Abraham had eight sons, which gave rise to a great many nations and tribes. From Hagar, he had Ishmael. Quraish are the progeny of Ishmael. The son of Abraham’s wife Sarah, Isaac is the forefather of all the prophets of the children of Israel. Isaac was born in Syria. At that time, Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety years of age. Literally, ‘Isaac’ means a laughing person.
Before inflicting the punishment upon Sodom, the people of Lut, the angels visited Abraham in human form and shape. Abraham, being a very hospitable person, served them with roast beef, which they did not touch. This worried Abraham, and he became curious about who they were. Then they told him that they were the angels who had been sent to destroy the people of Lut. Then they gave Abraham and Sarah the glad tidings of the birth of Isaac.
“Then We gave them glad tidings of Isaac and, after that, of Jacob.”
(S: 11, V: 71)
“And We gave him the good news of a bright lad.”
(S: 51, V: 28)
Upon hearing the prophecy of a male child, ninety-year-old Sarah could not hide her surprise and asked in bewilderment, “Will I have a child at this age? That’s very strange.”
The angel said, “Even so has thy Lord spoken, and He is full of Wisdom and Knowledge.”
(S: 51, V: 30)
Isaac was married to Rebecca, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor, when he was forty years of age. God blessed him with a child twenty years after his marriage: Esau, who was nicknamed Edom. They named the second child Jacob, who was known as Israel.
When famine hit Canaan, Isaac decided to migrate to Egypt, but God instructed him to migrate towards Gerar near Palestine. The area where he settled is now known as Lebanon. In Gerar, he started farming and cattle breeding. God blessed him, and he became prosperous very soon. But when he started preaching the religion of his father Abraham, the people of that area turned against him. They filled those wells with earth that had been dug by Abraham and complained to the king against him. So much so that the king evicted him from that area. He made his sojourn in a nearby valley of Gerar and dug new wells besides re-digging the old ones. He also built a temple. When the king faced many political and other problems, he realized his mistake and came to Isaac, asked for his forgiveness, and requested him to come back. Thus, Isaac again went to Gerar.
In his last days, Isaac lost his eyesight, and he died at the age of one hundred and eighty in Canaan. He was buried near the graves of his parents in Hebron, which is now known as Al-Khalil.
When the life of Isaac is pondered upon, it is observed that God made him a sign of His wonder-working. When Isaac was born, Sarah was ninety years of age, and his father Abraham was one hundred years of age. God is All-Powerful. He can do whatever He wills. Adam was created without any parents; Christ was born without involving any father.
When the king banished him, he did not resist, nor did he make it a political issue. He silently submitted to his decree, considering it the will of God. And when the king asked him to come back, he did not try to take any extra advantage of the situation and humbly came back and settled down for the mission of preaching the religion of his father Abraham.