Ishmael in Islam
Arabia | |
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Predecessor | Lut |
Successor | Ishaq |
Children | Children of Isma‘il |
Parent(s) | Ibrahim Hajar |
Relatives | Ishaq (brother) |
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Ishmael (
Ismail is the figure known as
Quranic narrative of Ismael
Birth
Ishmael was the first son of Abraham; his mother was Hajar. There are many versions of the story, some of which include a prophecy about Ishmael's birth. One such example is from
Ismail and Hagar taken to Mecca by Abraham
Ismail and Hagar being taken to Mecca by Abraham in Islamic texts
The sacrifice
While the
As Abraham attempts to slay Ishmael, either the knife is turned over in his hand or copper appears on Ishmael to prevent the death and God tells Abraham that he has fulfilled the command. Unlike in the Bible, there is no mention in the Qur'an of an animal (ram) replacing the boy; rather he is replaced with a 'great sacrifice' (dhibḥin ʿaẓīm).[8] Since the sacrifice of a ram cannot be greater than that of Abraham's son (and a prophet in Islam at that), this replacement seems to point to either the religious institutionalisation of sacrifice itself, or to the future self-sacrifices of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his companions (who were destined to emerge from the progeny of Ishmael) in the cause of their faith. Every Eid al-Adha once a year Muslims around the world slaughter an animal to commemorate Abraham's sacrifice and to remind themselves of self-abnegation in the way of God.[9] Later historiographic literature incorporates the Biblical narrative in which a ram is provided which is slaughtered instead of Ishmael.[2][6]
The actions of Ishmael in this narrative have led him to become a prominent model of hospitality and obedience. This story in the Quran is unique when compared to that in the Bible because Abraham talks with his son, whichever it is believed to be, and the son is thus aware of the plan to become a sacrifice and approves of it. As noted above, in some versions, Ishmael makes sure in different ways that neither he nor his father hesitate in their obedience to God. In this way, Ishmael is a model of surrendering one's will to God, an essential characteristic in Islam.[10]
While most contemporary Muslims hold the view that Ishmael was the son who was nearly sacrificed, there has been significant disagreement among early scholars and historiographers. There are such persuasive arguments for both, in fact, it is estimated that 131 traditions say Isaac was the son, while 133 say Ishmael.[2]: 135 Such dispute over which son suggests that the story, and where and to whom it happens, is extremely important.[2]: 144 It is argued that the story originated from rabbinic texts and was adapted to Islam over time in order to give Mecca religious importance and connect the story with the pilgrimage.[7]: 87 Arguments by early Muslim scholars for Ishmael as the intended sacrifice include that Jews claim it is Isaac only because they are jealous that it was actually the ancestor of Arabs, Ishmael, and that the horns of the ram that was sacrificed instead hung in the Kaaba at one time.[6]: 88–90 In looking solely at the text of the Quran to determine which son was to be sacrificed, there still are various views. The strongest case for Ishmael in the Quran is that directly after the sacrifice narrative, Abraham is told of the coming of Isaac's birth, therefore, it must be Ishmael who was about to be sacrificed.[6]: 88 Authentic hadiths are said to not contradict each other because that negates the definition of the hadith.
Construction of the Kaaba
At some point, often believed to be after Hagar's death, Ishmael married a woman from the Jurhum, the tribe who settled in the area around Zamzam. Abraham visited Ishmael in Mecca and when he arrived at his home, Ishmael was not there. Instead Ishmael's wife greets Abraham, but she was not welcoming or generous to him. Abraham instructed her to tell Ishmael some version of the statement that he was not pleased with or to change "the threshold of his door." When Ishmael returns home and his wife told him that, he knows it is from his father and taking the advice, divorced the woman. He then married another woman from Jurhum. Abraham once again visited and was met by Ishmael's second wife, as Ishmael was out. This wife was very kind and provided food for him. Abraham instructed her to tell Ishmael some version of the statement that he was pleased with "the threshold of his door." When Ishmael arrived and his wife repeated Abraham's statement, Ishmael knew it was from his father and kept his wife.[2][6]
There are many versions of the construction of the Kaaba that differ in fairly significant ways, although all have Abraham build or cleanse the Kaaba and then immediately after, or at an unknown time, God called Abraham to establish the Hajj, or pilgrimage. These narratives differ in when these events occurred, if and how there was supernatural involvement, the inclusion or omission of the Black Stone, and whether Ishmael assisted his father. Of those that say Ishmael took part in the construction, most describe Abraham visited Ishmael a third time in Mecca, during which they raised the Kaaba. Some say Ishmael looked for a final stone, but Abraham did not accept the one he brought back. Instead an angel had brought the Black Stone, which Abraham put into place. Ishmael was left at the Kaaba, in charge of its care and to teach others about the Hajj.[2][6] The starting of the Hajj has many versions, and some scholars believe this reflects the late association of Abraham with the Hajj after Islam had developed to help remove its connection to early pagan rituals.[2]: 101
In Islamic thought
Lineage of several prophets according to Islamic tradition |
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Dotted lines indicate multiple generations. |
Prophetic career
Ishmael is considered a prophet in Islam and is listed in the Quran with other prophets in many instances.[11][12][13][14] In other verses, such as 21:85[15] and 38:48,[16] Ishmael is praised for being patient, good, and righteous.[17] A particular example which describes Ishmael individually is 19:54-55[18] – "And call to mind, through this divine writ, Ishmael. Behold, he was always true to his promise, and was an apostle [of God], a prophet, who used to enjoin upon his people prayer and charity, and found favour in his Sustainer's sight."[19] As a descendant of Ishmael, Muhammad is the Prophet and continues the line of prophets from ancient times.
Genealogy and association with Arabs
Ishmael's place as the "founder of the Arabs" was first stated by Josephus.[20] As Islam became established, the figure Ishmael and those descended from him, the Ishmaelites, became connected, and often equated, with the term Arab in early Jewish and Christian literature.[21] Before Islam developed as a religion, Ishmael was depicted in many ways, but after its establishment, Ishmael was almost always seen in a negative light in Jewish and Christian texts, as he becomes the symbol for the "other" in these religions.[22]: 2–3 As the Islamic community became more powerful, some Jewish midrash about Ishmael was modified so that he was portrayed more negatively in order to challenge the Islamic view that Ishmael, and thus the Muslims, were the favoured descendants of Abraham.[22]: 130 This became the genealogy according to Jewish sources and the Bible, in contrast with the genealogy of Arabs according to Muslims.[21] The development of Islam created pressure for Islam to be somehow different from Judaism and Christianity, and accordingly, Ishmael's lineage to Arabs was stressed.[22]: 117
Today, some Christians believe that God fulfills his promises to Ishmael today by blessing the Arab nations with oil
See also
References
- )
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7914-0331-0.
- ^ Hadith 4:583
- ^ Ibraaheem (peace be upon him)
- )
- ^ ISBN 978-0-87395-921-6.
- ^ ISBN 0-86078-701-X.
- ^ Quran 37:100–111
- ^ "Deeper Meaning of Sacrifice in Islam" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ^ Akpinar, Snjezana (2007). "I. Hospitality in Islam". Religion East & West. 7: 23–27.
- ^ Quran 2:136
- ^ Quran 3:84
- ^ Quran 4:163
- ^ Quran 6:84–86
- ^ Quran 21:85
- ^ Quran 38:48
- ^ Asad, Muhammad (2003). The Message of the Qur'an. Bristol, England: The Book Foundation.
- ^ Quran 19:54–55
- ^ Asad, Muhammad (2003). The Message of the Qur'an. Bristol, England: The Book Foundation. p. 517.
- ^ Millar, Fergus, 2006. ‘Hagar, Ishmael, Josephus, and the origins of Islam’. In Fergus Millar, Hannah H. Cotton, and Guy MacLean Rogers, Rome, the Greek World and the East. Vol. 3. The Greek World, the Jews and the East, 351-377. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
- ^ S2CID 161074367.
- ^ ISBN 9780791467602.
- ^ An invitation to Ishmael by C. George Fry.
- ^ The Ishmael Promise and Contextualization Among Muslims by Jonathan Culver
- ^ JSTOR 3318071.