Ya'qub was the son of Ishaq and the grandson of Ibrahim. Of his twelve sons, Yusuf was especially dear to him — and that stirred envy in his brothers.
One day the brothers took Yusuf out to play, and at nightfall came back weeping: a wolf had eaten him. As proof they showed his shirt, stained with false blood. Ya'qub knew their minds had made up this story. He said: beautiful patience is my way, and Allah is the One whose help I seek against what you describe.
Years passed. His eyes turned white with grief. His sons said: will you waste away remembering Yusuf? He said:
And he told them: go and search for Yusuf and his brother, and do not despair of Allah's mercy. None despairs of Allah's mercy except people who disbelieve.
At last Yusuf's shirt reached him. When it was laid over his face, his sight returned. He said: did I not tell you that I know from Allah what you do not know?
His last counsel
At the end of his life Ya'qub gathered his sons and asked them one question: