A father who lost his son for years, and never lost hope.
إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى اللَّهِ
His story
His sons came home at night, weeping, with Yusuf's shirt stained with false blood. He did not believe them. He said: "Beautiful patience" 12:18.
Years later he lost a second son. His eyes turned white from grief 12:84. When his sons told him to stop remembering Yusuf, he said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah" 12:86. And then: "Go and search for Yusuf and his brother, and do not despair of the mercy of Allah" 12:87.
Yusuf's shirt was laid on his face and his sight returned 12:93-96. At his death he gathered his sons and asked: "What will you worship after me?" 2:133.
Moments
- 01
Beautiful patience
His sons came back at night, weeping, with Yusuf's shirt stained with false blood. Ya'qub knew they were lying. He did not shout or curse them. He said: "Rather, your souls have made something seem right to you. So patience is beautiful, and Allah is the one whose help is sought." Beautiful patience: patience without complaint to people.
- 02
Do not despair
Years later another son was lost, and his eyes turned white from sorrow. Still he sent his sons out again: "Go and search for Yusuf and his brother, and do not despair of the mercy of Allah. No one despairs of Allah's mercy except people who disbelieve." Said by a man who had every reason to despair.
- 03
The shirt
Yusuf sent his shirt with his brothers: "Cast it over my father's face, and he will see again." Before the caravan even arrived, Ya'qub said: "I can sense the scent of Yusuf." They thought he had lost his mind. Then the shirt was laid on his face, and his sight returned. "Did I not tell you that I know from Allah what you do not know?"
- 04
His last question
When death came to him, Ya'qub gathered his sons and asked one question. Not about money or land: "What will you worship after me?" They said: "We will worship your God, the God of your fathers Ibrahim, Isma'il and Ishaq, one God, and to Him we submit."
What he did when…
Ya'qub wept until his eyes turned white with grief. Grief is not a lack of faith. He did not hide it, and he did not take it to people. He said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know."
His sons lied to him, took one son from him, and later lost another. He was hurt, and he said so. Yet he still spoke to them, still trusted them with hope, and still sent them out with "do not despair of the mercy of Allah." He never stopped being their father.
Ibrahim and Ya'qub both gave their sons the same final advice: "My sons, Allah has chosen this religion for you, so do not die except as Muslims." And when death came to Ya'qub, his last question was: "What will you worship after me?" A father's last worry was not their wealth. It was their faith.
His words, for you to keep
فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ
If your child carries this name
يعقوب Ya'qub
Ya'qub is a name for a heart that keeps hoping.
Sources on this page
Quran 2:132-133Quran 12:18Quran 12:83-87Quran 12:84-86Quran 12:86Quran 12:87Quran 12:93-96
Quran meanings are given in plain English, close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com.