Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 132

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And Ibrāhīm exhorted the same to his sons, and so did Ya‘qūb (Jacob): “My sons, Allah has certainly chosen for you the Faith. So, let not death overtake you but as Muslims.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

This was the advice of Abraham—as well as Jacob—to his children, ˹saying˺, “Indeed, Allah has chosen for you this faith; so do not die except in ˹a state of full˺ submission.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

This was enjoined by Abraham and Jacob to their offspring, “O my children, Allah has chosen for you this religion; so do not die except as Muslims.”

A. J. Arberry

And Abraham charged his sons with this and Jacob likewise: 'My sons, God has chosen for you the religion; see that you die not save in surrender.'

Abdul Haleem

and commanded his sons to do the same, as did Jacob: ‘My sons, God has chosen [your] religion for you, so make sure you devote yourselves to Him, to your dying moment.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And Ibrahim enjoined his sons the same and did Ya'qub also, saying: O my sons! verily Allah hath chosen for you the religion, so die not except ye be Muslims.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob; "Oh my sons! Allah hath chosen the Faith for you; then die not except in the Faith of Islam."

Abul Ala Maududi

He also enjoined on his children to follow the same way. Jacob also did the same and his last will to his sons was, "O my children, Allah has chosen the same way of life for you. Hence remain Muslims up to your last breath."

Ahmed Ali

And Abraham left this legacy to his sons, and to Jacob, and said: "O my sons, God has chosen this as the faith for you. Do not die but as those who have submitted (to God)."

Ahmed Raza Khan

And Ibrahim willed the same religion upon his sons, and also did Yaqub (Jacob); (saying), “O my sons – indeed Allah has chosen this religion for you; therefore do not die except as Muslims (those who submit to Him).”

Ali Quli Qarai

Abraham enjoined this [creed] upon his children, and [so did] Jacob, [saying], ‘My children! Allah has indeed chosen this religion for you; so do not die except as those who have surrendered themselves [to Allah].

Ali Ünal

Abraham bequeathed and enjoined this submission to his sons (Ishmael and Isaac) and (to his grandson) Jacob, saying: "My sons, God has chosen for you (from different ways of faith and life) the Religion (of Islam, based on submission to Him and absolutely free from any kind of associating partners with Him). Therefore, make sure that you do not die except as Muslims (those submitted to Him exclusively)."

Amatul Rahman Omar

The same (faith) did Abraham enjoin upon his sons and (so did) Jacob (saying), `My sons! surely, Allâh has chosen for you this faith. See that when you die you are in a state of complete submission (according to His will).´

English Literal

And Abraham directed/commanded with it his sons and daughters , and Jacob: "You my sons and daughters, that God chose/purified for you the religion, so do not die (E) except and you are submitters/surrenderers/Moslems ."

Faridul Haque

And Ibrahim willed the same religion upon his sons, and also did Yaqub (Jacob); (saying), "O my sons - indeed Allah has chosen this religion for you; therefore do not die except as Muslims (those who submit to Him)."

Hamid S. Aziz

And Abraham instructed his sons therein, and so did Jacob (saying), "O my sons! Verily, Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, do not therefore die save as those who have surrendered (as Muslims).

Hilali & Khan

And this (submission to Allah, Islam) was enjoined by Ibrahim (Abraham) upon his sons and by Ya'qub (Jacob), (saying), "O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except in the Faith of Islam (as Muslims - Islamic Monotheism)."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And the same did Abraham enjoin on his sons, and (so did) Jacob: O my sons, surely Allah has chosen for you (this) religion, so die not unless you are submitting ones.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And the same did Ibrahim enjoin on his sons and (so did) Yaqoub. O my sons! surely Allah has chosen for you (this) faith, therefore die not unless you are Muslims.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

The same did Abraham enjoin upon his sons, and also Jacob, (saying): O my sons! Lo! Allah hath chosen for you the (true) religion; therefore die not save as men who have surrendered (unto Him).

Muhammad Sarwar

Abraham left this legacy to his sons and, in turn, so did Jacob saying, "God has chosen this religion for you. You must not leave this world unless you are a Muslim (submitted to the will of the Lord of the Universe)."

Qaribullah & Darwish

Abraham charged his children with this, and so did Jacob, saying: 'My sons, Allah has chosen for you the religion. Do not die except being submissive (Muslims)'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And this (submission to Allah, Islam) was enjoined by Ibrahim (Abraham) upon his sons and by Ya`qub (Jacob) (saying), "O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except as Muslims."

Wahiduddin Khan

and Abraham enjoined his sons to do the same, as did Jacob, "My sons, God has chosen this religion for you; so do not let death overtake you, except when you are in a state of submission."

Talal Itani

And Abraham exhorted his sons, and Jacob, “O my sons, God has chosen this religion for you, so do not die unless you have submitted.”

Tafsir jalalayn

And Abraham enjoined (wass; may also be read aws) upon his sons this, creed, and [so did] Jacob, upon his sons, saying; `My sons, God has chosen for you the [true] religion, the religion of submission [to God] (islm), see that you die not save in submission; he forbade them from abandoning this submission [to God], and enjoined them to adhere firmly to it until death overtook them.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَوَصَّى بِهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ

And this (submission to Allah, Islam) was enjoined by Ibrahim upon his sons and by Yaqub,

means, Ibrahim commanded his offspring to follow this religion, that is, Islam, for Allah.

Or, the Ayah might be referring to Ibrahim's words,
أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
(I have submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, Jinn and all that exists).

This means that these Prophets loved these words so much that they preserved them until the time of death and advised their children to adhere to them after them.

Similarly, Allah said,

وَجَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةً بَـقِيَةً فِى عَقِبِهِ

And he (Ibrahim) made it (i.e. La ilaha illallah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone)) a Word lasting among his offspring, (true Monotheism). (43;28)

It might be that Ibrahim advised his children, including Jacob, Isaac's son, who were present. It appears, and Allah knows best, that Isaac was endowed with Jacob, during the lifetime of Ibrahim and Sarah, for the good news includes both of them in Allah's statement,

فَبَشَّرْنَـهَا بِإِسْحَـقَ وَمِن وَرَاءِ إِسْحَـقَ يَعْقُوبَ

But We gave her (Sarah) glad tidings of Ishaq (Isaac), and after Ishaq, of Yaqub (Jacob). (11;71).

Also, if Jacob was not alive then, there would be no use here in mentioning him specifically among Isaac's children.

Also, Allah said in Surah Al-Ankabut,

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَـقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ النُّبُوَّةَ وَالْكِتَـبَ

And We bestowed on him (Ibrahim), Ishaq and Yaqub, and We ordained among his offspring Prophethood and the Book. (29;27)

and,

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَـقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ نَافِلَةً

And We bestowed upon him Ishaq, and (a grandson) Yaqub, (21;72),

thus, indicating that this occurred during Ibrahim's lifetime.

Also, Jacob built Bayt Al-Maqdis, as earlier books testified.

The Two Sahihs recorded that Abu Dharr said,

"I said, `O Messenger of Allah! Which Masjid was built first?'

He said, Al-Masjid Al-Haram (Al-Ka`bah).

I said, `Then?'

He said, Bayt Al- Maqdis.

I said, `How many years later?'

He said, Forty years."

Further, the advice that Jacob gave to his children, which we will soon mention, testifies that Jacob was among those who received the advice mentioned in Ayat above (2;130-132).
Adhering to Tawhid until Death

Allah said,

يَا بَنِيَّ إِنَّ اللّهَ اصْطَفَى لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلَ تَمُوتُنَّ إَلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ



(Saying), "O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except as Muslims."

meaning, perform righteous deeds during your lifetime and remain on this path, so that Allah will endow you with the favor of dying upon it.

Usually, one dies upon the path that he lived on and is resurrected according to what he died on. Allah, the Most Generous, helps those who seek to do good deeds to remain on the righteous path.

This by no means contradicts the authentic Hadith that says,

إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ حَتّـى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا إِلاَّ بَاعٌ أَوْ ذِرَاعٌ فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ فَيَعمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّار فَيَدْخُلُهَا

وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ بعَمَلِ أَهلِ النَّارِ حَتَّى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا إِلاَّ بَاعٌ أَو ذِرَاعٌ فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ فَيَعْمَلُ بعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَدْخُلُهَا

Man might perform the works of the people of Paradise until only a span of outstretched arms or a cubit separates him from it, then the Book (destiny) takes precedence, and he performs the works of the people of the Fire and thus enters it.

Also, man might perform the works of the people of the Fire until only a span of outstretched arms or a cubit separates him from the Fire, but the Book takes precedence and he performs the works of the people of Paradise and thus enters it.

Allah said,

فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى

وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَى

وَأَمَّا مَن بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَى

وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَى

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَى

As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him. And believes in Al-Husna. We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness).

But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient. And belies Al-Husna (none has the right to be worshipped except Allah). We will make smooth for him the path for evil. (92;5-10