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Was Abraham commanded to sacrifice Isaac or Ishmael? | Judaism and Islam – comparing the similarities between Judaism and Islam Discover similarities between Judaism and Islam Home Similarities Friendship History Jews view Islam Islam views Jews Fun Questions Contact Was Abraham commanded to sacrifice Isaac or Ishmael? Judaism Islam October 26, 2012 24 Comments Comments Today most Muslims believe that Allah (SWT) commanded Abraham (AS) to sacrifice Ishmael (AS), yet the Torah names the boy as Isaac (AS). Incredibly 38 of the companions of Muhammad (SAW) confirm the Jewish narrative and are recorded saying it was Isaac and not Ishmael. Since its beginnings Islam’s finest scholars have debated which son Abraham was commanded to sacrifice, yet both Judaism and Christianity host no such discussion. The reason for this is simple, the Torah names Isaac multiple times, while Quran keeps the boy’s identity secret. In the absence of a name Muslim scholars sought answers from those who walked with Muhammad and it is their opinions that we wish to explore. Isaac Ishaq Yitzhak Ishmael Ismail Yishmael Five The Torah names the boy Isaac 5 times Zero The Quran leaves the boy nameless 38 Of Muhammad’s companions name the boy Isaac 28 Of Muhammad’s companions name the boy Ishmael 3 Ahadith state Abbas b. Abd alMuttalib heard the Prophet name the boy Isaac 0 There no ahadith where a Sahaba heard the Prophet naming the boy Ishmael 131 Opinions attributed to Muhammad’s companions name the boy Isaac 133 Opinions attributed to Muhammad’s companions name the boy Ishmael The Prophet said in a conversation, “Then we ransomed him with a tremendous victim.” And he also said, “He is Isaac.” The ransomed one was Ishmael, but the Jews claimed it was Isaac. The Jews, however, are untruthful Abu Kurayb – Zayd b. al-Hubab – al-Hasan b. Dinar – ‘Ali ibn Zayd b. Jud’an – al-Hasan – al-Ahnaf b. Qays – ‘Abbas b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib Yunnus b. Abd al-Ala – Ibn Wahb – Umar b. Qays – Ata b. Abi Rabah – Abdallah b. Abbas What does scripture say? Torah Akedah – Genesis 22:1 – 18 After these events, God tested Abraham. “Abraham!” He said. “Yes?”, “Take your son, your only one, whom you love – Isaac, and go away to the Moriah area. Bring him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will designate to you”. Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey. He took his two men with him, along with his son Isaac. He cut wood for the offering, and set out, heading for the place that God had designated. On the third day, Abraham looked up, and saw the place from afar. Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go to that place. We will worship and then return to you”. Abraham took the offering wood and placed it on [the shoulders of] his son Isaac. He himself took the fire and the slaughter knife, and the two of them went together. Isaac spoke up to Abraham. “Father”, “Yes, my son?”, “Here is the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for the offering?”, “God will see to a lamb for an offering, my son” replied Abraham.The two of them continued together. When they finally came to the place designated by God, Abraham built the altar there, and arranged the wood. He then bound his son Isaac, and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. Abraham reached out and took the slaughter knife to slit his son’s throat. God’s angel called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!”, “Yes?”, “Do not harm the boy. Do not do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God. You have not withheld your only son from Him”. Abraham then looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. He went and got the ram, sacrificing it as an all-burned offering in his son’s place. Abraham named the place “God will See” (Adonai Yireh). Today, it is therefore said, “On God’s Mountain, He will be seen”. God’s angel called to Abraham from heaven a second time, and said, “God declares, ‘I have sworn by My own Essence, that because you performed this act, and did not hold back your only son, I will bless you greatly, and increase your offspring like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring shall inherit their enemies’ gate. All the nations of the world shall be blessed through your descendants – all because you obeyed My voice.'” Quran Dhabih – Suwar 37:99-113 And [then] he said, “Indeed, I will go to [where I am ordered by] my Lord; He will guide me. My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous”. So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy. And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, “O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.” He said, “O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast”. And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead, We called to him, “O Abraham, You have fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, this was the clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice, And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations: “Peace upon Abraham”. Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, he was of Our believing servants. And We gave him good tidings of Isaac, a prophet from among the righteous. And We blessed him and Isaac. But among their descendants is the doer of good and the clearly unjust to himself. Which view is authentic? Proving one opinion over the other is not our intention as both views have a legitimate home in the Islamic tradition. We’re simply encouraging those that say the Torah has been corrupted because it names the boy Isaac to go over the words of the Sahaba, as many of those that walked with Muhammad agreed with the Torah’s teaching. If naming the Dhabih Allah was the purpose of this narrative the Quran would have included a name, but the name is left out as his identity is not as important as the message. The message To modern man child sacrifice seems barbaric and evil, but at the time of the patriarchs child sacrifice was a common form of pagan worship. There is no greater sacrifice than giving up that which you most love, and in dark period many extended this to their own children. Without Abraham’s test many could have assumed child sacrifice an appropriate form of worshiping Allah. But Allah’s rejection of human sacrifice taught man that while we are to submit to Allah in total obedience, we must do so in ways that are pleasing to Him. This biblical narrative helped eliminated an evil pagan ritual that was widespread in antiquities, but it also speaks to us, telling us to love our children, to care for them, teach them, and cherish them with all our heart. Allah knows best. Sources We owe a huge debt to Reuven Firestone who identified the following muhaddithin as preservers of the traditions cited, Ibn Qutayba, al-Tabari, al-Tha’labi, al-Zamakhshari, al-Tabarsi, al-Kisa’i, Ibn al-Athir, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Jarir and Mujir al-Din. Supporters of Isaac Supports of Ishmael al’ Abbas b. ‘Abd alMuttalib and the Prophet (SAW) 3 Amir 2 al’ Abbas b. ‘Abd alMuttalib 8 ‘Amir b. Wa’ila (see also ‘Amir) 1 Abdallah b. Mas’ud 2 Abdallah b. ‘Umar(see also Ibn ‘Umar) 1 ‘Abdallah b. Shaqiq 2 Abu ‘Abdallah (al’Abbas b. ‘Abd alMuttalib?) 2 Abd alRahman b. Abi Sabit 1 Abu Ja’far (including Abu Ja’far Muhammad. b. ‘Ali) 3 Abu Hudhayl 3 Abu Salih 2 Abu Hurayra + Ka’b 3 Abu alTufayl 3 Abu Malik 1 Ahmad b. Hanbal 2 Abu Maysara 3 Amru b. al’Ula 1 ‘Ali b. Mas’ud 1 alDahhak 1 Husayn 1 Father of Ibn Abi Hatim 2 Ibn Abi Burka 1 Ibn Ishaq said heard Muhammad b. Ka’b alQurazi 4 Ibn Abi alHudhayl 1 alKalbi 2 Ibn Mas’ud 5 Muhammad b. Ka’b alQurtubi 1 Ibn Sabit 5 Mujahid + Ibn ‘Abbas 2 ‘Ikrima 7 alRabi’ b. Anis 3 alJaba’i 1 Sa’id b. alMusayyib 6 Ka’b alAhbar 10 alSha’bi + Ibn ‘Abbas 5 Makhul 2 Yusuf b. Mihran 6 Masruq 8 alQasim 1 alQasim b. Abi Barra 1 alQasim b. Abi Yarza 1 Qatada 7 ‘Ubayd b. ‘Umayr 3 ‘Umar b. alKhattab 4 ‘Uthman b. Abi Hadir 1 ‘Uthman b. Hadir 1 alZuhri 4 Sub total 91 49 Both ‘Abdallah 1 1 ‘Ali 7 2 ‘Ata’ 4 4 alHasan alBasri 3 11 Ibn ‘Abbas 10 30 lbn ‘Umar 1 10 Mujahid 2 12 Sa’id b. Jubayr 5 4 alSha’bi 2 9 alSuddi 5 1 Sub total 40 84 Total 131 133 Related Posts Animal welfare in Judaism and Islam Nov 30, 2014 No Comments Similarities between Judaism and Islam Aug 21, 2013 7 Comments Comments comments 24 thoughts on “Was Abraham commanded to sacrifice Isaac or Ishmael?” October 26, 2012 sartajkhan says: Like it s said, name s not important what important is message!!! Rabbana taqabbal minna, innaka antas-samiulalim! Ameen! October 27, 2012 Makaveli1992 says: ONLY ONE SON WAS OFFERED FOR SACRIFIC Was he ISHMAEL – the Eldest Son of Abraham or ISAAC the Second Son – born 14 years later!!! God decided to test the faith of Abraham, He said; And He said, Take now thy son, thine only {son} _________, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Gen. 22:2 There happens to be an unresolved, longer than a millennium old debate, as to who accompanied Prophet Abraham and submitted himself to the will of God – the first born – Ishmael – the progenitor of the prophet Muhammad, or the second born – Isaac – the progenitor of Jesus Christ? The Bible writers had placed the name of Isaac in the blank space above. Muslims believe Ishmael was the one that was taken by Abraham for the ‘Supreme Sacrifice’. Every year, Muslims throughout the world celebrate Id al-Adha as a day of festivity, recalling the courage and patience of Ishmael and the unwavering devotion of Abraham. There are judicious reasons to believe that this event happened in the life of prophet Abraham when Isaac was not yet born. We will now examine what the Bible and the Qur’an have to say on this controversial subject. After the sacrificial offering the Bible records; And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only {son} from me. Gen. 22:12 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only {son}, Gen. 22:16 The word “only” is very significant in the above quoted three verses. In the Hebrew text the word used is “yachiyd” (not “echad”), which identifies absolute singularity – the one and only. The logical argument put forward is: God must have used the phrase “thine only {son}” during the period of fourteen years when Isaac was not yet born and Ishmael the Only Son of Abraham was old enough to accompany his father for the Sacrificial Offering. The Jews and Christians argue: being born to Hagar, a hand-maid of Abraham’s wife, Ishmael was recognized as the Descendant or the Seed of Abraham, but not as his Son. The following verse from their own Bible NEGATES their argument and declares ISHMAEL born to Hagar was called “a son”. And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. Gen. 16:15 Christian scholars going to their second line of defense say: Ishmael, the Son of a bondwoman, was called Abraham’s Son at the time of his birth – but that was only for the time being. Ishmael lost the status of being the Son of Abraham the day Isaac was born to Abraham’s wife Sarah the freewoman. The Bible nowhere records losing of the acquired status. In fact, the biblical text quoted below, proves that in the sight of God the Creator, Ishmael was the Son of Abraham even after the death of his father Abraham. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him (Abraham) in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which {is} before Mamre. Gen. 25:9 The idea of a son losing his status probably comes from the cuneiform tablets exemplifying the law of the second and third millennium. The law states that a childless father could adopt a son to serve him in his old age. Should a son be born later to that man, the adopted son’s status as an heir would be altered. The answer to this Law of Adoption is: Ishmael was not adopted, he was fathered by Abraham. Hagar was the wife of Abraham records the Bible: Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. Genesis 16: 3 The obvious question is, what are the reasons that in spite of these overwhelming evidences the name of Isaac appears in the blank space above? The descendants of Ishmael and Isaac (Arabs and Jews) have fought battles in the arenas of politics and religions since the day of a serious domestic quarrel in the house of Abraham. This Domestic Dispute led Sarah driving away Hagar and her son Ishmael. Tribal pride and deep rooted hatred for the enemy can make a person go to any lengths. In the history of mankind, false pride and jealousy have been the roots of many evils and untold sufferings. The Jewish scribes wrote the Book of Genesis. It is very probable that they would not have liked the idea that this singular honor of being offered for the Supreme Sacrifice go to the progenitor of their enemy – Ishmael – rather than their own patriarch – Isaac. The unyielding pride of Jewish priests made Jesus call them stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart. The Encyclopedia Judaica, volume number 9, under the heading “Ishmael”, records as under: It is related that a renowned traditionalist of Jewish origin from Qurayza tribe, and another Jewish scholar who converted to Islam, told Caliph Omar Ibn `Abd al-Azizi (717-20) that the Jews were well informed that Ismail (Ishmael) was the one who was bound (for sacrifice), but they conceal this out of jealousy. THE QUR’ANIC NARRATION A question is often asked: Does the name of Ishmael appear in the Qur’anic narration as the one that was offered for the Supreme Sacrifice? The answer is: No. The name of Ishmael does not appear in the text. However, the Qur’anic narration gives the sequence of events that happened before and after the sacrificial offering. These chronological events very precisely testify that Isaac was born after the event. Abraham pleads for a Son: “O my Lord! grant me a righteous (son)!” So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear. Then when (the son) reached (the age of) serious work with him he said: “O my son! I see in a vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!” (The son) said: “O my father! do as thou art commanded: thou will find me if Allah so wills, one practicing Patience and Constancy!” So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah) and He had laid Him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice). Qur’an 37:100/103. The good news for the birth of Isaac – a righteous prophet – comes much later. Hence, “they had both submitted” in the above verse refers to Abraham and his eldest Son Ishmael. The narration continues: We called out to him “O Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!” Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: and We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: “Peace and salutation to Abraham!” Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. Qur’an 37:104/110. Muslims all over the world send “Peace and salutation” to prophet Abraham after their ritual prayers, five times a day. Continuing the history of Abraham, the Qur’an reveals: For he was one of Our believing Servants. And We gave him the good news of Isaac, a prophet, one of the Righteous. We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right and (some) that obviously do wrong to their own souls. Qur’an 37:111/113. The above verses clearly indicate that the incident of Supreme Sacrifice happened before the birth of Isaac and Ishmael was the “only Son” of Abraham, as mentioned in the Book of Genesis 22:2/12/16. October 28, 2012 Yosef says: And He said, Take now thy son, thine only {son} _________, Please read the explanation we gave to Tahir below as we quote the Oral Law which had already answered this question long before the birth of Islam. The Encyclopedia Judaica, volume number 9, under the heading “Ishmael”, records as under: It is related that a renowned traditionalist of Jewish origin from Qurayza tribe, and another Jewish scholar who converted to Islam, told Caliph Omar Ibn `Abd al-Azizi (717-20) that the Jews were well informed that Ismail (Ishmael) was the one who was bound (for sacrifice), but they conceal this out of jealousy. This isn’t confirmation of the tradition, its simply recording a non-Jewish opinion. These chronological events very precisely testify that Isaac was born after the event. Again see our answer to Tahir, this is not a proof but an interpreted inference. We are not trying to convince you to abandon your view, as there are many great scholars who share it. We only request you look at the evidence through unbiased eyes and we hope that in doing so you will recognize that in the absence of a name, both positions should be respected as part of the Islamic tradition. Allah (SWT) knows best October 28, 2012 Tahir Nasser says: Dear Judaism-Islam, 1) The Bible says, ‘take thy only son’ (Gen 22.2) Isaac was never his only son; Ishmael was his only son for 14 years. This one argument is irrefutable. The meaningfulness of the sacrifice was that it WAS his only son who had been given after hears of Abraham(pbuh) praying for a son, hence the name of Ishmael means: ‘The Lord hears’ (ie: hears prayers) 2) The Qur’an explicitly states in the passage above that Isaac was given after the narration of the sacrifice, as a further reward for Abraham’s(as) willingness to sacrifice his son, for it says in the Qur’an that: ‘And the case of those who spend their wealth to seek the pleasure of Allah and to strengthen their souls is like the case of a garden on elevated ground. Heavy rain falls on it so that it brings forth its fruit twofold. And if heavy rain does not fall on it, then light rain suffices. And Allah sees what you do.” (2:266) Heritage and children are wealth and this verse clearly says that the fruit is brought twofold on such people who spend of it. The sacrifice of Ishmael(as) by Abraham(as) exactly resulted in this – the two fold doubling of his children, by Isaac. Regarding the hadith: when you have a certain number of hadith conflicting another number of hadith, there is no point even mentioning the hadith because even one authentic hadith trumps 1000 false hadith. If the hadith are in conflict you must go to the Qur’an or scripture. To say that the Torah isn’t corrupted because some hadith corroborate it is farcical because: 1) The Qur’an itself says that the Torah is corrupted: “Woe, therefore, to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: ‘This is from Allah,’ that they may take for it a paltry price. Woe, then, to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.” (2:80) 2) There are thousands of hadith that are corrupted. Finally, to say at the end ‘it doesn’t matter who was sacrificed, only the message matters’ after producing a biased article saying that Isaac was sacrificed is also farcical. The message indeed matters but you do not seem to understand the underlying basis as to why Ishmael – who was the only son – was removed from the Torah and Isaac added. It was part of larger interpolations and redactions which aim at excluding Ishmael from outside the covenant of Abraham(as) and restricting the bounties of the covenant – the bounty being Prophethood – to the descendants of Isaac(as) through Jacob (as). Thus, the aim at these interpolations and redactions is to negate the claim of the Prophet Muhammad(saw) – the descendant of Ishmael(as) and to exclude him from the covenant that Abraham(as) made with God that his seed would prosper and be a source of the unity of God in the world. Thus,… truncated (24,630 more characters in archive)