Jacob in the Koran

It's September 9 again. Welcome to the second Blog a Koran Day, an opportunity for non-Muslim bloggers to blog a short passage from the Koran.

I am writing this from Turkey where I took my family to visit The Blue Mosque a few days ago in Istanbul.

Here is my passage from the Koran:

And recall Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were resourceful, and with vision.
We had chosen them to enforce awareness of the Hereafter.
And they are with Us of the elite, the best.

—Qur'an, sura 38 ('Sad), ayah 45-47^[18]

Not much comment to add. Jacob is mentioned 16 times in the Koran but never as wrestling an angel or deceiving his brother. And no mention of the ladder. But Jacob is taught as God's servant, prophet and leader who was submissive to God.

That was the reasoning about Us, which We gave to Abraham (to use) against his people: We raise whom We will, degree after degree: for thy Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge.
We gave him Isaac and Jacob: all (three) guided: and before him, We guided Noah, and among his progeny, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron: thus do We reward those who do good:

—Qur'an, sura 6 Al-An'am, ayah 83-84^[35]

Last year's Blog a Koran is here. Let me know when your post is up with a comment below. We are doing these on the blogs and not Facebook so that they are more accessible to our friends and cousins around the world.

Also, I bought a book yesterday by Carl Medaris called Speaking of Jesus: The Art of Not-Evangelism which is highly spoken of in the media. I look forward to reading it.

More blog resources are at Idiot's Guide to Islam, Guardian, The Koran Blogspot. Suggestions for more links?