The Legacy of Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام)

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعۡىَ قَالَ يٰبُنَىَّ اِنِّىۡۤ اَرٰى فِى الۡمَنَامِ اَنِّىۡۤ اَذۡبَحُكَ فَانْظُرۡ مَاذَا تَرٰى​ؕ قَالَ يٰۤاَبَتِ افۡعَلۡ مَا تُؤۡمَرُ​

 سَتَجِدُنِىۡۤ اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَ‏ 

فَلَمَّاۤ اَسۡلَمَا وَتَلَّهٗ لِلۡجَبِيۡنِ​ۚ‏ ١٠٣ 

وَنَادَيۡنٰهُ اَنۡ يّٰۤاِبۡرٰهِيۡمُۙ‏

قَدۡ صَدَّقۡتَ الرُّءۡيَا ​ ​ۚ اِنَّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجۡزِى الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ‏ 

اِنَّ هٰذَا لَهُوَ الۡبَلٰٓؤُا الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

وَفَدَيۡنٰهُ بِذِبۡحٍ عَظِيۡمٍ‏

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 Allāh wills, of the steadfast."

103 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,

[Al-Quran 37:102-107]

This is a story of Faith (Iman) and Submission (Islam). 

The Quran relates the great sacrifice demanded from Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام): to sacrifice his only child, and the child's complete submission to what was required of his father. The physical expression of this complete submission was the father putting his son down upon his forehead: the posture of prostration. 

The amazing submission of this young man, Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام), is amazing. He was not a baby. He was old enough to work along with his father (Q38:102). He was probably twelve or thirteen years old.* Generally, when boys are entering their teens, they show inclination to assert their independence, not submission, and that also to a dream. He was old enough to mock his old man. He was old enough to run away. This young Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) submits, willingly, assuring his father of his steadfastness, if Allah Wills (اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَ‏). He goes down in prostration, placing his forehead upon the ground. He is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice: lose his life, and embrace death, for the sake of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ . 

Allah was testing the father and son. Both passed with flying colours. Allah had bigger plans for them.  Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) was replaced with a great sacrifice. He is to assist his father Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) in purifying Allah's house, for the worshippers, and also raise its foundation: 

وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُم بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ النَّارِ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

رَبَّنَا وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], "Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]."

And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this a secure city country and provide its people with fruits - whoever of them believes in Allah and the Last Day." [ Allah ] said. "And whoever disbelieves - I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination."

And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.

Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.

Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise."

And who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself. And We had chosen him in this world, and indeed he, in the Hereafter, will be among the righteous.

[Al-Quran 2:125-130, Translation: Sahih International (edited in italics) ]

Purify My House: From these ayaat, it seems the House already existed but it was appointed the centre of pilgrimage when Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) and Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) raised its foundations and purified the House. Similarly, their descendant whom they prayed for, Muhammad ﷺ , Messenger of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ , purified the House when he conquered Mecca, and retaught the rites of pilgrimage.  

Raise the Foundation: Raising the foundations of an existing house is a common practice, especially in areas prone to flooding. The house is temporarily raised, separating it from its existing foundation; the foundation is then raised and the house replaced on the newly-built foundation. 

Just like his descendant Muhammad ﷺ was a Prophet and Messenger of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ , so also The Quran informs us that Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) was also a Prophet and Messenger of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ :

وَاذۡكُرۡ فِى الۡـكِتٰبِ اِسۡمٰعِيۡلَ​ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ صَادِقَ الۡوَعۡدِ وَكَانَ رَسُوۡلًا نَّبِيًّا​ ۚ‏ ٥٤

وَ كَانَ يَاۡمُرُ اَهۡلَهٗ بِالصَّلٰوةِ وَالزَّكٰوةِ وَكَانَ عِنۡدَ رَبِّهٖ مَرۡضِيًّا‏ ٥٥ 

And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.

And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakāh and was to his Lord pleasing [i.e., accepted by Him].

[Al-Quran 19:54-55, Translation: Saheeh International]

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* Age of Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام): 

According to The Quran, Surah as-Saffaat, Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was given the glad tidings of  a forbearing son (Q37:101 فَبَشَّرۡنٰهُ بِغُلٰمٍ حَلِيۡمٍ‏)** after his migration (Q38:99 وَقَالَ اِنِّىۡ ذَاهِبٌ اِلٰى رَبِّىۡ سَيَهۡدِيۡنِ‏), and prayer for a righteous son (Q38:100 رَبِّ هَبۡ لِىۡ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِيۡنَ‏).  

The Quran, Surah as-Saffaat, also states that the son at the time of the sacrifice dream was old enough to work with his father (Q37:102 فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعۡىَ قَالَ يٰبُنَىَّ اِنِّىۡۤ اَرٰى فِى الۡمَنَامِ اَنِّىۡۤ اَذۡبَحُكَ فَانْظُرۡ مَاذَا تَرٰى​ؕ قَالَ يٰۤاَبَتِ افۡعَلۡ مَا تُؤۡمَرُ​ سَتَجِدُنِىۡۤ اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَ‏ ). Boys can start lifting weights as early as the age of seven or eight years, but ideally by the age twelve or thirteen, the age of puberty. 

According to The Quran, Surah as-Saffaat, after the attempted sacrifice (Q37:103), Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was given the glad tidings of  a prophet by the name of Isaac (Ishaq عليه السلام) (Q37:112 وَبَشَّرۡنٰهُ بِاِسۡحٰقَ نَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصّٰلِحِيۡنَ‏), and that they were blessed (Q37:113 وَبٰرَكۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ وَعَلٰٓى اِسۡحٰقَ​ؕ وَ مِنۡ ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا مُحۡسِنٌ وَّظَالِمٌ لِّنَفۡسِهٖ مُبِيۡنٌ​‏). We know about his son Jacob / Israel (Yaqub عليه السلام) , his son Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام), and from the Bani Israel: Moses (Musa عليه السلام) and Aaron (Haroon عليه السلام). It is a matter of fact that there was a continuous line of prophets among their descendants till Messenger Jesus (Isa عليه السلام). 

According to The Bible, the age difference between Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) and Isaac (Ishaq عليه السلام) was fourteen years. 

At the age of seventy-six, Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was granted Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) through Hagar (Bibi Hajra رضي الله عنها). 

At the age of one hundred, Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was granted Isaac (Ishaq عليه السلام) through Sarah (Bibi Sara رضي الله عنها).  

So, assuming the good news about Isaac (Ishaq عليه السلام) was given immediately after the attempted sacrifice of the first born: Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام), who was only son at the time, , the Age of Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) was most probably twelve or thirteen years at the time he and his father attempted to carry out the dream that Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) had seen. 

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** Haleem (حَلِيۡمٍ‏):  

According to The Quran, Surah as-Saffaat, Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was given the glad tidings of  a forbearing son (Q37:101 فَبَشَّرۡنٰهُ بِغُلٰمٍ حَلِيۡمٍ‏). 

Allah meant to test father and son. What they were asked to do was unthinkable and unspeakable. It required immense faith, love and trust in Allah to even consider the request. It required even more to submit to it. It required forbearance. One of the attributes of Allah is Haleem (حَلِيمٌ), generally translated as Most Forbearing. The word 'forbearing' implies patience and restraint.  

Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was also forbearing (Q11:75). 

Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) was also forbearing (Q37:101). 

These two persons were already divinely equipped with the quality most required to submit to such a dream. 

Search results for forbearing https://corpus.quran.com/search.jsp?q=forbearing 

Quran dictionary for root - ح ل م : https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Hlm 

 ...

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Also read: 

Humans & The Human Condition 

Ignorant of The Law of Sacrifice 

Forehead / جَبِين 

The Possessors of The Stone & Hijr-e-Ismail 

Seventy Men & The Torah in Seventy Languages 

The Ancient House 

Muhammad ﷺ, a Messenger like Moses: The Qibla 

Maroof & Munkar 

Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام), the excellent example 

The Quran, the Pharaoh, Exodus and the Promised Day! 

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Lat updated on: June 14, 2024

Arab Prophet with a Global Mission

I wrote to an email discussion group: I am absolutely convinced that the Qur'an and former scriptures are sent by Allah for our guidance, and contain details of all things. On the surface, it may appear that it is not so, but the more one studies the Arabic text of the Qur'an in depth, exploring the surahs and the ayaat, dwelling upon each word, it gets absolutely fascinating. It contains such wealth of knowledge, pointing us towards so many facts and realities! Please see the various posts on my blog: signsandscience.blogspot.com 

...

MSA asked:

So for understand the Quran and for unravel the treasure it contains, one must know Arabic and study the Quran in Arabic. Does it not make clear that Quran is only for those who know and understand Arabic?

That is why Allah had sent an Arabic speaking Prophet to the Arabic speaking people of Mecca and its neighborhood thus eliminating the need of translating the Quran into other languages. Are we willing to accept this Quran fact?

My Response:

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَالَمِينَ نَذِيرًا

Blessed is He Who sent down the Criterion upon His slave that he may be to the worlds a warner 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/25/1/

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

And not We have sent you except to all mankind (as) a giver of glad tidings and (as) a warner. But most [the] people (do) not know.

http://islamawakened.com/quran/34/28/ 

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا

He (is) the One Who (has) sent His Messenger with guidance and (the) religion, the true that He (may) make it prevail over the religions all. And sufficient is Allah (as) a Witness. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/48/28/

مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا

Not is Muhammad (the) father (of) anyone of your men but (he is the) Messenger (of) Allah and Seal (of) the Prophets. And Allah is of every thing All-Knower. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/33/40/

According to the Qur'an, Prophet Muhammad is the last of the series of prophets and his mission is to all people, not just the Arabs. The reason why I think he was sent as an Arab prophet is, as I have explained in my blogpost The Prophesy [signsandscience.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-battle.html]: 

Abstract

According to the verses of the Qur’an: the Arab Prophet-Messenger Muhammad, born and raised in the Arab major city of Makkah, speaking the native Arab language, and warning with a scripture revealed in Arabic, all together seem to be pointing to a major prophecy for the Middle East: the battle between the believers in the one true God and the followers of Satan, and the eventual triumph of Truth. 

Nabi & Rasool

ZK asked: Was Nabi Muhamad a Nabi? or a Rasool? or Both ? How many Prophets were sent overtime? and How many Rasools?...Did Naboowat end? what about Risalat? Or did both end? Are all Nabis also Rasools? and vice versa? who received scriptures or the revealed Books? Nabi? Rasool? and what is the "qualification" or indicators of those who had received the revelations? were they only Nabi's? or just Rasools? or both? Kindly clarify ! Thanks...

Answer: Please find my answers (in black) below your questions:

Was Nabi Muhamad a Nabi? or a Rasool? or Both ? 

Both 

How many Prophets were sent overtime? and How many Rasools?...

The Quran does not give a number. 

And certainly We have sent Messengers before you. Among them (are) who - We have related to you, and among them (are) who - not We have related to you. And not is for any Messenger that he brings a Sign except by (the) permission (of) Allah. So when comes (the) Command (of) Allah, it will be decided in truth, and will lose there the falsifiers. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/40/78/ ] 

Did Naboowat end? what about Risalat? Or did both end? 

According to my understanding of Quran verses 3:33,34 [http://islamawakened.com/quran/3/33/ , http://islamawakened.com/quran/3/34/ ] and 33:40 [http://islamawakened.com/quran/33/40/] Naboowat (prophethood) ended with Muhammad as the last prophet, as the prophets were all male descendants from the same family tree, tracing it right up to Noah and Adam; and after Abraham, from the progeny of Isaac and Ishmael, ending with Jesus and Muhammad respectively. 

Are all Nabis also Rasools? and vice versa? 

The word rasool has been used in the Quran for both human messengers and angel messengers. Angels come with Allah's decision, such as the ones who came to Abraham and informed him that they were sent to punish the people of Lot. 

And they said, "Why has not been sent down to him an Angel?" And if We (had) sent down an Angel, surely (would) have been decided the matter then no respite would have been [http://islamawakened.com/quran/6/8/ ]

If I'm not missing some key verse(s), all bani Adam rasools (messengers) were nabi (prophets), that is a rasool was a nabi who came with a decision and served a notice to the people to stop indulging in their criminal activities, else the punishment of Allah will necessarily come in the lifetime of the rasool. 

[Quran 17:15, Translation: Literal (Word by Word)] Whoever (is) guided then only he is guided for his soul. And whoever goes astray then only he goes astray against it And not will bear one laden with burden, burden (of) another. And not We are to punish until, We have sent a Messenger.

[Quran 30:47, Translation: Literal (Word by Word)] And verily, We sent before you Messengers to their people, and they came to them with clear proofs; then We took retribution from those who committed crimes. And it was incumbent upon Us (to) help the believers.  

[Quran 58:21, Translation: Sahih International] Allah has written, "I will surely overcome, I and My messengers." Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might. 

Surah Saaffaat [http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=37 ] narrates the story of some messengers, and sends salaam on each of the messenger individually during the narration, and collectively at the end.  

The following two links list the verses which contain the words formed by the root letters of rasool and nabi. Kindly review the verses which mention who is a rasool and who is a nabi 

http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=nbA 

http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=rsl 

   

who received scriptures or the revealed Books? Nabi? Rasool? and what is the "qualification" or indicators of those who had received the revelations? were they only Nabi's? or just Rasools? or both? Kindly clarify ! Thanks...

The Quran mentions the Nabi(s) Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad as having received the scriptures. I think they were all rasool(s) as well. 

Jewish sources cite the Seven Laws of Noah. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Laws_of_Noah ]

I do not think the Quran specifies a separate title for the prophets who received the scriptures. However, the following verse uses the term rasool: 

[Quran 62:2, Translation: Sahih International] He it is Who raised among the inhabitants of Mecca an Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His communications and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and the Wisdom, although they were before certainly in clear error, 

I think this verse may also be relevant to the above: 

And when We took from the Prophets their Covenant and from you and from Nuh and Ibrahim and Musa and Isa, son (of) Maryam. And We took from them a covenant strong [http://islamawakened.com/quran/33/7/ ] 

And not is for any human that Allah should speak to him except (by) revelation or from behind a veil or (by) sending a messenger then he reveals by His permission what He wills. Indeed, He (is) Most High, Most Wise. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/42/51/ ]

Perhaps the following might also be of some help: 

Balance & Guidance: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/11/mission-of-messengers-iv.html 

Crime & Punishment: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/11/mission-of-messengers-v.html 

Thunderbolts: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/01/thunderbolts.html 

Communication Transmission: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/01/communication-transmission.html

And Allah knows best. 

The very obvious stupidity contained in every belief system

Question: A thinker wrote:
The very obvious stupidity contained in every belief system is the result of accepting as true the statements of others without checking against personal experience. This is made even worse by the mental laziness that people use in order to take short cuts. All the different classes of belief do the same thing and consequently the world is in a mess caused by lazy, expediency focused thinking.

Answer: Very true about most denizens of planet Earth. The very first, most important thing to do is to observe with all our senses, and use our intellect to determine whether or not this Universe / Multiverse came about itself, or if there is an/are multiple intelligent designs behind it. If there is/are, then what is more plausible: one intelligent creator or multiple creators?? If authority can reside with only One person, then who is this person and how do we find this Creator/ how do we revere and worship/ and is that the purpose of our creation/ what is life, and is there or not a life beyond this Earth/ and if so, will there be a reckoning??? Is there a message that this God has sent, how do we know which is the true message when there are so many multiple faith systems, so many religions, so many claims????? My personal method is to evaluate all Holy Books for accuracy/ truth/ consistency/ evaluation of scientific data/ mathematical data/ moral code/ fairness and justice, and only one Book has met all of these parameters…. The Holy Quran….. so, I believe that it is the Word of God. Since God himself says in the Holy Quran that He is Allah, that Muhammad is His messenger, and that the Quran is a Book without doubt; a Guidance for the Muttaqeen (those who are aware of Allah all the time; love him for his Love for us, and fear Him as He is the only one to be feared; and as the Day of Reckoning will definitely come). May the true God guide us all.