Prophet Ishaq (PBUH) Mention in the Quran
1. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:133)
Arabic: أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَاءَ إِذْ حَضَرَ يَعْقُوبَ ٱلْمَوْتُ إِذْ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِى قَالُوا۟ نَعْبُدُ إِلَـٰهَكَ وَإِلَـٰهَ ءَابَآئِكَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ إِلَـٰهًۭا وَٰحِدًۭا وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ
Transliteration: “Am kuntum shuhadā’a idh ḥaḍara ya‘qūba al-mawtu idh qāla li-banīhi mā ta‘budūna min ba‘dī qālū na‘budu ilāhaka wa ilāha ābā’ika ibrāhīma wa isma‘īla wa isḥāqa ilāhan wāḥidan wa naḥnu lahu muslimūn.”
Translation: “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—one God. And to Him, we are Muslims [in submission].'”
This verse highlights the continuity of monotheism from Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) through his descendants, including Ishaq (Isaac).
2. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:136)
Arabic: قُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ
Transliteration: “Qūlū āmannā bi-Allāhi wa-mā unzila ilaynā wa-mā unzila ilā ibrāhīma wa-isma‘īla wa-isḥāqa wa-ya‘qūba wa-al-asbāṭi wa-mā ūtī mūsā wa-‘īsā wa-mā ūtī al-nabiyyūna min rabbihim lā nufarriqu bayna aḥadin minhum wa-naḥnu lahu muslimūn.”
Translation: “Say, ‘We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants, and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.'”
This verse emphasizes the unity of the message delivered by all prophets, including Prophet Ishaq (Isaac).
3. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:140)
Arabic: أَمْ تَقُولُونَ إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطَ كَانُوا۟ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـٰرَىٰ ۗ قُلْ أَأَنتُمْ أَعْلَمُ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن كَتَمَ شَهَـٰدَةًۭ عِندَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Transliteration: “Am taqūlūna inna ibrāhīma wa-isma‘īla wa-isḥāqa wa-ya‘qūba wa-al-asbāṭa kānū hūdan aw naṣārā qul a-antum a‘lamu am-Allāh wa-man aẓlamu mimman katama shahādatan ‘indahu min-Allāh wa-mā Allāhu bighāfilin ‘ammā ta‘malūn.”
Translation: “Or do you say that Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants were Jews or Christians? Say, ‘Are you more knowing or is Allah?’ And who is more unjust than one who conceals a testimony he has from Allah? And Allah is not unaware of what you do.”
This verse refutes claims that the prophets, including Isaac, belonged to any religion other than the true monotheism they preached.
4. Surah Hud (11:71)
Arabic: وَٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ قَآئِمَةٌۭ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَـٰهَا بِإِسْحَـٰقَ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسْحَـٰقَ يَعْقُوبَ
Transliteration: “Wa-imra’atuhū qā’imatun fa-ḍaḥikat fa-basharnāhā bi-isḥāqa wa-min warā’i isḥāqa ya‘qūb.”
Translation: “And his wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob.”
This verse speaks of the good news of the birth of Prophet Ishaq (Isaac) that was given to his mother, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).
5. Surah Ibrahim (14:39)
Arabic: ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى وَهَبَ لِى عَلَى ٱلْكِبَرِ إِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَسَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ
Transliteration: “Al-ḥamdu lillāhi al-ladhī wahaba lī ‘alā al-kibari isma‘īla wa-isḥāqa inna rabbī lasamī‘u al-du‘ā’.”
Translation: “Praise to Allah, who has granted to me in old age Ishmael and Isaac. Indeed, my Lord is the Hearer of supplication.”
Here, Prophet Ibrahim praises Allah for granting him two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, in his old age.
6. Surah Yusuf (12:6)
Arabic: وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰٓ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَآ أَتَمَّهَا عَلَىٰٓ أَبَوَيْكَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌۭ
Transliteration: “Wa-kadhālika yajtabīka rabbuka wa-yu‘allimuka min ta’wīli al-aḥādīthi wa-yutimmu ni‘matahu ‘alayka wa-‘alā āli ya‘qūba kamā atammahā ‘alā abawayka ibrāhīma wa-isḥāqa inna rabbaka ‘alīmun ḥakīmun.”
Translation: “And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of narratives and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He completed it upon your fathers, Abraham and Isaac. Indeed, your Lord is Knowing and Wise.”
Hadith on Prophet Ishaq (Isaac, PBUH)
Though Prophet Ishaq is mentioned more frequently in the Quran, there are a few references to him in Hadith, especially in lineage and blessings.
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 55, Hadith 587
Narrated by Abu Huraira: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Ibrahim (Abraham) did his circumcision with an adze (a tool used for cutting wood) when he was eighty years old, and he circumcised Ishaq (Isaac) and Ismail (Ishmael).”
- Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2396
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Allah made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to bestow upon their progeny prophethood.”
The story of Prophet Ishaq (Isaac, PBUH) in Islam is part of the broader narrative of Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) family, which also includes Prophet Ismail (Ishmael, PBUH) and their descendants. Prophet Ishaq (PBUH) is revered as one of the key prophets in Islam, and his life is marked by his righteousness and his role in the continuation of the message of monotheism.
Birth of Prophet Ishaq (PBUH)
Prophet Ishaq (PBUH) was the son of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) and his wife Sarah. His birth is regarded as a miracle because it occurred when both of his parents were of old age. Sarah had been barren for many years, and she had despaired of ever having children. However, Allah gave them the glad tidings of Ishaq’s birth as a sign of His mercy and power.
This announcement is mentioned in the Quran when Allah sent angels to give Ibrahim and Sarah the good news:
Surah Hud (11:71-72):
“And his wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob. She said, ‘Woe to me! Shall I give birth while I am an old woman and this, my husband, is an old man? Indeed, this is an amazing thing!'”
Despite their initial surprise, Sarah and Ibrahim (PBUH) accepted Allah’s decree and were grateful for His blessings. Prophet Ishaq (PBUH) was thus born into a household of strong faith, with his father being the great Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH).
Ishaq (PBUH) as a Prophet
Prophet Ishaq was blessed by Allah to continue the legacy of prophethood from his father, Ibrahim. Like his father and brother Ismail, Ishaq was also a messenger of Allah who called people to monotheism, worshipping the One True God. He was chosen to convey the message of Allah to his people, emphasizing the same principles of Tawheed (the oneness of God) that had been taught by his father.
Surah Sad (38:45-47):
“And remember Our servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—those of strength and [religious] vision. Indeed, We chose them for an exclusive quality: remembrance of the home [of the Hereafter]. And indeed they are, to Us, among the chosen and outstanding.”
This verse illustrates that Ishaq, along with Ibrahim and Yaqub (Jacob), was chosen by Allah for his piety, spiritual strength, and devotion to the truth.
The Blessing of a Righteous Lineage
One of the significant aspects of Prophet Ishaq’s life is that he was the father of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob, PBUH), who was also a prophet. Yaqub was the father of the twelve sons who became the heads of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Thus, from Ishaq’s descendants came many prophets, including Yusuf (Joseph), Musa (Moses), Dawud (David), Suleiman (Solomon), and eventually Prophet Isa (Jesus, PBUH).
This lineage is a manifestation of Allah’s promise to Prophet Ibrahim that prophethood would remain in his family, specifically through his sons Ismail and Ishaq.
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:27):
“And We gave to him Isaac and Jacob and placed in his descendants prophethood and scripture. And We gave him his reward in this world, and indeed, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.”
Prophet Ishaq’s (PBUH) Righteous Life
Although the Quran does not provide extensive details about the specific events of Prophet Ishaq’s life, Islamic tradition holds that he was a righteous and devout servant of Allah. He spent his life calling people to the worship of Allah and guiding them on the path of righteousness.
Prophet Ishaq (PBUH) is described as being gentle, patient, and wise. His character reflected the deep faith and submission to Allah that had been instilled in him by his father, Ibrahim. The Quran often pairs Ishaq with his father Ibrahim and his son Yaqub, emphasizing the continuity of their message and their shared devotion to Allah.
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:133):
“Or 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—one God. And we are in submission to Him.'”
This verse highlights how the message of monotheism was passed down through the generations of Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Yaqub, and how their descendants remained true to the worship of Allah.
The Blessing of Generations
In addition to being a prophet, Prophet Ishaq (PBUH) was blessed with a lineage that would include many prophets. Allah’s blessing upon Ishaq’s descendants is a recurring theme in the Quran, showing the continuity of divine guidance through his family.
Surah As-Saffat (37:112-113):
“And We gave him good tidings of Isaac, a prophet from among the righteous. And We blessed him and Isaac. But among their descendants is the doer of good and the clearly unjust to himself.”
This verse reinforces that Prophet Ishaq was not only righteous himself but was blessed with righteous progeny, although not all of his descendants remained faithful to Allah’s guidance.
Death of Prophet Ishaq (PBUH)
The Prophet Ishaq lived for many years and continued to guide his people under Allah’s commands. He passed away at an old age and was buried alongside his father, Ibrahim (PBUH), and his mother, Sarah, in the cave of Machpelah (located in modern-day Hebron, Palestine), a place regarded as sacred in Islamic, Christian, and Jewish traditions.
Also, read the Story of Prophet Ismail (Ishmael) (Pbuh)