Life of Sayyiduna Ishaq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم

Sayyidunā Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم (Third and Final Part)

Prophet Ibrāhīm’s Final Advice

Prophet Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم was very hospitable; he showed mercy to the poor and compassion to travellers. On one occasion, several days passed without any guests arriving, which caused Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم to become restless. He went and sat by the road, hoping to host someone. There, the Angel of Death, ꜤIzrāʾīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم , in the form of a man, passed by and greeted Prophet Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم . Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم returned the greeting and asked, “Who are you?” ꜤIzrāʾīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم  replied, “I have come from a distant land.” Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم said, “I am sitting here specifically looking for someone like you.”

Then, he took ꜤIzrāʾīl’s hand and said, “Come with me.” So, ꜤIzrāʾīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم walked with Prophet Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم and arrived at his home. When Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم saw ꜤIzrāʾīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم , the Angel of Death, he recognised him and began to weep. Lady Sarah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا  also started weeping because of her son Prophet Isḥāq’s crying. Seeing them weep, Prophet Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم also began to cry.

Eventually, the Angel of Death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم departed. When the crying subsided somewhat, Prophet Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم unapprovingly said, “You cried in front of my guest, so he left.” Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم submitted, “O my respected father! Do not blame me. He was not your guest; he was ꜤIzrāʾīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم , the Angel of Death. Had I known he came to seize my soul or my mother’s soul, I would not have cried. However, my assumption was that he came to seize your blessed soul. Please give us some counsel.”[1]

One of Prophet Ibrāhīm’s final pieces of advice for his sons was this: “Indeed, Allah has chosen this religion for you, so do not die except in a state of submission (as Muslims).”[2] O Allah! Protect our faith and grant us the ability to raise our children in the best manner.

Marriage

Prophet Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم sent his servant to summon Lady Rifqā, his brother’s granddaughter, along with her wet nurse and maids. He then recited the marriage sermon for his son, Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم , and married him to Rifqā.[3] At the time of his marriage to Rifqā, Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم was 40 years old.[4]

Children

Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم saw in a dream that a very large tree emerged from his back, having many branches and twigs, and each twig had a light. He was informed in the dream that these branches represented Prophets from his offspring. He awoke and told his wife about this dream, and she said, “O Prophet of Allah عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم ! I am pregnant, and (I feel that) I have two children in my womb.”[5] Allah Almighty revealed to Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم : “I will produce two (sons, i.e.,) nations from your wife’s womb. I will grant the younger son a higher status and rank than the elder son.” Both sons were born as twins; ꜤĪṣ was born first, and then Prophet YaꜤqūb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم was born afterwards.[6] In books, mention of a daughter of Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم is also found.[7]

Supplication for Children

Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم supplicated for Prophet YaꜤqūb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم with this prayer: “May his esteem and position among his brothers increase, may Prophet YaꜤqūb’s words prevail over his brothers and other tribes, and may there be blessings in his sustenance and offspring.” Whereas, he prayed for ꜤĪṣ: “May the earth be filled with his offspring, and may there be an abundance of sustenance and fruits.”[8] In Arabic, ‘ꜤĪṣ’ refers to a dense tree (therefore, the lineage of ꜤĪṣ, son of Isḥāq spread far and wide).[9]

Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم had sent Prophet YaꜤqūb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم in his youth towards Ḥurrān, the region of his maternal uncle.[10] Then, Allah Almighty made Prophet YaꜤqūb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم a Messenger for the people of Canaan [11] and commanded him to return to his father and people.[12] Therefore, Prophet YaꜤqūb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم returned to Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم and settled in Hebron, a town in the land of Canaan. Subsequently, Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم fell ill.[13]

Prophet Isḥāq’s Final Advice

One of the pieces of advice Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم gave to Prophet YaꜤqūb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم was to not marry any Canaanite woman.[14]

Prophet Isḥāq’s Supplication

The supplications of the noble Prophets are always accepted, but each Prophet عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم is also granted one special supplication that is definitely accepted. Allah Almighty revealed to Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم : “Supplicate, for indeed your prayer will be accepted.” Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم supplicated with these words: “O Allah! I supplicate to You that any person from among the first and the last who meets You in a state where he has not associated anyone with You, You grant him entry into Paradise.”[15]

O Allah! Protect our faith and grant us an abundant share of Prophet Isḥāq’s supplication.

Passing and Burial

Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم had left behind a will to be buried in Jerusalem, at the same location[16] that Prophet Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم had purchased[17] and where Lady Sarah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا  and Prophet Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم were buried.[18] First, Prophet Isḥāq’s wife, Lady Rifqā, passed away, and she was buried beside Lady Sarah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا in the direction of the Qibla. Then, Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم passed away.[19] Prophet Isḥāq’s blessed grave is within the building’s compound, towards the pillar near the pulpit.[20] The blessed grave of Prophet YaꜤqūb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم is also at this same location.[21]

Sometime later, Prophet Moses عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم buried Prophet Yūsuf عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم at this very site.[22] According to one narration, the esteemed mother Lady Sarah lived for 127 years, while Prophet Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم lived for 175 years.[23] Prophet Isḥāq’s worldly life was 180 years.[24] Prophet YaꜤqūb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم passed away at the age of 147 years, while Prophet Yūsuf عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم departed from this world at the age of 120 years.[25]

Sacred Relics

Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم also had a waist-wrap (sash) that remained with his elder daughter. It should be noted that this is the same daughter who raised her nephew, Prophet Yūsuf عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم ; she had immense love for Prophet Yūsuf عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم .[26] People used to seek blessings from Prophet Isḥāq’s waist-wrap.[27] At the time of his passing, Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم possessed cows, camels, and sheep.[28]

Blessed Words

Prophet Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم used to recite certain words and blow on Prophet IsmāꜤīl and Prophet Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِما الـسَّـلاَم . These very words were recited by the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  and blown upon Imam Ḥasan and Imam Ḥusayn رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا . Those words are:

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّةِ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ

Translation: I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and poisonous creature, and from every ailment-inducing eye.[29]

May Allah Almighty bestow upon us graces and blessings through the mention of Prophet Isḥāq, other noble Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام , and Saints and righteous individuals رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم.

اٰمِیْنْ بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النّبیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ