بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Children of the Prophets عليهم السلام

Ishaq عليه السلام

The blessed son of Ibrahim عليه السلام and Sarah عليها السلام, clearly announced in the Qur’an, honoured as a righteous prophet, and connected to Ya‘qub عليه السلام and the prophetic line of Bani Isra’il.

Quick facts

Only details supported by the Qur’an, authentic hadith, and reliable Islamic teaching are included here.

Relation Son of Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام
Mother Sarah عليها السلام
Brother Isma’il عليه السلام
Child named in Qur’an Ya‘qub عليه السلام is named as coming after Ishaq عليه السلام
Named in Qur’an Yes, clearly named as Ishaq عليه السلام
Exact date No exact calendar date is given in the Qur’an or authentic hadith

Who was Ishaq عليه السلام?

Ishaq عليه السلام was the son of Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام and Sarah عليها السلام. The Qur’an names him clearly and repeatedly, and describes him as a prophet from among the righteous. He belongs in this section because he is a named child of a prophet and also a prophet himself.

His story is different from Isma’il عليه السلام. The Qur’an gives many vivid details about Isma’il عليه السلام in Makkah through authentic hadith, but for Ishaq عليه السلام the Qur’an focuses mainly on the glad tidings of his birth, his prophethood, his righteousness, and the blessed family line that continued through Ya‘qub عليه السلام.

About dates

No exact birth year, calendar date, or age is given for Ishaq عليه السلام in the Qur’an or authentic hadith. The safe wording is that his birth was announced when Ibrahim عليه السلام and Sarah عليها السلام were in old age.

His story in order

This order follows the Qur’anic passages about the angels visiting Ibrahim عليه السلام, the glad tidings to Sarah عليها السلام, and the later honour given to Ishaq عليه السلام and Ya‘qub عليه السلام.

Story Step

A child announced by angels

The Qur’an presents the birth of Ishaq عليه السلام as glad tidings brought by angelic guests to Ibrahim عليه السلام and Sarah عليها السلام. This was not an ordinary family announcement; it was a mercy from Allah and a sign of His power.

Story Step

His mother Sarah عليها السلام was amazed

In Surah Hud, Sarah عليها السلام was standing nearby when she received the news of Ishaq عليه السلام and, after him, Ya‘qub عليه السلام. She wondered how she could have a child while she and Ibrahim عليه السلام were both very old.

Story Step

Allah’s mercy was the answer

The angels answered by reminding her of Allah’s mercy and blessings upon the household. The lesson is that Allah’s decree is not trapped inside human expectations, age, or visible means.

Story Step

A son and a future family line

The good news did not stop with Ishaq عليه السلام. The Qur’an also mentions Ya‘qub عليه السلام after Ishaq عليه السلام, showing that Allah was granting Ibrahim عليه السلام a continuing blessed family line.

Story Step

A prophet from among the righteous

Surah as-Saffat clearly gives glad tidings of Ishaq عليه السلام as a prophet from among the righteous. So his place in this section is not only as a child of Ibrahim عليه السلام, but also as a prophet chosen by Allah.

Story Step

The line of Ya‘qub and Bani Isra’il

Through Ishaq عليه السلام came Ya‘qub عليه السلام, also known as Isra’il. From Ya‘qub عليه السلام came the Children of Isra’il, and many prophets mentioned in the Qur’an came through this family line.

The glad tidings to Sarah عليها السلام

Surah Hud describes the angelic guests who came to Ibrahim عليه السلام. When he saw that they did not eat the food he served, he felt fear. They reassured him that they were sent to the people of Lut عليه السلام. Then, while his wife was standing nearby, she received the good news of Ishaq عليه السلام and, after Ishaq عليه السلام, Ya‘qub عليه السلام.

Sarah عليها السلام was amazed and wondered how she could bear a child while she was old and her husband was also old. The angels responded by pointing her back to Allah’s mercy and blessings upon the household. This makes the birth of Ishaq عليه السلام a lesson in hope: Allah’s command is greater than the limits people see in front of them.

Why Ya‘qub عليه السلام is mentioned with him

The Qur’an does not only announce Ishaq عليه السلام, it also announces Ya‘qub عليه السلام after him. This shows that Allah was granting not only a son, but a continuing family line of prophethood and guidance.

Ishaq عليه السلام as a prophet

Surah as-Saffat gives a clear honour: Allah gave Ibrahim عليه السلام glad tidings of Ishaq عليه السلام as a prophet from among the righteous. This is important because the page should not present Ishaq عليه السلام only as a family member. He was chosen by Allah and included among the prophets.

Other verses also mention Ishaq عليه السلام alongside Ya‘qub عليه السلام and describe them with guidance, righteousness, and prophethood. Surah Maryam says that when Ibrahim عليه السلام withdrew from his people and what they worshipped besides Allah, Allah granted him Ishaq and Ya‘qub, and made each of them a prophet.

The family line through Ishaq عليه السلام

Through Ishaq عليه السلام came Ya‘qub عليه السلام. Ya‘qub عليه السلام is also known as Isra’il, and from him came the Children of Isra’il. Many prophets mentioned in the Qur’an came from this line, including Yusuf, Musa, Harun, Dawud, Sulayman, Zakariya, Yahya, and ‘Isa عليهم السلام.

This does not reduce the honour of Isma’il عليه السلام. Rather, it shows the two great blessed lines from Ibrahim عليه السلام: through Isma’il عليه السلام came the noble lineage of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and through Ishaq عليه السلام came Ya‘qub عليه السلام and many prophets of Bani Isra’il.

Virtues mentioned about him

The Qur’an gives Ishaq عليه السلام honour through direct naming, prophethood, righteousness, and blessed descendants.

Lesson

Clearly named in revelation

Ishaq عليه السلام is named directly in the Qur’an many times. This makes his identity firm and not dependent on later storytelling.

Lesson

A gift after patience

The Qur’an repeatedly describes Ishaq عليه السلام as a gift granted to Ibrahim عليه السلام. His birth reminds the reader that Allah can open doors after long waiting.

Lesson

A righteous prophet

Surah as-Saffat describes him as a prophet from among the righteous, while other verses connect him with guidance, righteousness, and prophethood.

Lesson

Father of Ya‘qub عليه السلام

The Qur’an names Ya‘qub عليه السلام together with Ishaq عليه السلام in several places. This highlights Ishaq عليه السلام as a bridge between Ibrahim عليه السلام and the prophets of Bani Isra’il.

Connection to Yusuf عليه السلام

A well-known authentic hadith describes the noble prophetic chain of Yusuf عليه السلام: Yusuf, son of Ya‘qub, son of Ishaq, son of Ibrahim عليهم السلام. This beautifully places Ishaq عليه السلام inside a chain of prophets across four generations.

For this Children of the Prophets section, that chain is very useful. It helps readers see how one child entry connects to the Ibrahim عليه السلام, then Ishaq عليه السلام, then Ya‘qub عليه السلام, then Yusuf عليه السلام.

Accuracy notes

These points keep the page focused and prevent unsupported additions.

Lesson

About dates and ages

No exact birth year, calendar date, or detailed age timeline for Ishaq عليه السلام is given in the Qur’an or authentic hadith. The Qur’an only tells us that his parents were in old age when the glad tidings came.

Lesson

About his childhood details

The Qur’an does not give a long childhood narrative for Ishaq عليه السلام. We should not add invented scenes, conversations, locations, or dramatic descriptions that are not supported by reliable Islamic sources.

Lesson

About the sacrifice discussion

The sacrifice passage in Surah as-Saffat mentions a forbearing son without naming him in those verses. This Ishaq page should focus on what is directly stated about Ishaq عليه السلام: his glad tidings, prophethood, righteousness, blessing, and family line.

What should not be added

Do not add exact birth dates, invented ages, unsupported place details, or long childhood scenes. Do not copy Biblical storytelling as Islamic fact. Keep the page centred on the Qur’an: Ishaq عليه السلام was announced to Sarah عليها السلام, named clearly, honoured as a prophet, described among the righteous, and connected to Ya‘qub عليه السلام and the prophetic line that followed.

References

  • Qur’an: Surah Hud 11:69–73, the angelic guests came to Ibrahim عليه السلام and Sarah عليها السلام received glad tidings of Ishaq and, after him, Ya‘qub.
  • Qur’an: Surah al-Hijr 15:51–56, Ibrahim عليه السلام received glad tidings from the guests, and the passage teaches hope in Allah’s mercy.
  • Qur’an: Surah as-Saffat 37:112–113, Allah gave glad tidings of Ishaq عليه السلام as a prophet from among the righteous and blessed him.
  • Qur’an: Surah al-Anbiya 21:72, Allah granted Ibrahim عليه السلام Ishaq and Ya‘qub as an additional favour and made them righteous.
  • Qur’an: Surah Maryam 19:49, Allah granted Ibrahim عليه السلام Ishaq and Ya‘qub and made each of them a prophet.
  • Qur’an: Surah al-‘Ankabut 29:27, Allah granted Ibrahim عليه السلام Ishaq and Ya‘qub and placed prophethood and scripture among his descendants.
  • Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 4688, the Prophet ﷺ described Yusuf عليه السلام through the noble chain: Yusuf, son of Ya‘qub, son of Ishaq, son of Ibrahim عليهم السلام.

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds.