Ya'qub

Ya'qub (Jacob), also known by his title 'Israel' (Servant of Allah), was the son of Ishaq and the grandson of Ibrahim. He was a Prophet who led the Children of Israel with deep spiritual insight. He was blessed with twelve sons, who would become the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. Among them was his most beloved son, Yusuf, who shared his father's Prophetic light.

His life was marked by complex family dynamics and the intense trials of fatherhood. He spent his years in Canaan, teaching his children the importance of worship and the legacy of their grandfather Ibrahim, always warning them against the dangers of jealousy and pride.

When Yusuf's older brothers plotted against him and brought back his blood-stained shirt, claiming a wolf had eaten him, Ya'qub sensed their deception. Though his heart was shattered, he uttered the words that would define his legacy: 'Fasabrun Jameel' (So, beautiful patience is most fitting).

For decades, Ya'qub mourned the loss of Yusuf and later his youngest son Binyamin. He wept so intensely that he eventually lost his eyesight. Yet, his grief was never bitter. He famously said, 'I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah.' He taught his sons never to despair of Allah's relief, for only those who disbelieve despair of the mercy of the Divine.

After years of separation, when Yusuf had become a ruler in Egypt and sent his shirt back to his father, a miracle occurred. As the caravan carrying the shirt left Egypt, Ya'qub—hundreds of miles away in Canaan—exclaimed that he could 'smell the scent of Yusuf.' When the shirt was cast over his face, his eyesight was miraculously restored.

The entire family migrated to Egypt, where Ya'qub was joyfully reunited with his long-lost son. In his final moments, Ya'qub gathered his twelve sons and asked them the ultimate question: 'What will you worship after me?' They replied, 'We will worship your God and the God of your fathers.' Satisfied that his spiritual legacy was secure, he passed away in a state of complete peace.