What is the authenticity of the story of Prophet Jacob weeping for forty years and saying in his prostration: "O Lord, will You not have mercy on my weakness? Will You not have mercy on my old age? Will You not have mercy on my advanced years? Will You not have mercy on my humiliation? Will You not have mercy on my poverty?" And what is the authenticity of God's response to him: "O Jacob, by My might, My majesty, and My elevation above My creation, if Joseph were dead, I would bring him back to life for you?"

The story mentioned has not been narrated with this exact wording in the books of Sunnah, works of exhortation (Raqaiq), or exegesis (Tafsir). However, a similar narration, albeit with slightly different wording, is found in a weak and denounced (munkar) hadith reported by Al-Hakim from Anas ibn Malik. In this narration, Jacob (peace be upon him) was asked about the reason for his blindness and his curved back. He replied that it was due to his sorrow over Joseph and Benjamin. Gabriel then reprimanded him for complaining to other than Allah. Jacob responded by saying that he only complains of his grief and sorrow to Allah. Then, Gabriel came to him to give him the glad tidings of Joseph and Benjamin's return, and to inform him that the reason for what befell him was his failure to feed a poor orphan who was fasting. After that, Jacob used to order a caller to summon the poor to eat lunch or break their fast with him. Al-Albani described this hadith as "munkar" (denounced).