English Translation of Al-Quran
[38].Surah Suad
Ayat 45. And remember Allah’s obedient servants, Ibrahim AS (Abraham), Ishaque AS (Isaac), and Yaqub AS (Jacob), (all) owners of strength (in worshipping Us) and (also) of religious understanding.
Ayat 46. Verily, Allah did choose them by granting them (a good thing, i.e.) the remembrance of the home [in the Hereafter and they used to make the people remember it, and also, they used to invite the people to obey Allah and to do good deeds for the Hereafter].
Ayat 47. And they were close to Allah, verily, of the chosen and the best!
Tafseer of Surah Suad Ayat 45. And commemorate Allah’s Servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, possessors of Power and Vision. In the last Surah (37:83-113), Abraham and Isaac (and by implication Jacob and his son Yusuf ) were mentioned as resisting Evil and winning through. Here they are mentioned as men with spiritual power and vision, Israelite patriarchs, who bore witness to the Gospel of the Hereafter, and were therefore a blessing to their people, for they taught the Truth. 46. Verily Allah did choose them for a special (purpose)- proclaiming the Message of the Hereafter. 47. They were, in Allah’s sight, truly, of the company of the Elect and the Good.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH)! Who is the most honorable amongst mankind?” He ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) said, “The most honorable of them is one who is the most pious of them.” They said, “We are not asking about this”. He said, “Then, the most honorable of men was Yusuf [PBUH] (Joseph), the Prophet of Allah, the son of Allah’s Prophet, who was the son of the Prophet of Allah, who was the son of the Khalil of Allah (i.e., Ibrahim (PBUH))’ They said, “We are not asking you about this.” He enquired, “Are you then asking me about the classes of the Arabs? The best of them in the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance are the best of them in Islam, provided they comprehend religious knowledge”.
[Al-Bukhari Book 05, Chapter 55, Hadith # 572]
Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah As-Suad Ayat 45. And remember Allah’s obedient servants” We come to know from this Hadith that the families which enjoyed popularity and prestige for their eminent qualities (like generosity, chivalry, honesty, etc.) in the pre-Islamic period were also credited for these values after their acceptance of Islam. But now their respect was qualified with their religious knowledge and practice. Their capabilities, self-respect and other qualities were turned towards a different direction. These qualities which were previously used for paganism were now devoted for Islam.
