The Story of Ya'qub (Jacob) (Peace Be Upon Him): Israel, the Prophet of Patience and Separation

Chronological Order: Father of the Tribes

Ibrahim Ismail Ishaq
Yaqub Yusuf Ayyub
Father of the Tribes and Great Prophets

Ya'qub (PBUH) is Israel (Israil), and from him branched out the Twelve Tribes (Al-Asbat).

Ya'qub (PBUH) spent his life between the trial of separation and conflict among his sons, but he set the example for beautiful patience and trust in God's mercy.


Ya'qub (Jacob) (PBUH): Beautiful Patience and the Loss of Yusuf (Joseph)

Summary of Patience in Trial

Key Information

  • Father: Ishaq (Isaac) (PBUH)
  • Title: Israel (Servant of God)
  • Sons: 12 sons (The Tribes/Al-Asbat)
  • Trial: Loss of Yusuf and Benjamin

Characteristics and Signs

  • Set the example of Beautiful Patience
  • Knowledge by Revelation of Yusuf's condition
  • Final advice to his sons before death
  • The conclusion with the reunion of the family

Story Details: Love and Separation

Ya'qub was characterized by his intense love for Yusuf and his brother Benjamin. When Yusuf had the vision of the stars, Ya'qub warned him not to tell his brothers, lest they plot against him. Despite his warning, the brothers plotted against Yusuf, threw him into the well, and returned to their father with Yusuf's shirt smeared with false blood.

Beautiful Patience and Certainty

Ya'qub endured the separation with great patience, and he did not despair of God's mercy, saying: ﴾فَصَبۡرٞ جَمِيلٞۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونََ﴿ (So [for me] patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe). His sorrow for Yusuf continued for many years until his eyes whitened from grief, yet he remained certain that God would return Yusuf to him, pointing to his knowledge of God's mercy.

The Testament of Monotheism

Before his death, Ya'qub gathered his sons to ask them about their God after him, to ensure the continuation of the religion of Ibrahim. They responded with absolute Monotheism: ﴾قَالُواْ نَعۡبُدُ إِلَٰهَكَ وَإِلَٰهَ ءَابَآئِكَ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَ إِلَٰهٗا وَٰحِدٗا وَنَحۡنُ لَهُۥ مُسۡلِمُونََ﴿ (They said, "We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Ibrahim and Isma'il and Ishaq - one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him").

Key Quranic References:

  • Surah Yusuf: Verses 8-98 (The axis of patience, separation, and reunion)
  • Surah Al-Baqarah: Verse 133 (His testament to his sons)

Lessons and Morals Learned:

  • Beautiful Patience: Patience without despair or complaint to the creation, but rather delegating the matter to God.
  • Good Expectation of God: The belief that relief and reunion will come, no matter how long the trial lasts.
  • The Importance of Monotheism: His concern for establishing the creed in his progeny until the very last moment.

The Pivotal Verse:

﴾Qala innama ashkoo baththee wahuznee ila Allahi waaAAlamu mina Allahi ma la taAAlamoon﴿ (Yusuf: 86)

Key to the Story: Certainty in Relief

The story of Ya'qub is proof that trial elevates ranks, and that certainty in God is the key to patience and reaching relief after a long wait.

﴾Ya-baniyya ithhaboo fatahassasoo min yoosufa waakheehi wala tayasoo min rawhi Allahi innahu la yayasu min rawhi Allahi illa alqawmu alkafiroon﴿ (Yusuf: 87)
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