Ishmael Series

Ishmael

Ishmael was the first son of Abraham through the Egyptian Hagar, the common patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, and is venerated by Muslims as a prophet. According to the Genesis account, he died at the age of 137.

Personal Facts

Born: Canaan

Children: Nebaioth, Basemath, Adbeel, Mibsam, Kedar, Mishma, Kedemah, Naphish, Jetur, Dumah, Tema, Hadad, Massa

Parents: Abraham, Hagar

Siblings: Isaac

Grandchild: Reuel

In Islam, Ishmael (1781 BC - 1638 BC?) is known as the firstborn son of Abraham from Hagar and as an appointed prophet and messenger of God. It is believed that Ishmael lived between 120 to 143 years.

The name of the son who was supposed to be sacrificed is not mentioned in the Qur'an, and in early Islam, there was a fierce controversy over the identity of the son. However, the belief that it was Ishmael prevailed later.

Life

In Islamic beliefs, Abraham had prayed to God for a son (Isma in Arabic means 'to listen,' i.e. answer prayer, and ell is derived from the Hebrew word el, meaning God). God delivered this child to Abraham and later tested Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice his only son at the time. However, just as Abraham was to kill his only son, God halted him, praised him for his loyalty, and commanded him to sacrifice a ram instead. This leads to the Muslim practice of sacrificing domesticated animals such as sheep, goats, or cows for the celebration to mark this event known as Eid ul-Adha.

Ishmael in the Qur'an

Ishmael is a highly regarded person in the Qur'an. Ishmael enjoined upon his people worship and almsgiving and was acceptable in the sight of his Lord

The Qur'an mentions Ishmael with other people like Elisha, Jonah, and Lot, who are considered righteous, good, or chosen

Abraham and Ishmael are said to have built the foundations of the Ka'aba). Meccans, and m.ost Arabs at the time of Muhammad, believed that Isma'il settled in Mecca, was their ancestor, and built with Abraham the Ka'ba, which they revered from old times.

The story of Abraham and his wives, Sarah and Hagar (Hajar in Arabic), plays an important role in Islamic tradition.

Abraham conceives a son with Hagar when Sarah is unable to bear children. Then, after many years, Sarah miraculously gives birth to Isaac. After some time, upon God's command, Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael to the desert with God's promise of protection. The Quran takes a special interest in Hagar and her son, through whom Arabs trace their connection to Abraham. Each year during the Hajj (the ritual pilgrimage) in Mecca, pilgrims re-enact Hagar's desperate search for water for her infant son, running seven times between two hills and drawing water from the well of Zam Zam, said to have sprung miraculously from the dry earth at the baby Ishmael's feet. [The whole story is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari].

Other references to Ishmael in the Qur'an

The Qur'an stresses twice that it does not make a distinction between the revelations by Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes (i.e., the sons of Jacob), and that which Moses and Jesus revealed, and that which other prophets received from their Lord.

Another reference where the name of Ishmael appears is where the Qur'an states that he was inspired in the same manner as prophets like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon. According to the Qur'an, God also inspired David to write the Psalms.

Descents of Ishmael

Muhammad is considered to be one of the many descendants of Ishmael. The oldest extant biography of Muhammad, compiled by Ibn Ishaq, and edited by Ibn Hisham, opens:

This book contains the life of the Apostle of God: Muhammad was the son ofAbd Allah, son of Abd-ul-Muttalib, son of Hashim, son of Abdu Manaf, son of Qusay, son of Kilab, son of Hakeem, son of Kaab, son of Luayy, son of Ghalib, son of Fihr, son of Malik, son of Qays, son of Kinanah, son of Khuzaymah, son of Mudrikah, son of Ilyas, son of Mudhar, son of Nizar, son of Maad, son of Adnan, son of Udd, son of Muqawwam, son of Nakhour, son of Tahir, son of Yarub, son of Yashyub, son of Nabit, son of Ismail (ishmael), son of Ibrahim, the Friend of God, son of Tarikh, son of Nakhour, son of Sarukh, son of Rau, son of Falih, son of Hud, son of Salih, son of Arphakhshad, son of Sham, son of Nuh/Noah, son of Lamekh, son of Matushalakh, son of Akhanukh, - who, as is believed, was the prophet Idris, the first prophet, and the first who wrote with the reed, - son of Aded, son of Mahlaleel, son of Kaynan, son of Anoush, son of Shays, son of Adam, to whom may God be gracious!