130. 'Muslim' signifies he who bows in obedience to God, who acknowledges God alone as his Sovereign, Lord and Master, and the only object of worship, devotion and service, who unreservedly surrenders himself to God and undertakes to live his life in accordance with the guidance that has come down from Him. Islam is the appellation which characterizes the above -mentioned belief and outlook which constitutes the core and kernel of the religion of all the Prophets who have appeared from time to time among different peoples and in different countries since the very beginning of human life.
131. Jacob is especially mentioned since the Children of Israel were his direct descendants.
132. Din is a Qur'anic technical term, signifying the way of life, the system of conduct, and the code on which man bases his entire mode of thought and action. (For the author's views on din see his Four Basic Qur'anic Terms, tr. Abu Asad, Lahore, 1979, pp. 93-103 - Ed.)
133. In the Bible the events connected with the death of Jacob (peace be
on him) are narrated in detail. It is amazing that this narrative makes no reference
to his testament. However, the contents of the detailed testament embodied in
the Talmud greatly resemble the Qur'anic version. The Talmudic version reads
as follows:
'Serve the Lord your God, and He will deliver ye from all trouble, even as He
delivered your fathers.'
' . . . Teach your children to love God, and observe His commandments, in order
that their days may be prolonged, for God will guard those who do justly and
walk in righteousness through all His ways.'
And the sons of Jacob responded, 'All that you have commanded us, our father,
we will do. May God be with us!'
And Jacob answered: 'The Lord will be with you if ye depart not from His ways
to the right hand or to the left.'
(The Talmud Selections by H. Polano, London, Frederick Warne & Co., [1877],
pp. 113-14.)