Last week, my 6-year-old had a complete meltdown because his toy broke. Sound familiar?
Here's what worked: I told him about the story of Prophet Yaqub. This man lost his beloved son, Yusuf, and didn't see him for years. But he never stopped believing Allah had a plan.
Kids get this story. They understand missing someone and what it feels like when something precious is gone, and when they hear how everything worked out in the end and how Prophet Yaqub finally hugged his son again, their faces just light up.
It's not just about patience. It's about hope. And trust me, both you and your kids will need reminders of that in this life we are living.
Who Was Prophet Yaqub (Jacob)?
Think of the most patient dad you know. Now multiply that by a thousand; that's Prophet Yaqub.
Prophet Yaqub wasn't just any man; he came from a serious lineage; his grandfather was Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). And this man had twelve sons. Twelve!
Yaqub was chosen as a prophet by Allah and is mentioned in the Quran about sixteen times, which tells you something about his importance.
But here's what I find crazy: he was also dealing with regular dad stuff. Kids fighting, jealousy, the whole mess. He was, after all, human! Yaqub kept telling his boys, "Worship Allah, and be nice to each other." Basic stuff, right? Except some of his kids... well, let's just say they didn't listen very well. However, he kept loving them.
Prophet Yaqub had patience like you wouldn't believe. His wisdom came from trusting Allah completely, even when everything looked hopeless.
Speaking of those sons, though, that's where things get interesting. Prophet Yaqub and his sons went through some serious drama.
Prophet Yaqub and His Sons
Okay, so here's where it gets messy. Yaqub had twelve boys, but he obviously loved one more than the rest. Yusuf. And everyone could tell.
Yusuf was special; he had this crazy dream where eleven stars, the sun, and the moon were all bowing to him.
These two had a connection that was just different. When Yusuf came running with his dream story, Yaqub knew right away this kid was going places.
However, he told him to keep this dream a secret and not to tell his brothers about it! Why?
But here's the wise dad moment: He said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed, Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy." (Quran 12:5)
Yaqub could see the jealousy brewing. Imagine being his older brother and hearing that. I mean, they were already jealous, and this would have just made everything worse.
But it didn't matter anyway. Even when they didn't know about this dream, the other sons couldn't stand it. Out of jealousy, they actually plotted to get rid of him. These weren't little kids having a tantrum. This was serious family drama. They threw him in a well and came home with this story about a wolf attack. They told their dad, "A wolf ate him."
Yaqub wasn't buying it. Something felt off. In his heart, he believed his son was still alive, but what could he do? His beloved son was gone.
Here's what gets me, though: even with his heart completely broken, Yaqub never gave up on Allah. He was devastated, but he trusted there was a bigger plan.
But you know what? Even the best parents can't control everything, and what happened next tested Yaqub's patience in ways most of us can't imagine.
The Patience of Prophet Yaqub
So picture this. Your son goes missing. Your other kids come home with a bloody shirt and this ridiculous story about a wolf, you know they're lying, but you can't prove it.
What would you do? Honestly, I'd probably lose my mind.
But Yaqub? He looked at that fake bloody shirt and said, "So patience is most fitting" ṣabr jamīl (beautiful patience)
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍۢ كَذِبٍۢ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًۭا ۖ فَصَبْرٌۭ جَمِيلٌۭ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ ١٨
“And they brought his shirt, stained with false blood. He responded, “No! Your souls must have tempted you to do something ˹evil˺. So ˹I can only endure with˺ beautiful patience! It is Allah’s help that I seek to bear your claims.”(Quran 12:18).
I mean, who says that? Your heart is breaking, your family's falling apart, and you're talking about patience being fitting? That's not human, that's pure faith.
Don't think he was devastated.
He cried so much that he went blind from grief. But through all of that pain, he never once said, "Allah, why me?" He just kept believing things would work out somehow.
That's what real patience looks like. Not just sitting around waiting, but trusting Allah even when everything sucks.
What Kids Can Learn About Patience
My kids want everything right now. Snacks, toys, and answers to why the sky is blue. Sound familiar?
Here's what Yaqub teaches us, though. Good things are worth waiting for. And Allah has this thing about rewarding people who don't give up hope. Just like when kids wait for Eid after Ramadan, patience brings joy!
Next time your kid's having a meltdown because they want something now, tell them about the story of Prophet Yaqub. He waited years. YEARS. And when he finally got to hug his son again? Well, let's just say that reunion was something else entirely.
Prophet Yaqub and Prophet Yusuf’s Reunion
Picture this: your child goes missing when they're little, and you don't see them for twenty or forty years, according to some tafsirs. That's what happened to Prophet Yaqub.
But here's the thing - Yusuf didn't just disappear. He ended up in Egypt, and by the time he was grown up, he'd become super important there. Like, really important. He was basically in charge of all the food when times got tough.
So when there was no food left back home, Yaqub's sons had to go to Egypt to buy grain. They walk into this big fancy place, and there's this official guy helping people get food. Guess what? It's Yusuf! But they don't recognize him at all. Why? He's wearing different clothes, he's older, and he talks like an Egyptian now.
But Yusuf? He knew exactly who they were the second they walked in. He treated them respectfully and gave them food, but he demanded that they bring their younger brother with them the next time. The brothers knew that their father wouldn't trust them because of what they did with Yusuf.
Yusuf gave them food, but he asked them to bring their younger brother with them the next time. The brothers knew that their father wouldn't trust them because of what they did with Yusuf.
When they returned to their father, he didn’t trust their claim and thought they were deceiving him as they had with Yusuf in the past. However, their father agreed and took the pledge that they would return their brother safely.
When they returned to Egypt with Binyamin, Yusuf welcomed them warmly and gave them more food. But he wanted to test them again! He secretly ordered that his silver cup be hidden in Binyamin’s bag.
After realizing it was missing, the news spread in the market that whoever returned the cup would get a reward. The brothers explained they were innocent. However, they were asked to choose a penalty if this turned out to be false. They said that whoever the silver cup was found in his bag would stay behind as a slave.
As the people searched the bags, they found the cup on Binyamin. The brothers were shocked, and they begged Yusuf to release him. They even offered to take his place as slaves, showing how much they care.
Eventually, he told them the truth. "I'm your brother Yusuf." Can you imagine that moment? Their jaws probably dropped to the floor.
Then came the reunion everyone had been waiting for. When Yaqub finally got to Egypt and saw his son again... man, there were tears everywhere. Good tears, though. The happiest tears ever.
The Quran tells us about this moment:
وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا
"And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration" (Quran 12:100)
What gets me about this whole thing is that nobody was holding grudges. Yusuf could've been like, "Remember when you guys threw me in that well?" But he didn't. He forgave them completely.
That's the real deal right there. Families mess up sometimes. Kids fight with their siblings. Parents make mistakes. But when you choose to forgive instead of staying mad? That's when the magic happens.
Yaqub's long wait was finally over. His patience paid off. His family was whole again.
This is exactly why kids need to hear stories like this. Because life gets messy sometimes, but there's always hope. And speaking of what kids can learn from all this...
You know what's great about this story, that it has two sides, and now that you know Prophet Yaqub's story, you can read Yusuf's side of the story as well here.
Life Lessons from Prophet Yaqub’s Story for Kids
So what can our kids actually take away from all this? Prophet Yaqub's story isn't just something that happened a long time ago - it's packed with lessons from Prophet Yaqub for children that they can use right now, today.
Being Patient When Things Are Hard
You know how kids want everything RIGHT NOW? Ice cream before dinner, that new toy from the store, summer vacation when it's still winter? Well, Prophet Yaqub teaches us that some of the best things in life are worth waiting for.
He waited twenty years to see Yusuf again. Twenty years! That's longer than your kid has been alive, but he didn't give up hope, and look how it worked out in the end.
Trusting Allah Even When We Don't Understand
Sometimes bad stuff happens, and we're like, "Why is this happening to me?" Think about Prophet Yaqub. Did he say this? No, he kept believing that Allah had a plan, even when he couldn't see it.
Family Love Doesn't Give Up
Here's something cool: Yaqub never stopped loving Yusuf, even when he was gone for so long. And he never stopped loving his other sons either, even though they'd made a terrible mistake. That's what real family love looks like. It sticks around no matter what.
Forgiveness Makes Everything Better
When Yusuf saw his brothers again, he could've been super angry. Instead, he forgave them completely. No lectures, no "I told you so," no making them feel bad. Just pure forgiveness. And you know what happened? The whole family became happy again.
These aren't just nice ideas to think about; they're things kids can actually practice. How? When their little brother breaks their toy, when they have to wait for something they really want, when things don't go their way.
Want to help these lessons really stick with your kids? Here are some questions that can get some great conversations started…
Parent-Child Discussion Questions
- "What do you think Yaqub felt when Yusuf went missing?"
Let your kid think about this one. Maybe they'll say sad, scared, worried. All of those feelings are totally normal. Tell them about how even prophets felt sad sometimes, but they didn't let sadness take over their whole heart.
- "Why do you think patience is so important?"
This is a big one. Maybe ask them about a time they had to wait for something and it turned out even better than they expected, like waiting for their birthday, or waiting for a baby sibling to be born.
Fun and Interactive Ways to Teach Kids About Prophet Yaqub
Let's be honest - sometimes telling stories to kids can feel like you're competing with tablets and video games. But here's the secret: Prophet stories don't have to be boring lectures. They can be just as exciting and engaging as anything else your kids love.
Bedtime Stories That Actually Work
You know that magical time right before your kid falls asleep? That's gold right there. Turn off the lights, snuggle up, and tell them about Yaqub's adventures like it's the most exciting story ever.
Use different voices for the characters. Make sound effects when the brothers throw Yusuf in the well. Kids eat this stuff up.
The best part? They'll remember these stories way better than if you just read them from a book during the day.
Get Their Hands Busy
Kids learn better when they're doing something, not just sitting there listening. Try these:
- Coloring sheets - Let them color a story book about the story of Prophet Yaqub and his family while you tell the story
- Role-play games - Have them act out being patient like Yaqub, or practice forgiving like Yusuf did
- Simple quizzes - "Who was Yaqub's favorite son?" "How long did Yaqub wait to see Yusuf again?"
When their hands are busy, their brains are paying attention.
Make It Come Alive With Videos and Games
Here's where things get really fun. At Islamic Galaxy, we've figured out how to turn these amazing Prophet stories into videos and interactive games that kids actually want to watch and play.
Think about it, your kids already love screens, right? So why not use that to teach them something incredible? Our Prophet Yaqub videos bring the whole story to life with animation, and the games let kids practice patience and forgiveness in ways that feel like play, not lessons.
The cool thing is, when kids see these stories through videos and games, they start asking questions. They want to know more. And that's when the real learning happens.
Ready to see how fun Islamic learning can actually be?
Conclusion
Here's the thing about The Story of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob) for Kids - it's not just another bedtime story. It's teaching your kids how to be patient when their little sister is being annoying, how to trust Allah when things go wrong at school, and how to forgive their friends when they hurt their feelings.
Kids remember stories way better than they remember us telling them, "be patient" for the hundredth time. These Prophet stories? They stick.
When you tell your kids about Yaqub, you're giving them tools they'll use for the rest of their lives; that's pretty amazing when you think about it.
Want to keep these stories going strong in your house? Islamic Galaxy has videos and games that make the Prophet stories as exciting as their favorite cartoons. Your kids will actually ask for more Islamic stories. How cool is that?
