Who was Prophet Yaqub? His life and story

Full story

1. 1

   From a line of Prophets

   Yaqub (peace be upon him) is the son of Prophet Ishaq (peace be upon him) and the grandson of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). He is also known by the name Israil.

   He had twelve sons, and among them Yusuf (peace be upon him) was especially dear to him. Yaqub (peace be upon him) was a righteous Prophet who carried on the path of Tawhid and was devoted to Allah.

2. 2

   The loss of Yusuf and beautiful patience

   His brothers envied Yusuf (peace be upon him), took him out into the desert and left him there. They then told their father that a wolf had eaten him and brought a shirt stained with blood.

   Yaqub (peace be upon him) did not believe this account and said in great sorrow: "Now I need beautiful patience. I seek help only from Allah against what you describe" (Yusuf, 18). He poured out his pain only to Allah and never lost hope.

3. 3

   Hope and trust in Allah

   Although years passed, Yaqub (peace be upon him) never gave up hope of finding Yusuf. He said to his sons: "Go and search for Yusuf and his brother, and do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of the mercy of Allah except the disbelieving people" (Yusuf, 87).

   These words of his are one of the finest examples of trusting Allah and holding on to hope in the midst of hardship.

4. 4

   Reunion and the opening of his eyes

   In the end, once Yusuf (peace be upon him) had become the honored minister of Egypt, he had his family brought to him. When Yusuf's shirt was placed over Yaqub's (peace be upon him) face, his eyes were opened again: "Then when he arrived, his sight returned" (Yusuf, 96).

   Many years of patience ended, by Allah's grace, in a beautiful reunion, and the whole family came together again.

5. 5

   The testament of Tawhid

   Near the end of his life, Yaqub (peace be upon him) gathered his children around him and gave them his most important counsel. He asked them: "What will you worship after me?" They answered: "We will worship your God and the God of your fathers Ibrahim, Ismail and Ishaq, the one God, and to Him we submit" (Al-Baqarah, 132-133).

   This scene shows that Yaqub's (peace be upon him) greatest concern was not wealth, but that his descendants remain firm upon Tawhid.

The life of Yaqub (peace be upon him) is narrated mainly in Surah Yusuf (chapter 12), within the framework of his son Yusuf's story. The Quran presents him as a Prophet who showed "beautiful patience" in the face of hardship and never lost hope in Allah's mercy. His name is often mentioned together with his father Ishaq and his grandfather Ibrahim (peace be upon him).

• Even in the face of the greatest loss, "beautiful patience" is the path of the believer.
• Pouring out one's sorrow to Allah alone and seeking help from Him brings comfort.
• One must never despair of Allah's mercy, however hard things become.
• Patience and trust in Allah are, in the end, rewarded with a beautiful reunion.

This page is based on Quran verses and authentic hadith sources.

• QuranSurah Yusuf, 18

  Yaqub's (peace be upon him) words of "beautiful patience" are related in this verse.

• QuranSurah Yusuf, 87

  Yaqub's (peace be upon him) instruction to his children to search for Yusuf and his words about not despairing of Allah's mercy appear in this verse.

• QuranSurah Yusuf, 96

  This verse states that Yaqub's (peace be upon him) eyes were opened again through Yusuf's shirt.

• QuranSurah Al-Baqarah, 132-133

  These verses relate how Yaqub (peace be upon him), at the time of his death, counseled his children to hold to Tawhid: the worship of the one God.

• HadithSahih Bukhari, 3382

  This hadith relates our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) describing Yusuf, Yaqub, Ishaq and Ibrahim (peace be upon them) as "the noble one, son of the noble one."

• Classical sourceTDV İslam Ansiklopedisi, "Ya'kub"

  Referenced for academic information about Prophet Yaqub's lineage, his twelve sons and his patience.

Other Prophets connected with this story.

• Prophet Ishaq

  The son given as glad tidings to Ibrahim in his old age

• Prophet Yusuf

  Interpreter of dreams, the honored one of Egypt, an example of patience and forgiveness

Common questions about this Prophet.

• Who was Prophet Yaqub?

  Yaqub (peace be upon him) is the son of Prophet Ishaq, the grandson of Prophet Ibrahim and the father of Prophet Yusuf. He is also known by the name Israil and is an example of "beautiful patience".

• Why is Prophet Yaqub considered a symbol of patience?

  When he lost his beloved son Yusuf (peace be upon him), he showed "beautiful patience" for many years, poured out his pain only to Allah, and never despaired of His mercy (Yusuf, 18, 83).

• How were Prophet Yaqub's eyes opened again?

  After Yusuf (peace be upon him) became honored in Egypt, his shirt was placed over Yaqub's (peace be upon him) face and his eyes were opened again (Yusuf, 96).

• How many sons did Prophet Yaqub have?

  Prophet Yaqub had twelve sons, and among them Yusuf (peace be upon him) was especially dear to him.

• What did Prophet Yaqub counsel his children?

  Near the end of his life he asked them, "What will you worship after me?" and instructed them to worship the one God, the God of their fathers Ibrahim, Ismail and Ishaq (Al-Baqarah, 132-133).