Ya'qub (peace be upon him), also called Israel, was the son of Ishaq and grandson of Ibrahim, and a prophet in the line of prophets (21:72, 2:132). On his deathbed, Ibrahim and Ya'qub enjoined their sons to hold fast to Islam, and Ya'qub asked his sons what they would worship after him, to which they affirmed the God of his fathers, the one God (2:132-133).
Ya'qub is remembered above all through the story of his son Yusuf. When Yusuf related his dream, Ya'qub perceived his special status and warned him not to tell it to his brothers, fearing their jealousy (12:4-6). When the brothers took Yusuf away and returned with a false story and his shirt stained with false blood, Ya'qub responded with patience, saying, "So patience is most fitting, and Allah is the one whose help is sought" (12:18).
He grieved deeply, his eyes whitening from sorrow, yet he suppressed his grief and never lost hope, telling his sons, "Do not despair of the mercy of Allah; indeed no one despairs of Allah's mercy except the disbelieving people" (12:84-87). His trust proved true when he was reunited with Yusuf and his sight was restored (12:93-96).
Allah describes Ya'qub as a man of knowledge who taught what Allah had taught him, and counts him among the chosen and righteous prophets (12:68, 38:45-47).