[19].Surah Maryam [Mary] : Ayat 49-50

Ayat 49. So when he had turned away from them and from those whom they worshipped besides Allah, We gave him Ishaque [PBUH](Isaac) and Yaqub [PBUH](Jacob), and each one of them We made a Prophet.

Ayat 50. And We gave them of Our Mercy (a good provision in plenty), and We granted them honour on the tongues (of all the nations, i.e everybody remembers them with a good praise).

[Tafseer] Isaac [PBUH] and Isaac's son Jacob [PBUH] are mentioned here as carrying on one line of Abraham's [PBUH] traditions. The other line was carried on by Ismail [PBUH], who is mentioned independently five verses lower down, as his line got special honour in the Holy Prophet of Islam [PBUH]. That is why his mention conies after that of Moses [PBUH] . Abraham [PBUH] and his son and grandson Isaac [PBUH] and Jacob [PBUH] , and their line, maintained the banner of Allah's spiritual truth for many generations, and they won deservedly high praise—the praise of truth—on the tongues of men. Abraham [PBUH] prayed that he should be praised by the tongue of truth among men to come in later ages: 26:84. Ordinary praise may mean nothing: it may be due to self-flattery on the part of others or artful management by the person praised. Praise on the tongue of sincere truth is praise indeed! 

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: It was asked, "O Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH)! Who is the most honourable amongst mankind?'' He [SAWW](PBUH) said, "The most honourable of them is one who is the most pious of them.'' They said, "We are not asking about this". He said, "Then, the most honourable of men was Yusuf [PBUH] (Joseph), the Prophet of Allah, the son of Allah's Prophet, who was the son of the Prophet of Allah, who was the son of the Khalil of Allah (i.e., Ibrahim (PBUH))' They said, "We are not asking you about this.'' He enquired, "Are you then asking me about the classes of the Arabs? The best of them in the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance are the best of them in Islam, provided they comprehend the religious knowledge".

[Al-Bukhari Book 05,Chapter 55, Hadith # 572] 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Maryam Ayat 49."We gave him Ishaque [PBUH] (Isaac) and Yaqub [PBUH] (Jacob), and each one of them We made a Prophet" We come to know from this Hadith that the families which enjoyed popularity and prestige for their eminent qualities (like generosity, chivalry, honesty, etc.) in the pre-Islamic period were also credited for these values after their acceptance of Islam. But now their respect was qualified with their religious knowledge and practice. Their capabilities, self-respect and other qualities were turned towards a different direction. These qualities which were previously used for paganism were now devoted for Islam.