The tree of Abrahamic prophecy
Selections from the Book The Prophet Minister Joseph al-Siddiq…
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (26)
The verses of the Holy Quran clarify that Abraham (peace be upon him) is the father of the prophets and the father of this nation, and that the lineage of prophethood stems from him. The prophets mentioned after him in the Holy Quran, who were sent after his time, are from his descendants and offspring.
In this context, the name of Israel - Jacob - was mentioned for the second time in the Qur’an, in the Almighty’s saying: {Those were the ones upon whom Allah bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel [i.e., Jacob], and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping} [Maryam: 58].
The verse mentioned four prophets: Adam, Noah, Ibrahim, and Israel (Jacob). Adam was mentioned because he is considered the father of humanity, and Noah was mentioned as the second father of humanity after the flood. Ibrahim was mentioned because prophethood culminated with him, and the lineage of prophethood settled with him. From the lineage of prophethood, two branches emerged:
A- The Ismaili branch: represented by Ishmael bin Abraham, (peace be upon them) and this branch was sealed with the seal of the prophets and messengers, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) the master of the children of Ishmael, indeed the master of the children of Adam, the best of all creatures, and the most beloved of them to Allah.
B- The Israeli branch:
Represented by Israel (Jacob), the grandson of Abraham, peace and blessings be upon them both. He is the father of the Children of Israel, the origin of their tribes, and all their prophets are descendants of Jacob son of Isaac son of Abraham, even Jesus son of Mary, is from the descendants of Jacob son of Isaac, on the mother’s side; Because he has no father, peace and blessings be upon him. For this reason, Israel (Jacob) was mentioned in connection with Abraham, peace be upon them both, in the verse: {and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel} [Maryam: 58]. The Holy Qur’an has stated that Almighty Allah placed prophecy in the descendants of both Abraham and Jacob, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon them, as Almighty Allah said: {And Lot believed him. [Abraham] said, {Indeed, I will emigrate to [the service of] my Lord. Indeed, He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise (26) And We gave to Him Isaac and Jacob and placed in their descendants prophethood and scripture. And We gave him his reward in this world, and indeed, he is in the Hereafter among the righteous (27)} [Al-Ankabut: 26-27]
Allah gave Abraham both Isaac and Jacob, peace be upon them all. This was after he immigrated for Allah and left Iraq for the Holy Land.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Prophet Minister Joseph al-Siddiq, pp. 617-618.
- Quranic Stories, (2/59-60).
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Prophet Minister Joseph al-Siddiq on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
