[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath."1329 Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allāh].
Notes
[1329] At a point during his illness, Job became angry with his wife and swore that if he recovered, he would punish her with one hundred lashes. According to Allāh's instruction, the oath was fulfilled by striking her once with one hundred blades of grass.
Verse 44 of Surah Sad (38:44), a Meccan surah, is in juz 23, on page 456 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.
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Tafsir of verse 44
Al-Mukhtasar
When Job became angry with his wife, he swore an oath he will lash her a hundred times, so I said to him: “O Job, take a bunch of stalks in your hand and hit her with them, to fulfil your oath. And do not break the oath you made”. So he took a bunch of stalks and hit her with them. I found him to be patient in what I afflicted him with. What an excellent servant he was. He would turn to Allah abundantly.
[We said], “Take a bunch of grass in your hand, and strike [your wife] with it, and do not break your oath19.” We truly found him patient – an excellent and faithful slave he was. He constantly turned [to Us].
Notes
[19] When Job was afflicted with illness, everyone abandoned him except his wife. Once he became angry with her and vowed to punish her with one hundred lashes if he recovered. According to Allah's instruction, the oath was fulfilled by striking her once with one hundred blades of grass without harming his wife.
"And take in your hand a bundle of thin grass and strike therewith (your wife), and break not your oath.1 Truly! We found him patient. How excellent a slave! Verily he was ever oft-returning in repentance (to Us)!
Notes
[1] (V.38:44) During the ailment of Ayyûb (Job), his wife used to beg for him, and Satan told her a word of disbelief to say and she told her husband [Ayyûb (Job)]; so he became angry with her and took an oath to strike her one hundred lashes. So Allah ordered Ayyûb (Job) to fulfil his oath by striking her with the bundle of thin grass. (Tafsîr Al-Qurtubi,).
And (it was said unto him): Take in thine hand a branch and smite therewith, and break not thine oath. Lo! We found him steadfast, how excellent a slave! Lo! he was ever turning in repentance (to his Lord).
"And take in thy hand a little grass, and strike therewith: and break not (thy oath)." Truly We found him full of patience and constancy. How excellent in Our service! ever did he turn (to Us)!
And take in your hand a green branch and beat her with It and do not break your oath; surely We found him patient; most excellent the servant! Surely he was frequent in returning (to Allah).
And (we said) "Take in your hand a jumble of rushes, then strike therewith, and do not break (your oath)." Surely We found him a patient (man). How excellent a bondman he was! Surely he was a constant resorter (to Us).
And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allāh. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And whoever fears Allāh - He will make for him a way out …
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