When the dawn of the second day came one of the angels
appeared in the shape of a man. Jacob began to wrestle with him. They were neck
and neck until the angel injured his thigh and Jacob became lame. When the day
was breaking, the angel said to him: 'What is your name?" He answered:
"Jacob."
The angel said : "After today you shall not be called
(anything) but Israel." Jacob asked: "And who are you? What is your
name?" He vanished. Then Jacob knew that he was one of the angels. Jacob
was lame, and for this reason the children of Israel do not eat the thigh
muscle on the hip socket.
Jacob raised his eyes and saw his brother Esau coming. Jacob
prostrated seven times before him, for it was their salutation in that time. It
was lawful for them just as the angels had prostrated in salutation to Adam.
When Esau saw him, he ran towards him, embraced and
kissed him and wept. When Esau raised his eyes and saw the women and children,
he asked: "Who are these with you?" Jacob answered: 'Those whom Allah
has given me, your servant." Leah,
Rachel, their slaves, and all the children approached and prostrated before
him. Jacob asked Esau to accept his gift and insisted until he did so.
Esau returned and went in advance before him. Jacob and his
family followed with the flocks and herds and slaves to the mountains (Seir).
The People of the Book tell a story of Dinah, daughter of
Jacob and Leah. Shechem Ibn Hamor seized her and lay with her by force. Then he
asked her father and brothers to let him marry her. Her brothers said:
"Circumcise, all of you, and we will give our daughters to you, and we
will take your daughters for ourselves; but we do not marry with uncircumcised
people."
They (the men of the city) agreed to that, and all of them
were circumcised. When the third day came and the pain from the circumcision
had increased, Jacob's sons approached and killed them till the last one. They
killed Shechem and his father for the evil they had committed against them and
for their worship of idols. That is why Jacob's sons killed them and seized
their money as spoils.
Then Rachel got pregnant and gave birth to a son, Benjamin,
but she had a hard labor and died after delivery. Jacob buried her in Ephrath
(Afrath). The tomb of Rachel is there till the present day.
Jacob's sons were twelve men. From Leah there were Reuben
(Robil), Simeon (Shamun), Levi (Lawi), Judah (Yahudh), Issachar (Isakher), and
Zebulun (Zablun). From Rachel there were
Joseph and Benjamin. From Rachel's slave there were Dan and Naphtali (Neftali),
and from Leah's slave there were Gad and Asher.
Jacob came to his father Isaac and settled with him in the
village of Hebron which lies in the land of Canaan where Abraham had lived.
Then Isaac fell ill and died when he was one hundred eighty years old.
His sons Esau and Jacob, buried him with his father Abraham
Al-Khalil in a cave which he had bought. It was said that Abraham died at the
age of one hundred seventy-five.
Allah the Almighty declared in the Glorious Quran: And who
turns away from the religion of Abraham (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) except him
who befools himself? Truly. We chose him in this world and verily, in the
Hereafter he will be among the righteous.
When his Lord said to him: "Submit (i.e. be a
Muslim)!" He said: "I have submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord
of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)."
And this (submission to Allah, Islam) was enjoined by
Abraham upon his sons and by Jacob, (saying): "0 my sons! Allah has chosen
for you the (true) religion, then die not except in the Faith of Islam (as
Muslims - Islamic Monotheism)."
Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob? When he
said unto his sons: "What will you worship after me?" They said:
"We shall worship you Ilah (God - Allah) the Ilah (God) of your fathers,
Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, One Ilah (God), and to Him we submit (in Islam)."
That was a nation who has passed away. They shall receive
the reward of what they earned and you of what you earn. And you will not be
asked of what they used to do.
Say (0 Muhammad, to the Jews and Christians): "Dispute
you with us about Allah while He is our Lord and your Lord? And we are to be
rewarded for our deeds and you for your deeds. And we are sincere to Him in
worship and obedience (i.e. we worship Him Alone and none else, and we obey His
Orders)." Or say you that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and Al-Asbat (the
twelve sons of Jacob) were Jews or Christians? Say. "Do you know better or
does Allah (know better . . . that they all were Muslims)? And who is more
unjust than he who conceals the testimony i.e. to believe in Prophet Muhammad
when he comes, written in their books he has from Allah? And Allah is not
unaware of what you do." Surah 2: 130-140
In another surah Almighty Allah declared: 0 People of the
Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you dispute about Abraham, while the
Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have you then no sense?
Verily, you are those who have disputed about that of which you have knowledge.
Why do you then dispute concerning that which you have no knowledge? It is
Allah Who knows, and you know not.
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true
Muslim Hanifan (Islamic Monotheism, - to worship none but Allah Alone) and he
was not of the polytheists (i.e. he joined none in worship with Allah).
Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Abraham are
those who followed him, and this Prophet (Muhammad) and those who have believed
(Muslims). And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the believers. Surah
3: 65-68
Allah the Exalted also affirmed: Then, verily! Your Lord -
for those who do evil (commit sins and are disobedient to Allah) in ignorance
and afterward repent and do righteous deeds, verily, your Lord thereafter, (to
such) is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Verily, Abraham was an Ummah (a leader having all the good
righteous qualities, or a nation), obedient to Allah, Hanifan (i.e. to worship
none but Allah), and he was not one of those who were Al-Mushrikeen (polyt
heists, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, and those who joined
partners with Allah). (He was) thankful for His (Allah's) Graces. He (Allah)
chose him (as an intimate friend) and guided him to a Straight Path (Islamic
Monotheism, neither Judaism or Christianity). And We gave him good in this
world, and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous.
Then, We have inspired you (0 Muhammad saying): "Follow
the religion of Abraham Hanifan (Islamic Monotheism - to worship none but
Allah) and he was not of the Mushrikeen i.e. polytheists, pagans, idolaters,
disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger Muhammad, those who
worship others along with Allah or set up rivals with (or partners to)
Allah." Surah 16: 119-123
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