Messengers of Allah came as guests to Ibrâhîm (peace be upon him). His wife was standing nearby.
Then We gave her good news of Ishâq,
and after Ishâq, Ya'qûb.
One promise, two names: a son, then a grandson. Ya'qûb (peace be upon him) was announced before his own father was born.
We gave him Ishâq, and Ya'qûb in addition,
and each of them We made righteous.
Nâfila, “in addition”: Ibn 'Abbâs and Qatâda explain it as the son's son. A gift on top of the gift.
We granted him Ishâq and Ya'qûb,
and each of them We made a prophet.
We made them leaders who guide by Our command.
We inspired them to do good, to establish prayer and to give zakâh.
And they worshipped Us.
Remember Our servants Ibrâhîm, Ishâq and Ya'qûb,
men of strength and of insight.
Qatâda explains: they were given strength in worship, and insight in religion.
“We chose them for one pure quality: the remembrance of the Home.” Mujâhid: they worked for the Hereafter.
The Prophet ﷺ summed up this family: “The noble, son of the noble, son of the noble, son of the noble.”
“Yûsuf, son of Ya'qûb, son of Ishâq, son of Ibrâhîm.” Four generations of prophets.
Asked who was the most noble of people, he ﷺ first answered: “The most God-fearing of them.”
They pressed him. He said: “Then Yûsuf, prophet of Allah, son of a prophet of Allah, son of a prophet of Allah…”
The Qur'an also calls Ya'qûb by another name: Isrâ'îl. The “Children of Isrâ'îl” are his descendants.
Allah placed prophethood and scripture in this line: every prophet of the Children of Isrâ'îl descends from Ya'qûb.
“All food was lawful to the Children of Isrâ'îl, except what Isrâ'îl had forbidden himself, before the Torah.”
A hadith gives the reason: he suffered from sciatica, and so he gave up camel meat and camel milk.
His name was good news before he was even born.
Who was Ya'qûb, before the story of his grief?
Ya'qûb received his faith from a father and a grandfather. The next chapters show what he did with it.
Tonight, name one good thing someone handed down to you, and thank Allah for it.