Ayub (or Job) is concerned with the problem of human suffering. Through it, we learn about the patience of Prophet Ayub (pbuh) and the mercy and compassion of Allah. Ayub (pbuh) was a wealthy, influential, but godly man who apparently lived in Arabia perhaps as early as the time of Ibrahim (pbuh) or even before. The main characters in the story are Ayub (pbuh) and his four friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu. Near the end of the book, Allah himself speaks directly to Ayub (pbuh). Although the author is not named, ancient tradition ascribes it to the prophet-king Sulayman (pbuh). The original text is in the Hebrew language and is written poetically, in the literary form of a play.
