Is’haq (Isaac); Father of Bani Isra’il Prophets
Is’haq (AS) is the forefather of the prophets of Bani Isra’il. According to what the Quran says, Is’haq (AS) was a gift from God to Ibrahim and Sareh (Sarah), his mother.
Is’haq (AS) was born in Palestine and lived there. He was born 5 or 13 years after Ismail (AS), according to some accounts. When he was born, Ibrahim (AS) was over 100 years old and Sareh was over 90.
According to the Quran, God had given the news of his birth to Ibrahim (AS and Sareh. “And his wife was standing (by), so she laughed, then We gave her the good news of Ishaq and after Ishaq of (a son's son) Yaqoub” (Surah Hud, Verse 71)
After his brother Ismail (AS) died, Is’haq (AS) succeeded him as a prophet and all other prophets of God, except Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who is a descendant of Ismail (AS), are his descendants.
Eight verses in the Holy Quran directly or indirectly point to the prophethood of Is’haq (AS) and based on these verses, he promoted his father’s religion that had been based on Tawheed (monotheism).
In none of these verses has there been any reference to a divine book given to him. Historical accounts also make no mention of a divine book revealed to Is’haq (AS).
Among the characteristics attributed to Is’haq (AS) in the Quran are being monotheist, being righteous, being Imam, his Ikhlas (purity of intention), being strong and having insight.
In the Old Testament, it is said that Is’haq was the son that Ibrahim (AS) was going to sacrifice for God.
At the age of 40, Is’haq (AS) married a girl named Rafaqa and had two sons named Ais and Yaqoob (Jacob). Before his death, Is’haq (AS), ordered by God, appointed Yaqoob as prophet.
According to the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament, Is’haq (AS) at the end of his life, when he was old and blind, thought of introducing one of his sons as his Wasi (executor). After that Is’haq (AS) lived 20 more years and then died at the age of 180 in Al-Khalil (Hebron).
Some Quran interpreters and historians believe that Is’haq (AS) lived 160 years and after death was buried in Al-Khalil.
