Why Yaqoob Jacob was called Israel.
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
Why
and when did Prophet Yaqub (PBUH) was called as
Is it
valid to keep the name of nation on prophet`s names like the state of Israel
?
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errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
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Answer:
Why Yaqoob Jacob was
called Israel
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His
help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide,
and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear
witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear
witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
Your
Question: Why and when did Prophet Yaqub (PBUH) was called as
Exactly why or when was Prophet Yaqoob (a.s.) assigned or
given the name ‘
There are several Jewish and Biblical traditions regarding
the change of name of the Noble Prophet Yaqoob (a.s.) from the Old Testament
and the Bible, which in our humble opinion border on manifest blasphemy!
Israel or in Hebrew ‘Yisra-El’ is derived from two Hebrew
root words: ‘Yisra’ meaning to strive or struggle; and ‘El’ means God….thus the
literal meaning of the Hebrew term Israel would mean ‘he who
struggles with God and with men’ and it was a name apparently given to Prophet
Yaqoob (a.s.) after he apparently (and I seek refuge in Allah from even saying
this!) wrestled with God, as stated according to Jewish tradition and in the Bible
in the Book of Genesis 32:22-32.
Book of Genesis
Chapter 32: 22-32
22. That night
Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons
and crossed the ford of Jabbok.
23. After he had
sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.
24. So Jacob was
left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
25. When the man
saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so
that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
26. Then the man
said: ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak.’ But Jacob replied, ‘I will not let you
go unless you bless me.’
27. The man asked
him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘Jacob’, he answered.
28.
Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but
29. Jacob said,
‘Please tell me your name.’ But he replied, ‘Why do you ask my name?’ Then he
blessed him there.
30. So Jacob
called the place Peniel, saying, ‘It is because I saw God face to face, and yet
my life was spared.’
31. The sun rose
above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
32. Therefore to
this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the
hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.
Book of Genesis Chapter 35:10
10.
After Jacob returned from Paddan
Your
Question: Is it valid to keep the name of nation on prophet`s names like the
state of Israel ?
A name, regardless of whether it be assigned to an
individual, a thing, or even a nation is no more than a sign or a mode of
recognition of that individual or thing or nation….and if one wishes to name
their nation through the name of one its most ‘famous sons’, there is
absolutely no harm.
For example, what we know and recognize as the city of
‘Madinah’ today was once known as ‘Yathrib’…..but in honor of the Noble Prophet
Mohamed (saws) migrating and residing in ‘Yathrib’ it came to be later called,
named, and recognized as “Madinat un-Nabi” or literally the ‘City of the
Prophet’, or simply ‘Madinah’.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only
due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me
alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is
the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
Wister