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One family, three prophets

Ismail, Ishaq and Yaqub

Ibrahim was given two sons who became prophets, Ismail and Ishaq, and a grandson who became a prophet too, Yaqub. Every lesson here is built on ayahs of the Qur'an, cited by surah and ayah, with the Arabic taken from the Uthmani text. No prophet is pictured in any illustration.

Two cream clay date palms growing from sage clay sand with a gold clay star between them
A rolled cream clay scroll tied with a sage clay cord on a sage clay base beside a small gold clay star

Lesson 1 · A dua that was answered · ages 5-7

The good news of a patient son

Ibrahim asked Allah for a righteous child, and Allah gave him good news of a patient boy.

  1. He asked Allah

    Ibrahim said: My Lord, grant me a child from among the righteous.

  2. Allah answered

    The next ayah says Allah gave him good news of a forbearing boy — a patient one.

  3. Later, another son

    Allah also gave him good news of Ishaq, a prophet from among the righteous.

  4. Children are a gift, not a right

    Both sons came as an answer to dua, not by anyone's plan.

  5. Ask for good, not just for things

    Notice what Ibrahim asked for: not simply a child, but a righteous one.

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:100

رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

Rabbi hab lee minas saaliheen

“My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous."”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:101

فَبَشَّرْنَٰهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ حَلِيمٍۢ

Fabashsharnaahu bighulaamin haleem

“So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy.”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:112

وَبَشَّرْنَٰهُ بِإِسْحَٰقَ نَبِيًّۭا مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

Wa bashsharnaahu bi Ishaaqa Nabiyayam minas saaliheen

“And We gave him good tidings of Isaac, a prophet from among the righteous.”

Do this before next time

Make one dua today for someone in your family, asking Allah to make them righteous.

Sage clay valley with a cream clay water skin and a gold clay spring bubbling up

Lesson 2 · Then He will not neglect us · ages 8-11

Left in an empty valley

Ibrahim left Hajar and baby Ismail in a valley with no water and no people, because Allah told him to. Hajar's answer became famous.

  1. There was nothing there

    Ibn Abbas describes a place near the Ka'bah with no people and no water.

  2. She asked one question

    Hajar asked whether Allah had ordered this. When he said yes, she said: then He will not neglect us.

  3. Ibrahim made a dua

    He turned to the House and asked Allah to make hearts love them and to give them fruits, so they would be thankful.

  4. Water came

    The place he left them was the spot of Zamzam, and Makkah grew around that water.

  5. Trust is not doing nothing

    Hajar still searched for water; she trusted Allah while she tried.

Surah Ibrahim · 14:37

رَّبَّنَآ إِنِّىٓ أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِى بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِى زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ ٱلْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱجْعَلْ أَفْـِٔدَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَهْوِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ وَٱرْزُقْهُم مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

Rabbanaaa inneee askantu min zurriyyatee biwaadin ghairi zee zar'in 'inda Baitikal Muharrami Rabbanaa liyuqeemus Salaata faj'al af'idatam minan naasi tahweee ilaihim warzuqhum minas samaraati la'allahum yashkuroon

“Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.”

“She asked him: Has Allah ordered you to do so? He said: Yes. She said: Then He will not neglect us.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 3364

Do this before next time

Say Hajar's sentence in your own words next time something feels unfair, then do the next useful thing.

Cream clay ram beside a sage clay hill with a gold clay crescent above

Lesson 3 · A father and a son who both said yes · ages 8-11

The hardest test

Ibrahim was shown in a dream that he would sacrifice his son. He told him — and the boy told him to go ahead. Allah stopped it and ransomed him.

  1. He told his son

    Ibrahim said: I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you, so what do you think?

  2. The son answered calmly

    He said: do as you are commanded; you will find me, by Allah's will, among the patient.

  3. Allah stopped it

    Allah called out that he had fulfilled the vision, and this was a clear trial.

  4. A great ransom

    The Qur'an says Allah ransomed him with a great sacrifice.

  5. Why we remember it

    Both of them chose Allah over what they wanted, and Allah gave them both back to each other.

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:102

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعْىَ قَالَ يَٰبُنَىَّ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ فِى ٱلْمَنَامِ أَنِّىٓ أَذْبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

Falamma balagha ma'a hus sa'ya qaala yaa buniya inneee araa fil manaami anneee azbahuka fanzur maazaa taraa; qaala yaaa abatif 'al maa tu'maru satajidunee in shaaa'allaahu minas saabireen

“And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast."”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:103

فَلَمَّآ أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُۥ لِلْجَبِينِ

Falammaaa aslamaa wa tallahoo liljabeen

“And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead,”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:104

وَنَٰدَيْنَٰهُ أَن يَٰٓإِبْرَٰهِيمُ

Wa naadainaahu ai yaaaa Ibraheem

“We called to him, "O Abraham,”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:105

قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ ٱلرُّءْيَآ ۚ إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Qad saddaqtar ru'yaa; innaa kazaalika najzil muhsineen

“You have fulfilled the vision." Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:106

إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلْبَلَٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلْمُبِينُ

Inna haazaa lahuwal balaaa'ul mubeen

“Indeed, this was the clear trial.”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:107

وَفَدَيْنَٰهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍۢ

Wa fadainaahu bizibhin 'azeem

“And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice,”

Do this before next time

Name one thing you find hard to give up, and give it up for one day for the sake of Allah.

Cream clay handshake shapes on a sage clay tile with a gold clay knot between them

Lesson 4 · He said it, so he did it · ages 5-7

Ismail: true to his promise

The Qur'an describes Ismail in a few words: he was true to his promise, a messenger and a prophet, and he told his family to pray.

  1. True to his promise

    Allah says Ismail was true to his promise — when he said he would do something, he did it.

  2. He told his family to pray

    The same ayah says he used to enjoin prayer and zakah on his family.

  3. Allah was pleased with him

    The ayah ends by saying he was pleasing to his Lord.

  4. He helped build the Ka'bah

    The Qur'an shows Ibrahim and Ismail raising the foundations of the House together, asking Allah to accept it.

  5. Small words, big life

    A whole life summed up as: he kept his word and he prayed.

Surah Maryam · 19:54

وَٱذْكُرْ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ صَادِقَ ٱلْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًۭا نَّبِيًّۭا

Wazkur fil Kitaabi ismaa'eel; innahoo kaana saadiqal wa'di wa kaana Rasoolan Nabiyyaa

“And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.”

Surah Maryam · 19:55

وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُۥ بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱلزَّكَوٰةِ وَكَانَ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ مَرْضِيًّۭا

Wa kaana yaamuru ahlahoo bis Salaati waz zakaati wa kaana 'inda Rabbihee mardiyyaa

“And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakah and was to his Lord pleasing.”

Surah Al-Baqara · 2:127

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَٰهِۦمُ ٱلْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

Wa iz yarfa'u Ibraaheemul qawaa'ida minal Baitiwa Ismaa'eelu Rabbanaa taqabbal minnaa innaka Antas Samee'ul Aleem

“And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.”

Do this before next time

Make one promise today that is small enough that you will definitely keep it — then keep it.

Cream clay bowl of dates on a sage clay cloth with three small gold clay stars

Lesson 5 · Good news that made her laugh · ages 8-11

Ishaq and Yaqub, given as a gift

In his old age Ibrahim was given Ishaq, and then Ishaq's son Yaqub — and Allah made them both righteous.

  1. The visitors brought news

    Allah gave Ibrahim's wife good news of Ishaq, and after Ishaq, Yaqub.

  2. Grandson and prophet

    Allah says: We gave him Ishaq and Yaqub as an extra gift, and made all of them righteous.

  3. Both were guided

    In Surah Al-An'am, Allah names Ishaq and Yaqub among the prophets He guided.

  4. Late is not too late

    Ibrahim was old when this happened, which is part of why it is told.

  5. Righteous, not just related

    Being from a prophet's family did not make them righteous — Allah says He made them righteous.

Surah Hud · 11:71

وَٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ قَآئِمَةٌۭ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَٰهَا بِإِسْحَٰقَ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسْحَٰقَ يَعْقُوبَ

Wamra atuhoo qaaa'imatun fadahikat fabashsharnaahaa bi Ishaaqa wa minw waraaa'i Ishaaqa Ya'qoob

“And his Wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob.”

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:72

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ نَافِلَةًۭ ۖ وَكُلًّۭا جَعَلْنَا صَٰلِحِينَ

Wa wahabnaa lahooo Ishaaq; wa Ya'qooba naafilah; wa kullan ja'alnaa saaliheen

“And We gave him Isaac and Jacob in addition, and all [of them] We made righteous.”

Surah Al-An'aam · 6:84

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ كُلًّا هَدَيْنَا ۚ وَنُوحًا هَدَيْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِۦ دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَٰنَ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُوسُفَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَهَٰرُونَ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Wa wahabnaa lahoo ishaaqa wa ya'qoob; kullan hadainaa; wa Noohan hadainaa min qablu wa min zurriyyatihee Daawooda wa Sulaimaana wa Ayyooba wa Yoosufa wa Moosaa wa haaroon; wa kazaalika najzil muhsineen

“And We gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - all [of them] We guided. And Noah, We guided before; and among his descendants, David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. Thus do We reward the doers of good.”

Do this before next time

Ask an older person in your family to tell you one thing Allah gave them that they did not expect.

Cream clay lamp beside a sage clay bed roll with gold clay star light

Lesson 6 · The last question a father asked · ages 8-11

What Yaqub asked his sons at the end

When death came to Yaqub he did not ask his sons about money or land. He asked them who they would worship.

  1. Ibrahim advised his sons too

    The Qur'an says Ibrahim charged his sons, and Yaqub did the same: Allah has chosen this religion for you, so do not die except as Muslims.

  2. The question at the end

    Yaqub asked his sons: what will you worship after me?

  3. Their answer

    They said: we will worship your God and the God of your fathers — one God — and we are Muslims to Him.

  4. What families pass down

    The most valuable thing Yaqub wanted to leave behind was tawhid.

  5. It is a question for us

    Every family can be asked the same thing: what will you worship?

Surah Al-Baqara · 2:132

وَوَصَّىٰ بِهَآ إِبْرَٰهِۦمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَٰبَنِىَّ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ ٱلدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

Wa wassaa bihaaa Ibraaheemu baneehi wa Ya'qoob, yaa baniyya innal laahas tafaa lakumud deena falaa tamootunna illaa wa antum muslimoon

“And Abraham instructed his sons [to do the same] and [so did] Jacob, [saying], "O my sons, indeed Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims."”

Surah Al-Baqara · 2:133

أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَآءَ إِذْ حَضَرَ يَعْقُوبَ ٱلْمَوْتُ إِذْ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِى قَالُوا۟ نَعْبُدُ إِلَٰهَكَ وَإِلَٰهَ ءَابَآئِكَ إِبْرَٰهِۦمَ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ إِلَٰهًۭا وَٰحِدًۭا وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ

Am kuntum shuhadaaa'a iz hadara Ya'qoobal mawtu iz qaala libaneehi maa ta'budoona mim ba'dee qaaloo na'budu ilaahaka wa ilaaha aabaaa'ika Ibraaheema wa Ismaa'eela wa Ishaaqa Ilaahanw waahidanw wa nahnu lahoo muslimoon

“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 and Ishmael and Isaac - one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."”

Do this before next time

Ask a parent what they most want you to keep after them, and tell them what you would answer Yaqub.

Cream clay date palm sapling in sage clay soil with a gold clay star above

Lesson 7 · Why Allah praised them · ages 12-15

Counted among the patient

Allah lists Ismail with other patient prophets, and says He admitted them into His mercy because of it.

  1. Named among the patient

    Allah mentions Ismail, Idris and Dhul-Kifl, and says all of them were of the patient.

  2. Patience got a reward

    The next ayah says Allah admitted them into His mercy, and they were of the righteous.

  3. Patience is not being quiet

    In this family, patience meant crossing a desert, keeping a promise, and accepting a test.

  4. Chosen and good

    Elsewhere Allah says Ismail was among the chosen and the best.

  5. The point of the whole module

    Three prophets, one family, and the same lesson: obey Allah, then be patient with what He decides.

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:85

وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ ۖ كُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

Wa Ismaa'eela wa Idreesa wa Zal Kifli kullum minas saabireen

“And [mention] Ishmael and Idrees and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient.”

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:86

وَأَدْخَلْنَٰهُمْ فِى رَحْمَتِنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

Wa adkhalnaahum fee rahmatinaa innahum minas saaliheen

“And We admitted them into Our mercy. Indeed, they were of the righteous.”

Surah Saad · 38:48

وَٱذْكُرْ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَٱلْيَسَعَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ ۖ وَكُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَخْيَارِ

Wazkur Ismaa'eela wal Yasa'a wa Zal-Kifli wa kullum minal akhyaar

“And remember Ishmael, Elisha and Dhul-Kifl, and all are among the outstanding.”

Do this before next time

Write down the hardest thing you are being patient about, and one ayah from this module to remember with it.

Every ayah on this page comes from the Tanzil Uthmani text of the Qur'an with the Sahih International translation, and every hadith carries its collection and number so you can check it yourself. Back to the learning path

Next on this shelf: The four khalifahs — 6 lessons.

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