Israel (epithet)

Isrāel (Arabic:إسرائيل) is the epithet of the Prophet Jacob (a). According to Majma' al-bayan, the name Isrā'il in Hebrew signifies "the chosen of God" or "the servant of God".^[1] Al-Shaykh al-Tusi analyzes the term as a compound of isrā (servant) and 'īl (God) and renders it "servant of God".^[2] Shia exegetes interpret the word Isra'il in Qur'an 3:93 and Qur'an 19:58 as referring to Jacob (a).^[3] For this reason, the descendants and progeny of Jacob (a) are called Bani Isra'il in the Qur'an.^[4]

The Torah likewise reports that, after wrestling with God, Jacob (a) was named Israel because of his strength and his prevailing over both the divine adversary and men.^[5]

Notes

↑ Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al‑bayān, vol. 1, p. 181.
↑ Ṭūsī, al‑Tibyān fī Tafsīr al‑Qurʾān, vol. 1, p. 180.
↑ Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al‑bayān, vol. 2, p. 344; Subḥānī, Manshūr‑i Jāwīd, vol. 11, p. 325.
↑ Rūḥī, Simā‑yi Bani‑Isrāʾīl dar Qurʾān va ʿAhdayn, p. 58.
↑ Ahd‑i ʿAtīq, vol. 1, p. 234-236.

References

Ahd‑i ʿAtīq. Volume 1: Kitāb‑hā‑yi Sharīʿat or Tawrāt. Translated into Persian by Pirūz Sayyār. Tehran: Nashr‑i Hermes, 1393 Sh.
Rūḥī, Abu l‑Faḍl. Simā‑yi Bani‑Isrāʾīl dar Qurʾān va ʿAhdayn. Majalla‑yi Maʿrifat, No. 95. Fall 1384 Sh.
Subḥānī, Jaʿfar. Manshūr‑i Jāwīd. Qom: Muʾassisa‑yi Imām Ṣādiq (a), 1390 Sh.
Ṭūsī, Muḥammad b. Ḥasan al-. Al‑Tibyān fī Tafsīr al‑Qurʾān. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al‑Turāth al‑ʿArabī, [n.d].
Ṭabrisī, Faḍl b. Ḥasan. Majmaʿ al‑bayān fī tafsīr al‑Qurʾān. Beirut: Muʾassasat al‑Aʿlamī li‑l‑Maṭbūʿāt, 1415 AH.

[1] Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al‑bayān, vol. 1, p. 181.

[2] Ṭūsī, al‑Tibyān fī Tafsīr al‑Qurʾān, vol. 1, p. 180.

[3] Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al‑bayān, vol. 2, p. 344; Subḥānī, Manshūr‑i Jāwīd, vol. 11, p. 325.

[4] Rūḥī, Simā‑yi Bani‑Isrāʾīl dar Qurʾān va ʿAhdayn, p. 58.

[5] Ahd‑i ʿAtīq, vol. 1, p. 234-236.

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v t e Prophets in the Qur'an
Names	Adam (a) • Nuh (a) • Abraham (a) • Moses (a) • Jesus (a)• Prophet Muhammad (s) • Ishmael (a) • Shu'ayb (a) • Salih (a) • Ilyas (a) • Idris (a) • Yunus (a) • Joseph (a) • Jacob (a) • Aaron (a) • Zechariah (a) • Yahya (a) • Isaac (a) • David (a) • Job (a) • Lot (a) • Hud (a) • 'Uzayr (a) • Solomon (a) • Ahmad (a) • Yasa' (a) • Imran (a)
Titles	Dhu l-Nun • Dhabih Allah • Dhu l-Kifl • Rahma li-l-'Alamin • Khalil Allah • Kalim Allah • Ruh Allah • Khatam al-Nabiyyin • Israel (epithet)
Suras	Sura al-Anbiya' • Sura Yunus • Sura Nuh • Sura Hud • Sura Ibrahim • Sura Yusuf • Sura Muhammad
Tribes	Thamud • People of Lut • People of 'Ad • People of Rass • Children of Israel • People of the Sabbath • Quraysh • Madyan • People of Noah • People of Saba'
Miracles	Bright Hand • She-Camel of Salih (a) • The Qur'an • Shaqq al-Qamar • Four birds of Ibrahim • Companions of the Cave • Stick of Moses • God's Speech to Moses
Books	Bible • Torah • Zabur • Scriptures • Qur'an
Wives	Eve • Wife of Noah • Wife of Lut • Sarah • Hagar • Zuleikha • Wives of the Prophet Muhammad (s)
Children	Habil • Qabil • Son of Noah • Benyamin • Lady Fatimah al-Zahra' (a)
Religions	Hanif Religion • Islam • Judaism • Christianity
Opposers	Nimrod • Qarun • Pharaoh • Haman • Goliath • Abu Lahab • Samiri
Places	Madyan (city) • Tur Sinai • Al-Buq'at al-Mubaraka • Al-Aqsa Mosque • Ahqaf
Stories	Flood of Nuh (a) • Sacrifice of Isma'il (a) • Gog and Magog • Flood of Arim • Fall of Adam (a) and Eve • Abraham's Breaking of Idols • The murder of Abel
Related	Talut • Queen of Sheba • Stories of the Qur'an • al-Khidr (a) • Joshua son of Nun • Prophethood • Prophets • Ulu l-'Azm • People of the book • Habib al-Najjar • Forbidden Tree • Heaven of Adam (a) • Ark of Noah (a) • Al-Yunusiyya Dhikr • Carpet of Solomon • Shirt of the Joseph (a) • Terah • Disciples of Jesus (a) • Azar • General Prophethood • Special Prophethood • Story of Khidr (a) and Moses (a) • Patience of the Ayyub (a)
Prophethood