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