The widely circulated story claiming that Prophet Jacob عليه السلام wept over his son Joseph for forty years until he became blind is not authentically established in this wording.

The account that says Jacob prostrated himself and repeatedly asked Allah to have mercy on his weakness, old age, poverty, and distress, followed by a divine promise that Joseph would be brought back even if he had died, has not been established as an authentic prophetic narration.

What Narration Mentions Jacob’s Grief?

A narration with details resembling parts of the popular story was reported by Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak through Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه.

It describes Jacob as saying that his loss of sight resulted from weeping over Joseph and that his bowed back resulted from grief over his son Benjamin. It also contains a lengthy account involving Jibril and a divine message to Jacob.

However, this narration is weak and munkar (rejected). It should therefore not be presented as an authentic statement of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Al-Albani رحمه الله also classified this narration as munkar in Da‘if Al-Targhib wa Al-Tarhib.

What Does the Quran Confirm About Jacob’s Grief?

The Quran clearly establishes that Jacob experienced profound grief after Joseph’s disappearance. Allah says:

“And he turned away from them and said, ‘Oh, my sorrow over Joseph!’ And his eyes became white from grief, for he was a suppressor of his sorrow.”
[Quran 12:84]

This confirms the intensity of Jacob’s grief and its effect on his eyes. However, the Quran does not specify that he wept for forty years.

Therefore, the forty-year figure should not be presented as an established fact.

What Did Jacob Say During His Grief?

One of the clearest lessons in the story is that Jacob directed his grief to Allah rather than losing hope.

He said:

“I only complain of my suffering and grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know.”
[Quran 12:86]

He also instructed his sons:

“And do not despair of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.”
[Quran 12:87]

These verses show that profound grief can coexist with patience, faith, and hope in Allah’s mercy.

Is the Story of Forty Years Authentic?

The story should not be circulated as an established religious account or attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The specific claim that Jacob wept for forty years, became blind, made the quoted supplication while prostrating, and then received a divine promise that Joseph would be restored is not authentically established.

What is firmly established is the Quranic account of Jacob’s intense grief over Joseph and the whitening of his eyes because of that grief.

The Main Lesson From Jacob’s Story

The authentic Quranic account offers a profound lesson: grief does not necessarily mean despair.

Jacob عليه السلام suffered deeply, yet he continued to trust Allah and refused to give up hope. His statement, “I only complain of my suffering and grief to Allah,” demonstrates that turning to Allah during hardship is compatible with patience and faith.

Did Prophet Jacob really weep for Joseph for forty years?
There is no authentic evidence establishing that he wept for exactly forty years.

Did Jacob lose his sight because of grief?
The Quran states that his eyes became white from grief, but the detailed reports explaining this are not all authentic.

Is the supplication “Do You not have mercy on my weakness?” authentic?
It is not established as an authentic narration from Prophet Jacob عليه السلام.

What is authentically established about Jacob’s grief?
The Quran confirms that he grieved deeply over Joseph and that his eyes became white from grief.

Is there an authentic hadith about the forty-year story?
No. A similar narration reported by Al-Hakim was classified as munkar by Al-Albani.