Verses in the Qur’an Related to Prophet Yaqub (Jacob, PBUH)
1. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:132-133)
Arabic:
وَوَصَّىٰ بِهَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ ۖ يَٰبَنِىَّ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ ٱلدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
(132)
أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَآءَ إِذْ حَضَرَ يَعْقُوبَ ٱلْمَوْتُ إِذْ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِى ۖ قَالُوا۟ نَعْبُدُ إِلَٰهَكَ وَإِلَٰهَ ءَابَآئِكَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ إِلَٰهًۭا وَٰحِدًۭا وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ (133)
Transliteration:
Wa waṣṣā bihā Ibrāhīmu banīhi wa Ya’qūb, yā banayya inna Allāha aṣṭafā lakumu ad-dīna falā tamūtunna illā wa antum muslimūn (132). Am kuntum shuhadā’a idh ḥaḍara Ya’qūba al-mawtu idh qāla libanīhi mā ta’budūna min ba’dī, qālū na’budu ilāhaka wa ilāha ābā’ika Ibrāhīma wa Ismā’īla wa Isḥāqa ilāhan wāḥidan wa naḥnu lahu muslimūn (133).
Translation:
“And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob: ‘O my sons! Indeed Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except as Muslims.’
Were you witnesses when death approached Jacob? When he said to his sons, ‘What will you worship after me?’ They said, ‘We will worship your God and the God of your fathers—Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac—the One God, and to Him we are submissive (Muslims).'”
2. Surah Al-An’am (6:84)
Arabic:
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۖ كُلًّۭا هَدَيْنَا ۚ وَنُوحًۭا هَدَيْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِۦ دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَٰنَ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُوسُفَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَهَٰرُونَ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
Transliteration:
Wa wahabnā lahu Isḥāqa wa Ya’qūba, kullan hadaynā, wa Nūḥan hadaynā min qabl, wa min dhurriyyatihi Dāwūda wa Sulaymāna wa Ayyūba wa Yūsufa wa Mūsa wa Hārūn, wa kadhālika najzī al-muḥsinīn.
Translation:
“We granted him Isaac and Jacob, each of them We guided. And Noah, We guided before; and among his descendants, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. Thus do We reward those who do good.”
3. Surah Yusuf (12:6)
Arabic:
وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰٓ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَآ أَتَمَّهَا عَلَىٰٓ أَبَوَيْكَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌۭ
Transliteration:
Wa kadhālika yajtabīka rabbuka wa yu’allimuka min ta’wīl al-aḥādīth wa yutimmu ni‘matahu ‘alayka wa ‘alā āli Ya’qūb kamā atammahā ‘alā abawayka Ibrāhīma wa Isḥāq. Inna rabbaka ‘alīmun ḥakīm.
Translation:
“And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of dreams and perfect His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, just as He perfected it upon your fathers, Abraham and Isaac. Indeed, your Lord is Knowing and Wise.”
4. Surah Yusuf (12:38)
Arabic:
وَٱتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ ءَابَآءِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
Transliteration:
Wattaba’tu millata ābā’ī Ibrāhīma wa Isḥāqa wa Ya’qūba. Mā kāna lanā an nushrika billāhi min shay. Dhālika min faḍlillāhi ‘alaynā wa ‘ala an-nās walākinna akthara an-nāsi lā yashkurūn.
Translation:
“And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is not for us to associate anything with Allah. This is from the favor of Allah upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful.”
5. Surah Yusuf (12:68)
Arabic:
وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ أَبُوهُم مَّا كَانَ يُغْنِى عَنْهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا حَاجَةًۭ فِى نَفْسِ يَعْقُوبَ قَضَىٰهَا ۚ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذُو عِلْمٍۢ لِّمَا عَلَّمْنَٰهُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Transliteration:
Wa lammā dakhalū min ḥaythu amarahum abūhum mā kāna yugh’nī ‘anhum mina Allāhi min shay’ illā ḥājatan fī nafs Ya’qūb qaḍāhā. Wa innahu la dhū ‘ilmin limā ‘allamnāhu walākinna akthara an-nāsi lā ya’lamūn.
Translation:
“And when they entered from where their father had ordered them, it did not avail them against Allah at all, except it was a need within the soul of Jacob, which he satisfied. And indeed, he was a possessor of knowledge because of what We had taught him, but most of the people do not know.”
6. Surah Sad (38:45)
Arabic:
وَٱذْكُرْ عِبَادَنَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ أُو۟لِى ٱلْأَيْدِى وَٱلْأَبْصَٰرِ
Transliteration:
Wadhkur ‘ibādanā Ibrāhīma wa Isḥāqa wa Ya’qūba ūlī al-aydi wal-abṣār.
Translation:
“And remember Our servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—those of strength and vision.”
Hadith References Related to Prophet Yaqub (Jacob, PBUH)
Though Prophet Yaqub (PBUH) is primarily mentioned in the Qur’an, his legacy is indirectly referenced in the Hadith literature when discussing the lineage of prophets.
1. Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3377
Narrated by Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Abraham (PBUH) did his circumcision with an adze at the age of eighty, and lived as a circumcised person. And then he mentioned Isaac and Jacob (PBUH).”
2. Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2371
Narrated by Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The people will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection, and the first to be dressed will be Abraham. And amongst his descendants are Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, the best of men and prophets.”
The story of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob, PBUH) in Islam is intertwined with the lives of his father, Prophet Ishaq (Isaac, PBUH), and his son, Prophet Yusuf (Joseph, PBUH). He is one of the respected prophets in Islam, known for his patience, wisdom, and devotion to Allah. His story is primarily derived from the Qur’an and is a rich narrative of faith, trials, and family dynamics.
Birth & Early Life
Prophet Yaqub (Jacob, PBUH) was born to Prophet Ishaq (Isaac, PBUH) and his wife, Rafqah (Rebekah). He was the grandson of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, PBUH), one of the greatest prophets in Islamic tradition, and the twin brother of Esau. Unlike Esau, who was more inclined toward hunting and physical activities, Yaqub was more devoted to spiritual matters and received special guidance from Allah.
Yaqub (PBUH) was known for his intelligence and wisdom. He grew up learning about the faith of his father and grandfather, inheriting their monotheistic beliefs. Allah guided him, as He had guided Ibrahim(PBUH) and Ishaq (PBUH), and he was selected as a prophet to continue the message of worshipping the one true God, Allah.
The Vision of the Ladder
Islamic tradition doesn’t recount the vision of the ladder that is central to the biblical narrative, but it is emphasized that Allah guided Yaqub (PBUH) and chose him as a prophet. His role in continuing the mission of his forefathers is repeatedly affirmed in the Qur’an, along with his commitment to monotheism and to guiding his children in the faith.
Marriage and Family
Prophet Yaqub (PBUH) traveled to the region of his uncle, Laban, where he eventually married Laban’s daughters, Leah and Rachel. Islamic tradition holds that Yaqub had twelve sons, who became the patriarchs of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Among his sons, Yusuf (Joseph, PBUH), born to Rachel, was his most beloved.
Yaqub (PBUH) was a caring father, raising his children with faith and wisdom. He constantly reminded them of the importance of worshipping Allah alone, as is evident from Surah Al-Baqarah (2:133), where Yaqub asks his sons what they will worship after his death, and they confirm their faith in Allah, the God of their forefathers.
The story of Prophet Yaqub (PBUH) is most prominently featured in connection with the story of his son Yusuf (Joseph, PBUH), detailed in Surah Yusuf (Chapter 12 of the Qur’an). Yaqub had a deep affection for Yusuf, which led to jealousy among his other sons. They devised a plan to get rid of Yusuf by throwing him into a well and then falsely claiming that a wolf had devoured him. They brought back Yusuf’s shirt stained with false blood to convince their father of this lie.
Prophet Yaqub’s reaction to the loss of Yusuf (PBUH) is one of immense patience and faith. He does not lose hope in Allah, despite the overwhelming grief. He says:
“So [Yaqub’s sons] brought his shirt with false blood on it. [Yaqub] said, ‘Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the One sought for help against that which you describe.'”
(Qur’an 12:18)
Yaqub (PBUH) continued to mourn for Yusuf (PBUH), crying so much that his eyesight weakened. However, throughout this ordeal, Yaqub demonstrated remarkable faith in Allah, never losing hope that Yusuf (PBUH) would one day return.
Prophet Yaqub (PBUH) Reunion with Yusuf (PBUH)
Years passed, and Yusuf’s story took him from slavery in Egypt to becoming a ruler in the land. Meanwhile, Yaqub, still heartbroken but patient, remained in Canaan. Eventually, a famine struck their land, and his sons traveled to Egypt to seek provisions. Unbeknownst to them, the ruler they encountered was their long-lost brother Yusuf.
After a series of events, Yusuf finally revealed his identity to his brothers and asked them to bring their father, Yaqub, to Egypt. The reunion between Yaqub and Yusuf is one of the most emotional moments in the Qur’an. Yaqub had never given up hope in the mercy of Allah, and his patience was rewarded when he was finally reunited with his beloved son.
When the brothers returned to Yaqub and told him the good news, he responded with deep faith:
“He said, ‘Did I not tell you that I know from Allah that which you do not know?'”
(Qur’an 12:96)
When Yaqub met Yusuf in Egypt, it was a moment of great joy. His eyesight, which had deteriorated due to his long years of sorrow, was restored when Yusuf’s shirt was placed on his face:
“And when the bearer of good tidings arrived, he cast it [the shirt] over his face, and he regained his sight.”
(Qur’an 12:96)
Prophet Yaqub (PBUH) praised Allah for reuniting him with Yusuf and his other sons, acknowledging the trials he faced with patience and faith.
Prophet Yaqub’s Death
Prophet Yaqub (PBUH) lived a life of steadfastness, devotion to Allah, and unwavering patience. Before his death, he gathered his sons around him and once again reminded them of the importance of remaining steadfast in their worship of Allah. He wanted to ensure that his legacy of monotheism would continue after him. His sons reaffirmed their faith and commitment to worshipping Allah alone:
“Were you witnesses when death approached Yaqub, when he said to his sons, ‘What will you worship after me?’ They said, ‘We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac—one God. And we are Muslims (in submission) to Him.'”
(Qur’an 2:133)
Prophet Yaqub (PBUH) passed away in Egypt but instructed his sons to bury him in the land of his forefathers. His wish was fulfilled, and he was laid to rest in Hebron, Palestine, near the graves of Ibrahim (PBUH) and Ishaq (PBUH).
Also, read Story of Prophet Ishaq (Isaac) (Pbuh)