It is narrated from Ka'b (may Allah have mercy on him) that he said: "Ayyub bin Amus was the patient Prophet of Allah, against whom Iblis, the enemy of Allah, launched an assault with his armies, his cavalry and his foot soldiers, in order to put him to trial and make him heedless of the remembrance of Allah, but Allah Almighty protected him, and Iblis could find no way to reach him. So Allah Almighty sent down tranquillity upon Ayyub (peace be upon him) and granted him patience over the trial with which he had been afflicted, and so Allah Almighty gave him this title: '(We found him) patient; an excellent servant; indeed he was one who constantly turned (to Allah).' [Surah Sad: 44] Ayyub (peace be upon him) was tall, with curly hair, wide eyes and a handsome form. On his forehead was written: 'The tested one, the patient one'. His neck was short, his chest broad, and his shins and forearms strong. He used to give gifts to widows and clothe them, and he strove to the utmost and was sincere for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic." Imam al-Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) says: The scholars have differed about the era in which Ayyub (peace be upon him) was sent. Wahb bin Munabbih said: "He was of the descendants of Ibrahim, after Yusuf." Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar said: Someone whom I do not accuse (of lying) narrated to me from Wahb that: "He is Ayyub bin Amus bin Razah bin Aysu bin Ishaq bin Ibrahim." It is reported from Muhammad bin Jarir that he was before Shu'ayb. And Abu Bakr bin Abi Khaythamah argued that he came after Sulayman bin Dawud. And Allah knows best.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the wife of Ayyub (peace be upon him) said to him: "By Allah! Such hardship and starvation have befallen me that I have sold the braid (lock) of hair from my head for a loaf of bread so that I could feed you, so supplicate to Allah to grant you healing." He (peace be upon him) said: "Alas! We lived in blessings for seventy years, and now only seven years have passed for us in trial."