Ethics of The Prophets

  1. The Ethos Of Isaac =====================

Introduction

Isaac, the son of Abraham, was born of Sarah 3423 years after the Fall of Adam. Sarah was given the good news of his birth by God:

"We gave her the good news of Ishaq and after Ishaq of Yaqoob." (11:71)

فَبَشَّرْنَاهَا بِإِسْحَاقَ وَمِنْ وَرَاءِ إِسْحَاقَ يَعْقُوبَ

Being amazed, Sarah said:

"O wonder! Shall I bear a son when I am an extremely old woman and this my husband an extremely old man? Most surely this is a wonderful thing." (11:72)

قَالَتْ يَا وَيْلَتَىٰ أَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا عَجُوزٌ وَهَٰذَا بَعْلِي شَيْخًا ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَيْءٌ عَجِيبٌ

She became pregnant after seven days and after the period of pregnancy gave birth to Isaac. She passed away at the age of 120 about 3463 years after the fall of Adam. She was buried by Abraham in Makfileh in Hebron. Language wise, Isaac means smiling.

Isaac And Generosity

The holy Prophet said: Truly the generous son of generous son of generous, is Joseph, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham (Greetings of Allah be upon them all)

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إِنَّ الْكَريمِ ابْنَ الْكَرِيمِ ابْنَ الْكَرِيمِ يُوسُفُ ابْنَ يَعْقُوبَ ابْنَ إِسْحَاقَ ابْنَ إِبْراهيمَ.

His Supplication For His Infertile Wife

The followers of the book have reported that when Isaac married Rafqa, the daughter of Batwayel during Abraham’s lifetime, he was forty old and his wife was infertile. Isaac prayed for her invoking God to give her a child. Following this invocation, she gave birth to twin sons.

وَ ذَكَرَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ أَنَّ إِسْحاقَ لَمّا تَزَوَّجَ (رفقا) بِنْتَ بَتْواييلَ في حَياةِ أَبِيهِ كَانَ عُمْرُهُ أَرْبَعينَ سَنَةً، وَإِنَّهَا كَانَتْ عَاقِرًا، فَدَعا اللَّه لَها فَحَمَلَتْ فَوَلَدَتْ غُلامَيْنِ تَوْأَمَيْن.

His Charity

Isaac’s wealth and men multiplied. He used to dig wells. However, whenever the People of Jarar disputed over them, he would leave the wells for them and dig new ones.

إِنَّ إِسْحاقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَدْ كَثَرَتْ أَمْوالُهُ وَعَبِيدُهُ وَحَفَر آبارًا وَكُلَّمَا حَفَرَ بِئرًا نَازَعَهُ عَلَيْها جَرارٌ فَيَتْرُكَها لَهُمْ وَيَحْفِرُ بِئرًا أُخْرى.