Prophet Jacob

Ya'qub bin Ishaq bin Ibrahim — also called Israil — was the prophet from whom twelve sons were born, the forerunners of the tribes (asbath) of the Children of Israel. He inherited the preaching of monotheism from his grandfather and father, and the Koran immortalized him as the chosen servant who always reminded him of the land of the afterlife.

When his sons abandoned Yusuf and came bearing clothes stained with fake blood, Ya'qub was not deceived, but chose the attitude enshrined in the Qur'an: "Fashabrun jamil — then that is good patience (my patience), and Allah alone is asked for His help." For years he harbored sorrow until his eyes turned white from crying, but he never once complained to anyone other than Allah: "Indeed, only to Allah do I complain about my troubles and sadness."

Even though he lost Yusuf and then Bunyamin, Ya'qub still ordered his children to look for both of them: "O my children, go, look for news about Yusuf and his brother, and do not despair of Allah's mercy. Indeed, none but the disbelievers despair of Allah's mercy." His faith was confirmed: his vision returned with Joseph's clothes, and the whole family gathered in Egypt in glory.

The Qur'an immortalizes the moments of his death: he asked his children, "What did you worship after I died?" They answered, "We will worship your God and the God of your ancestors — Abraham, Ismail, and Ishaq — the Almighty God, and we will only submit obediently to Him." That is a father's greatest legacy: ensuring the monotheism of his children.

Ya'qub is a madrasa of patience: tests come from his own children, lasting decades, but he closes every sorrow with husnuzhan to Allah. The story teaches the art of educating children who are guilty - reprimanding them without cutting off their love, until in the end they are the ones who ask for forgiveness.