The story of Isaac (Ishaaq) and Jacob (Yaqub)

The Qur’an does not give details of Isaac’s life (PBUH), but reliable Qur’anic commentators mentioned that when Abraham felt that his life was drawing to a close, he wished to see Isaac married.  He did not want Isaac to marry one of the Canaanites, who were pagans, so he sent a trustworthy servant to Haran in Iraq to choose a bride for Isaac.  The servant’s choice fell on Rebekah Bint Bethuel, Ibn Nahor, who was a brother of Abraham.  Isaac married her and she gave birth to a set of twins, Esau (Al-Eis) and Jacob (Yaqub).

Ill feelings developed between the two brothers when they grew into manhood. Esau disliked the fact that Jacob was favored by his father and by Allah with prophet hood.  This ill-feeling became so serious that Esau threatened to kill his brother.  Fearing of his life, Jacob fled the country.

The People of the Book said that when Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, Bint Bethuel, during his father’s life.  They said she was sterile, so Isaac prayed to Allah and then she became pregnant.  She gave birth to two twin boys.  The first one was called Esau whom the Arabs called Al-Eis. He became the father of Rum.  The second one was called Jacob, which means Israel (belonging to the people pf Israel).

The People of the Book claimed that when Isaac (PBUH) grew old, his eye-sight had weakened, he had a desire for food, so he asked his son Esau to go hunting and bring him some cooked game.  Esau asked him to bless the food and pray for him.  Esau, a hunter, went out to get his father the meat. Rebekah, overhearing this, ordered her son Jacob to slaughter two goats of his best flock and cook them as his father liked and bring it to him before his brother returned.  She dressed Jacob in his brother’s clothes and put goat skin on his arms and neck, for Esau was hairy while Jacob was not.

When he approached his father with the food, his father asked: “Who are  you?” Jacob answered “I am your son”.  When his father finished eating, he prayed for his on to be the more blessed brother and to prevail over them and all people, and for Allah to sustain him and his children.

When he left his father, his brother Esau, who had carried out his father’s command, entered.  Isaac asked him: “What is this my son?” He answered: “This is the food you like.”  Isaac said: “Did you bring it an hour ago and asked me to pray for you?” Esau answered: “No, I swear I did not,” and he knew his brother had preceded him in this matter and he was sick at heart.

The People of the Book said that Esau threatened to kill his brother when their father was dead.  They also that he asked his father to pray for him that Allah make the earth good for his offspring and multiply his sustenance and fruits.

When their mother knew that Esau threatened his brother Jacob, she commanded her son Jacob to go to her brother Laban in the land of Haran and abide with him for a time until his brother’s anger had abated, and to marry one of Laban’s daughters.  She told her husband Isaac to command him with that advise and pray for him, and he did.

Jacob (PBUH) left his family.  When night came he found a place to rest.  He took a stone and put it under his head and slept.  He dreamed of a ladder from heaven to earth.  Angels were ascending and descending and the Lord addressed him and said to him: “I will bless you and your offspring and make this land for you and for those who come after you.”

When he awoke he felt joyful from what he had seen in his dream and vowed, for Allah’s sake, that if he returned to his family safely, he would build here a temple for Allah the Almighty.  He also vowed to give one tenth of his property for the sake of Allah.  He poured oil on the stone so as to recognize it and called the place “Ayle’s House” (Bethel), which means “House of Allah”.  It was to be the location of Jerusalem later.

The People of the Book also said that when Jacob came to his maternal uncle in the land of Haran, his uncle had two daughters.  The elder one was called Leah (Lia) and the younger one was called Rachel (Rahil).  The later was the better and the lovelier of the two.  His uncle agreed to marry his daughter to him on the condition that Jacob pasture his sheep for seven years.

After a period of time, his uncle prepared a feats and gathered people for the wedding.  He married Leah, his elder daughter, to hi at night. She was weak-sighted and ugly.  When morning came, Jacob discovered that she was Leah and he complained to his uncle: “You deceived me; I was engaged to Rachel and you married me to Leah.”  His uncle said: “It is not our tradition to marry the younger daughter before the elder daughter.  However, if you love her sister, work another seven years and I will marry you to both of them.” 
  Jacob worked for seven years and then married Rachel.  It was acceptable in their time, as described in the Torah, for a man to marry two sisters. Laban gave a female slave to each daughter.  Leah’s slave was called Zilpah and Rachel’s slave was called Bilha.

Almighty Allah compensated Leah’s weakness by giving her sons.  The first was named Reuben (Robel), after whom there was Simeon (Shamun), Levi (Lawi) and Judah (Yahudh).  Rachel felt jealous of Leah’s having sons, she was barren.  She gave her slave Bilha to her servant and he had relations with her until she became pregnant.  She gave birth to a son and named him Naphtali.

Leah was vexed that Rachel’s slave had given birth to a son, so she in turn, gave her slave Zilpah to Jacob (PBUH).  Zilpah gave birth to two son, Gad and Asher.  Then Leah got pregnant and gave birth to her fifth son, Isssachar, and later she gave birth to a sixth son, Zebulun.  After this Leah gave birth to a daughter named Dinah.  Thus, Leah had seven sons from Jacob.

The Rachel prayed to Allah to give her a son from Jacob.  Allah heard her call and responded to her prayer.  She gave birth to a son, great, honorable and beautiful.  She named him Joseph (Yusuf).

All of this happened when they were in the land of Haran and Jacob (PBUH) was pasturing his uncle’s sheep, which he did for a period of twenty years.

Jacob then asked his uncle Laban to let him go and visit his family.  His uncle said to him: “I have been blessed because of you; ask for whatever money you need.”  Jacob said: “Give me each spotted and speckled goat born this year and each black lamb.”

But at Laban’s command his sons removed their father’s goats that were striped, spotted or speckled, and the black lambs, lest others should be born with those traits.  They walked for three days with their father’s goats and sheep while Jacob tended the remaining flock.

The People of the Book said that Jacob (PBUH) took fresh rods of poplar, almond and plane.  He peeled streaks in them and cast them into the water troughs for the goats to look at.  The young inside their abdomens were terrified and moved and they were born striped, spotted or speckled.  When the sheep were breeding, he set their faces towards the balk sheep in Laban’ s flock and put the rods among them.  Their lambs were born black.  This was considered an example of supernatural powers, a miracle.  His uncle and his sons faces changed as if they (the sheep and goats) had been stolen from the.

Allah the Almighty inspired Jacob to return to the country of his father and people, and He promised to stand by him.  Jacob told his family that, and they responded and obeyed him.  Jacob did not tell Laban of his plans, however, and left without bidding farewell.

Upon leaving, Rachel stole her father’s idols.  After Jacob and his people had fled for his country, Laban and his people followed them.  When Laban met with Jacob, he blamed him for leaving him without his knowledge.  He would have like to know so that he could have made them leave with celebration and joy, with drums and songs, and so that he could have bidden his daughters and sons farewell.  And why had they taken his idols with hem?

Jacob had no knowledge of his idols, so he denied he had taken them from him.  The Laban entered the tents of his daughters and slaves to search, but he found nothing, for Rachel had put the idols in the camel saddle under her.  She did not get up, apologizing she had her menses.  Thus he could not perceive what they had done.

Then they sat on a hill called Galeed and made a covenant there.  Jacob would not ill-treat Laban’s daughters nor marry others.  Neither Laban nor Jacob would pass the hill into the other’s country.  They cooked food and their people ate with them.  Each bade the other farewells they departed each returning his own country.

When Jacob approached the land of Seir, the angles greeted him.  He sent a messenger ahead with greetings to his brother Esau, asking forgiveness and humbling himself before him.  The messenger returned greetings and told Jacob that Esau was riding towards him with four hundred men.

This made Jacob afraid and he entreated and prayed to All Almighty.  He prostrated in humiliation and asked Him to fulfill His promise which He had made before.  He asked him to stop the evil of his brother Esau.  Then Jacob (PBUH) prepare a great present for his brother: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milch camels, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.

He commanded his slaves to take the animals, each drove by itself, and pass on ahead of him with a space between the droves.  He instructed them: “When you meet my brother Esau he will ask you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going?’  You shall say ‘They belong to your servant Jacob; they are a present to my master Esau.  Moreover, he is behind us.”

Jacob stayed behind with his two wives, his slaves and his children for two nights, then continued walking by night and resting by day.

When the dawn of the second day came one of the angles appeared in the shape of a man.  Jacob began to wrestle wit him.  They were neck and neck until the angel injured his thigh and Jacob became lame.  When the day was breaking, the angle said to him: “What is your name?”  He answered: “Jacob” The angle said: “After today you shall not b called (anything) but Israel.” Jacob asked: “And who are you?  What is your name?”  He vanished.  Then Jacob knew that he was one of the angels.  Jacob was lame, and for this reason the children of Israel do not eat the thigh muscle on the hip socket.

Jacob raised his eyes and saw his brother Esau coming.  Jacob prostrated seven times before him, for it was their salutation in that time.  It was lawful for them just as the angels had prostrated in salutation to Adam.

When Esau saw him, he ran towards him, and embraced and kissed him and wept.  When Esau raised his eyes and saw the women and children he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered: “Thos whom Allah has given me, your servant.”  Leah, Rachel, their slaves, and all the children approached and prostrated before him.  Jacob asked Esau to accept his gift and insisted until he did so.

Esau returned and wet in advance before him.  Jacob and his family followed with the flocks and hers and slaves to the mountains (Seir).

When he came to Succoth (Sahur), he built a house for himself and shades for his beasts.  Then he passed by Jerusalem, the village of Shechem, and camped before the village.  He bought a farm from Shechem Ibn  Hamor with one hundred goats and built an altar, which he recalled Ayl, as stands today and later Solomon Son of David (PBUT) rebuilt it.  It is in the place of the stone which eh had earlier anointed with oil, as was mentioned before.

The People of the Book tell a story of Dinah, daughter of Jacob and Leah. Shechem Ibn Hamor seized her and lay with her by force.  Then he asked her father and brothers to let him marry her.  Her brothers said: “Circumcise, all of you, and we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters for ourselves; but we do not marry with uncircumcised people.” They (the men of the city) agreed to that, and all of them were circumcised. When the third day came and the pain from the circumcision had increased, Jacob’s sons approached and killed them till the last one.  They killed Shechem and his father for the evil they had committed against them and for their worship of idols.  That is why Jacob’s sons killed them and seized their money as spoils.

Then Rachel got pregnant and gave birth to a son, Banjamin, but she had a hard labor and died after delivery.  Jacob buried her in Ephrath (Afrath). The tomb of Rachel is there till the present day.

Jacob’s sons were twelve men.  From Leah there were Rueben (Robil), Simeon (Shamun), Levi (Lawi), Judah (Yahudh), Issachar (Isakher), and Zebulun (Zablun).  From Rachel there were Joseph (PBUH) and Benjamin.  From Rachel’s slave there were Dan and Naphtali (Neftali), and from Leah’s slave there were Gad and Asher.

Jacob came to hi father Isaac and settled wit him in the village of Hebron which lies in the land of Canaan where Abraham  had lived.  Then Isaac fell ill and died when he was one hundred eighty years old.  His sons Esau and Jacob, buried him with his father Abraham Al-Khalil in a cave which he had bought.  It was aid that Abraham died at the age of one hundred seventy-five.

All the Almighty declared in the Glorious Qur’an: “And who turns away from the religion of Abraham but such as debase their souls with folly?  Him We chose and rendered pure in this world: and he will be in the Hereafter in the ranks of the righteous.  Behold! his Lord said to him: “Bow (thy will to me)”  He said: “I bow (my will) to the Lord and Cherisher of the universe. And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons and so did Jacob; “O my sons! Allah hath chosen the faith for you; then die not except in the faith of Islam.”  Were ye witnesses when death appeared before Jacob? Behold he said to his sons: “What will ye worship after me?”  They said: “We shall worship thy Allah and the Allah of thy fathers of Abraham Isma`il and Isaac the one (true) Allah to Him we bow (in Islam).”  That was a People that hath passed away.  They shall reap the fruit of what they did and ye of what ye do! of their merits there is no question in your case!  They say: “Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (to salvation).”  Say thou: “Nay! (I would rather) the religion of Abraham the true and he joined not gods with Allah.”  Say ye: “We believe in Allah and the revelation given to us and to Abraham Isma`il Isaac Jacob and the Tribes and that given to Moses and Jesus and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord we make no difference between one and another of them and we bow to Allah (in Islam).” So if they believe as ye believe they are indeed on the right path; but if they turn back it is they who are in schism; but Allah will suffice thee as against them and He is the All-Hearing the All- Knowing.  (Our religion is) the baptism of Allah; and who can baptize better than Allah? and it is He whom we worship.  Say: Will ye dispute with us about Allah seeing that He is our Lord and your Lord; that we are responsible for our doings and ye for yours; and that we are sincere (in our faith) in Him?  Or do ye say that Abraham Isma`il Isaac Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or Christians?  Say: Do ye know better than Allah?  Ah! who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from Allah?  But Allah is not unmindful of what ye do!”  (Surah 2: 130-140)

In another surah Almighty Allah declared: “Ye people of the Book! why dispute ye about Abraham when the Law and the Gospel were not revealed till after him?  Have ye no understanding?  Ah! ye are those who fell to disputing (even) in matters of which ye had some knowledge! but why dispute ye in matters of which ye have no knowledge?  It is Allah Who knows and ye who know not!  Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian but he was true in faith and bowed his will to Allah’s (which is Islam) and he joined not gods with Allah.  Without doubt among men the nearest of kin to Abraham are those who follow him as are also this Apostle and those who believe; and Allah is the Protector of those who have faith.”  (Surah 3: 65-68)

Allah the Exalted also confirmed: “But verily thy Lord to those who do wrong in ignorance but who thereafter repent and make amends thy Lord after all this is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.  Abraham was indeed a model devoutly obedient to Allah (and) true in faith and he joined not gods with Allah: He showed his gratitude for the favors of Allah Who chose him and guided him to a straight way.  And We gave him good in this world and he will be in the Hereafter in the ranks of the righteous.  So We have taught thee the inspired (message) “Follow the ways of Abraham the true in faith and he joined not gods with Allah.” (surah 16: 119-123).