وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ نَافِلَةً ۖ وَكُلًّا جَعَلْنَا صَـٰلِحِينَ 72
Translations
And We gave him Isaac and Jacob in addition, and all [of them] We made righteous.
Transliteration
Wa wahabna lahu Ishaq wa Ya'quba nafilah wa kullan ja'alna saliheen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah granted Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) the gift of his son Ishaq (Isaac) and grandson Ya'qub (Jacob) as an additional blessing (nafilah) beyond what he had asked for. The phrase 'nafilah' (extra gift/surplus) emphasizes Allah's generosity, as Ibrahim initially prayed only for a righteous heir. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that Allah made all three prophets righteous and just, highlighting the spiritual legacy passed through generations. This demonstrates Allah's reward for Ibrahim's unwavering faith and obedience, and the continuation of prophethood through his lineage.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Anbiya, which enumerates the stories of various prophets sent by Allah. The context discusses Ibrahim's prayer for righteous offspring (as mentioned in 37:100) and Allah's response. The surah emphasizes the theme of divine favors bestowed upon the prophets and their steadfastness in faith.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3371) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad mentioned Ibrahim's invocation for righteous progeny and how Allah answered his du'a. Additionally, in various hadith collections, the excellence and righteousness of the line of prophets—Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya'qub—is affirmed as part of the honored prophetic lineage.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that genuine faith and obedience bring not only the fulfillment of our requests but often exceed our expectations through Allah's boundless grace. For believers today, it reminds us to make sincere du'a, trust in Allah's wisdom, and work to establish righteousness and piety as a lasting legacy for future generations.