When he received the permission he dashed to the earth as he...

When he received the permission he dashed to the earth as he feared that if the Divine Mercy surrounds Ayyub it will be an obstacle on his way. He came to Ayyub and blew a venomous breath into his nostrils. As a result Ayyub was inflicted with a severe malady that covered his whole body with sores and leprous wounds. He continued in this condition for a long time and continued to praise and thank Allah without any reservations. Ultimately worms developed in his infected wounds.

The patience of Ayyub reached such heights that whenever a worm fell from his body he picked it up and put it back saying, “Stay where the Almighty has originated you.” Such a dreadful odor emanated from his body that the people banished him to a dirty corner of the town. His wife Rahmat, the daughter of Yusuf went out to beg and got him whatever she could obtain.

When a long time passed for Ayyub in such afflictions, the Satan realized that his thankful always exceeded the intensity of the calamities that befall him. So he went to a group of Ayyub’s followers who had become hermits and resided in the mountains. He told them, “Come let us go and see why Ayyub has been inflicted with such calamities.” The people came down and mounting their horses headed towards Ayyub. When they came near, the horses were terrified of the stench and bolted out of control.

The riders tied the horses in a far corner and proceeded on foot. They came to Ayyub to ask him about his conditions. A young man also accompanied them. They sat down near Ayyub and said, “If you tell us of the deadly sin you have committed we can guard against it. We do not dare to pray for your forgiveness lest Allah sends His wrath upon us. We never expected you would suffer from chastisement that did not befell anyone else.

It must be due to a sin that you has concealed from us.” Ayyub said, “I swear by the Might of my Lord, and He is a witness that I never ate anything without sharing it with the poor and orphans. And whenever I came across two worship acts, I always preferred the more difficult.” Hearing these words the young man told his companions, “May Allah destroy you!

You come to Allah’s Prophet and criticized him to the extent that he was forced to reveal a good deed he had performed in secret.” When they went away, Ayyub supplicated Allah and sought His permission to express a wish.