Ismail and Isaac
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ بِجَمِیعِ مَحَامِدِه کُلِّهَا عَلَی جَمِیعِ نِعَمِهِ کُلِّهَا… اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ مالِکِ الْمُلْکِ مُجْرِی الْفُلْکِ مُسَخِّرِ الرِّیاحِ فالِقِ الاْصْباحِ دَیّانِ الدّینِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمینَ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ عَلی حِلْمِهِ بَعْدَ عِلمِهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ عَلی عَفْوِهِ بَعْدَ قُدْرَتِهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ عَلی طُولِ اَناتِهِ فی غَضَبِهِ وَهُوَ قادِرٌ عَلی ما یُریدُ
Praise is to God with all his praises, for all his blessings. . . Praise is to God, the owner of the property, the operator of the orbit, the bender of the wind, the glory of the morning, the religion of the beliefs, lord of the worlds; praise is to God for his dream after his knowledge and thank God for forgiveness after his power, and praise be to God for his long patience in his wrath and he is capable to do what he wills
و نشهد أن لا اله الا الله وحده لا شریک له، و أَنَّ محمداً عبده و رسوله ارسله بالهدی و دین الحق لیظهره علی الدین کله و لو کره المشرکون اوصیکم عبادالله و نفسی بتقوی الله و اتباع امره و نهیه، و اخوفکم من عقابه
And we bear witness that there is no god but God alone, without partner, and that Muhammad is his servant and messenger, he sent him with guidance and the religion of truth, that he might proclaim it over all religion, even if the polytheists hated it.
Ismael and Isaac, the two children of the prophet Ibrahim in the Qur’an
The holy Qur’an has spoken several times about Ismael and Isaac, the first and second sons of the prophet Ibrahim. Sometimes Ismael is mentioned alone, and sometimes Isaac is alone, and in some cases both are mentioned together.
Verses dedicated to Ismael
In some of the verses that speak of Ismael without mentioning Isaac, the character of Ismael and his personal perfections and virtues are focused by the holy Qur’an. In these verses, Ismael, in addition to being a prophet, is known as a person with the characteristics like ‘patient’, ‘righteous’, ‘virtuous’, and a person who is ‘honest’ and a person who God is pleased with him, and of those who are superior to all the worlds:
وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَذَا الْكِفْلِ كُلٌّ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ؛ وَأَدْخَلْنَاهُمْ فِي رَحْمَتِنَا إِنَّهُمْ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ؛
And [remember] Ishmael, Idris, and Dhul-Kifl—each of them was among the patient. We admitted them into Our mercy. Indeed, they were among the righteous. (Anbiya: 85-86)
وَاذْكُرْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَالْيَسَعَ وَذَا الْكِفْلِ وَكُلٌّ مِنَ الْأَخْيَارِ؛
And remember Ishmael, Elisha and Dhu’l-Kifl—each [of whom was] among the elect. (Saad: 48)
وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَالْيَسَعَ وَيُونُسَ وَلُوطًا وَكُلًّا فَضَّلْنَا عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ؛
and Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah and Lot—each We graced over all the nations— (An’am: 86)
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَبِيًّا؛ وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ وَكَانَ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِ مَرْضِيًّا؛
And mention in the Book Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and an apostle and prophet. He used to bid his family to [maintain] the prayer and to [pay] the zakat, and was pleasing to his Lord. (Maryam: 54-55)
And among the other verses that mention the name of Ismael and not the name of Isaac are the verses related to the reconstruction and preparation of the Kaaba for the worshipers and the pilgrims. The act that Ibrahim and his eldest son Ismael did by the command of God:
وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَنْ طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ؛
And [remember] when We made the House a place of reward for mankind and a sanctuary, [declaring], ‘Take the venue of prayer from Abraham’s Station.’ We charged Abraham and Ishmael [with its upkeep, saying], ‘Purify My House for those who go around it, [for] those who make it a retreat and [for] those who bow and prostrate.’ (Baqare: 125)
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ؛ رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُسْلِمَةً لَكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ؛
As Abraham raised the foundations of the House with Ishmael, [they prayed]: ‘Our Lord, accept it from us! Indeed You are the All-hearing, the All-knowing. ‘Our Lord, make us submissive to You, and [raise] from our progeny a nation submissive to You, and show us our rites [of worship], and turn to us clemently. Indeed You are the All-clement, the All-merciful.’ (Baqare: 127-128)
Verses specific to Isaac
In some verses that speak of Isaac without mentioning the name of Ismael, the character of Isaac and his personal perfections and virtues are mentioned. In these verses, Isaac, in addition to being a prophet, one of the guiding Imams of human beings, those who have been blessed, and whose prayers, zakat, and good deeds have been revealed to them, is a ‘righteous’ and is considered to be powerful and he is among the chosen people:
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ نَافِلَةً وَكُلًّا جَعَلْنَا صَالِحِينَ؛ وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءَ الزَّكَاةِ وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ؛
And We gave him Isaac, and Jacob as well for a grandson, and each of them We made righteous.
We made them imams, guiding by Our command, and We revealed to them [concerning] the performance of good deeds, the maintenance of prayers, and the giving of zakat, and they used to worship Us. (Anbiya: 72-73)
فَلَمَّا اعْتَزَلَهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَكُلًّا جَعَلْنَا نَبِيًّا؛ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُمْ مِنْ رَحْمَتِنَا وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ عَلِيًّا؛
So when he had left them and what they worshipped besides Allah, We gave him Isaac and Jacob, and each We made a prophet. And We gave them out of Our mercy, and conferred on them a worthy and lofty repute. (Maryam: 49-50)
وَبَشَّرْنَاهُ بِإِسْحَاقَ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ؛ وَبَارَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى إِسْحَاقَ …
And We gave him the good news of [the birth of] Isaac, a prophet, one of the righteous. And We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants [some] are virtuous, and [some] who manifestly wrong themselves. (Safat: 112-113)
وَاذْكُرْ عِبَادَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ أُولِي الْأَيْدِي وَالْأَبْصَارِ؛ إِنَّا أَخْلَصْنَاهُمْ بِخَالِصَةٍ ذِكْرَى الدَّارِ؛ وَإِنَّهُمْ عِنْدَنَا لَمِنَ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ الْأَخْيَارِ؛
And remember Our servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, men of strength and insight. Indeed We purified them with exclusive remembrance of the abode [of the Hereafter]. Indeed they are surely with Us among the elect of the best. (Saad: 45-46-47)
Common verses about Ismael and Isaac
The holy Qur’an mentions the names of both of Ibrahim’s children when talking about their birth and the gratitude of Ibrahim, who says:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ؛
All praise belongs to Allah, who gave me Ishmael and Isaac despite [my] old age. Indeed my Lord hears all supplications. (Ibrahim: 39)
Another case is that the names of Ishmael and Isaac are among the prophets; therefore believing on the mission of both of them is considered a necessary thing in Islam:
قُلْ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ؛
Say, ‘We have faith in Allah and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, and that which Moses, Jesus and the prophets were given by their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit.’ (Al-e omran: 84)
Sacrificing: Ismael or Isaac?
Isaac is explicitly mentioned in the Torah as the son for sacrifice; Ibrahim’s son who had to be sacrificed by God’s command to test him[1]. The name of this son of Ibrahim is not explicitly mentioned in the holy Qur’an, but it is said: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ؛ When he was old enough to assist in his endeavour, he said, ‘My son! I see in dreams that I am sacrificing you. See what you think.’ He said, ‘Father! Do whatever you have been commanded. If Allah wishes, you will find me to be patient.’ (Safat: 102); however, many commentators on the Qur’an consider the sacrifice son to be Ismael. And it is narrated from the holy Prophet that he said: أنَا ابنُ الذَّبِیحَینِ I am the son of two sacrificed people (Ismail and Abdullah).
[1] Creation: 22