Surah Sad 38:44
سُورَةُ صٓ · Meccan · Verse 44 of 88
وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًۭا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَٰهُ صَابِرًۭا ۚ نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ
Translation
‘Take a small bunch of grass in your hand, and strike [her] with that so as not to break your oath.’ We found him patient in adversity; an excellent servant! He, too, always turned to God.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse, part of Prophet Ayyub's (Job's) story, unveils Allah's profound mercy and commendation for His steadfast servant. We hear Allah directly addressing Ayyub, offering a gentle solution to a personal challenge and then showering him with immense praise.
A Gentle Solution
Allah instructs Ayyub, "وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًۭا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ" (Take a bundle of twigs in your hand and strike with it, and do not break your oath). The phrase "خذ بيدك" (take in your hand) suggests a personal, direct command from Allah, even though the word "قلنا" (We said) is implicitly understood before it. The key word here is "ضِغْثًۭا" (dighth), which literally means a small bundle of grass, twigs, or similar material, as noted by scholars like al-Jalalayn and al-Razi. This choice of word is crucial: instead of a painful punishment for his wife (whom Ayyub had sworn to strike due to a minor incident during his illness, as the plain meaning tells us), Allah commanded him to use something symbolic and harmless. This shows incredible divine compassion, allowing Ayyub to fulfill the *letter* of his oath without causing any harm. The command "وَلَا تَحْنَثْ" (and do not break your oath) underscores Allah's concern for Ayyub's integrity and his prophetic standing, ensuring he would not be seen as breaking his word. The specific reason for Ayyub's oath is not detailed in the verse itself, allowing the focus to remain on Allah's merciful resolution rather than the specifics of the marital issue.
A Divine Commendation
Following this act of mercy, Allah declares, "إِنَّا وَجَدْنَٰهُ صَابِرًۭا ۚ نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ" (Indeed, We found him patient. What an excellent servant! Indeed, he was ever-returning to Allah). The emphatic particle "إِنَّا" (indeed We) at the beginning highlights the certainty and divine weight of this statement. When Allah says "وَجَدْنَٰهُ" (We found him), it signifies that Ayyub's patience, which was already known to Allah, became manifest through his trials, confirming his inner strength.
The praise continues with "نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ" (what an excellent servant!), a superlative expression highlighting the highest degree of servitude. This praise is immediately explained by "إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ" (indeed, he was ever-returning to Allah). The word "أَوَّابٌ" (awwab) is an intensive form, meaning someone who constantly and persistently turns back to Allah in remembrance, gratitude, and submission. As Ibn Ashur beautifully observes, this quality of being "awwab" was evident in Ayyub even amidst immense suffering, just as it was in Prophet Sulaiman in the midst of abundant wealth, showing that returning to Allah is a virtue in all circumstances. This declaration is not just praise; it is a profound lesson that patience in adversity, coupled with a consistent turning back to Allah, earns the highest divine commendation and mercy.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Sad 38:44 is discussed in 6 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Sad 38:44 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.