he found also his family and the people from whom he had become separated. It is possible that on account of some skin disease from which he suffered, Job’s people might have left him. (close)

a. 21:85. (close)

3412. Commentary:

When, in obedience to Divine command, Job continued his journey, he not only found cool and refreshing water with which he washed himself and assuaged his thirst, he found also his family and the people from whom he had become separated.

It is also possible that on account of some skin disease from which he suffered, Job’s people might have left him. (close)

2538. While in v. 43 Job was enjoined to urge his riding beast with his foot, in the present verse he is told to strike the beast with a bundle of twigs to make it run fast that he may be out of danger and reach a place of safety soon. (close)

2539. The words, la Tahnath mean, do not incline to falsehood, i.e. make no compromise with idol-worship or polytheistic beliefs and remain steadfast in your belief in the Unity of God. If the expression means, break not thy oath, the verse would signify that as Job had become separated from his people due to negligence on their part, he had vowed that he would punish the guilty for their negligence after he joined them. When, however, he was united with them he was told by God (as the verse shows) not to treat them severely in the hour of joy and thanksgiving and to fulfil his oath in a way which should cause them least distress. (close)

3413. Important Words:

ضغثاً (a handful of dry twigs) is derived from ضغث (daghatha). They say ضغث الشیء i.e. he collected together the thing. ضغث الحدیث means, he related the tradition in a confused manner; ضغث also means, he uttered a cry. ضغث (dighthun) means, a handful of fresh or dry twigs; whatever is collected together and grasped with the hand; a bundle of rushes; what is confused and without truth or reality (Lane & Aqrab).

لاتـحنث (break not thy oath) is derived from حنث which means, he said what was not true; he committed a sin or crime; he inclined towards what was false. حنث فی یمینه means, he broke or retracted his oath. حنث means, a sin or crime. بلغ الحنث means, he attained to the age when he was punishable for sin or disobedience (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

While in v. 43 Job was enjoined to urge his riding beast with his foot, in the present verse he is told to strike the beast with a bundle of twigs to make it run fast that he may be out of danger and reach a place of safety soon.

The words لاتـحنث mean, do not incline to falsehood, i.e. make no compromise with idol worship or polytheistic beliefs and remain steadfast in your belief in the Unity of God.

The expression لاتـحنث meaning, break not thy oath, the verse may also signify that as Job had become separated from his people, due to negligence on their part, he had vowed that he would punish the guilty for their negligence after he joined them. When, however, he was united with them he was told by God (as the verse shows) not to be severe on them in the hour of joy and thanks-giving and to fulfil his oath in a way which should cause least distress to them.

The implied reference in this and the preceding three verses seems to be to the separation of the Holy Prophet from his kith and kin by his migration to Medina, where after a few years not only were his own people united with him but he found many other most sincere and devoted followers—the Ansar. When even-tually he triumphed over his own people, he forgave them with a large-heartedness and magnanimity which has remained unequalled in the whole history of the world. This was all in harmony with the Divine plan that his resemblance with Job might be established. (close)

2540. Yad means, (1) benefit; (2) influence; (3) might; (4) army; (5) wealth; (6) promise; (7) submission (Aqrab). (close)

3414. Important Words:

ایدی (hands) is the plural of ید which means, benefit, bounty, favour; (2) power, influence; (3) assistance, help, protection, (4) troops, host, army; (5) possessions, wealth; (6) promise and (7) submission (Lane & Aqrab). See also 5:65 & 9:29.

ابصار (vision) is the plural of بصر which means, the eye, the sense of sight; knowledge; understanding; vision (Lane & Aqrab). See also 2:8; 6:104. (close)

a. 6:87; 21:86, 87. (close)

2541. Elisha was the disciple and successor of Elijah. He lived from 938 B.C. to 828 B.C. See also 870. (close)

2542. Dhul-Kifl, The Prophet known by this name appears to be the Prophet Ezekiel who is called Dhul-Kifl by the Arabs. See 1912. (close)

a. 6:87; 21:86-87. (close)

3415. Commentary:

الیسع (Elisha) was the disciple and successor of Elijah. He lived from 928 B.C. to 838 B.C. See also 6:87.

ذوالکفل (Dhul-Kifl). The Prophet known by this name appears to be the Prophet Ezekiel who is called Dhul-Kifl by the Arabs. For a detailed note on Ezekiel, see 21:86.

اسماعیل (Ishmael), Prophet Abraham’s son from Hagar. He was the elder brother of Prophet Isaac and a progenitor of the Holy Prophet of Islam. See also 2:126. (close)