Allah tells us that He saved Ibrahim from the fire lit by his people, and brought him out from among them, migrating to the land of Ash-Sham, to the sacred regions thereof.

[وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَـقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ نَافِلَةً]

(And We bestowed upon him Ishaq, and Ya`qub Nafilatan.) `Ata' and Mujahid said, "Nafilatan means as a gift.'' Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah and Al-Hakam bin `Uyaynah said, "The gift of a son who has a son,'' meaning that Ya`qub was the son of Ishaq, as Allah says:

[فَبَشَّرْنَـهَا بِإِسْحَـقَ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسْحَـقَ يَعْقُوبَ]

(But We gave her glad tidings of Ishaq, and after Ishaq, of Ya`qub) [11:71]. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "He asked for one [son], and said,

[رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِنَ الصَّـلِحِينِ ]

("My Lord! Grant me from the righteous.'') So Allah gave him Ishaq, and gave him Ya`qub in addition.

[وَكُلاًّ جَعَلْنَا صَـلِحِينَ]

(Each one We made righteous. ) means, both of them were good and righteous people.

[وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً]

(And We made them leaders,) means, examples to be followed.

[يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا]

(guiding by Our command,) inviting to Him by His leave. Allah says:

[وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلوة وَإِيتَآءَ الزَّكَـوةِ]

(and We revealed to them the doing of good deeds, performing Salah, and the giving of Zakah,) Here the general is followed by the specific.

[وَكَانُواْ لَنَا عَـبِدِينَ]

(and of Us (Alone) they were the worshippers.) means, they did what they enjoined others to do.