Ismail (Ishmael)

Ismail, known as Ishmael in the Christian narrative, is also mentioned in Judaism. He was the son of Hajra (Hagar) and Ibrahim (Abraham). Hajra had the premonition of his birth and the name he should be given. There are two oft-quoted happenings from Ismail’s life. One relates with his thirst for water and his mother frantically running seven times between the two hillocks of Mecca—Safa and Marwa—to get some water for her little son. Tragically enough, she did not see any sign of water or help anwhere. This is when she heard the voice of an angel sent by God. Rushing back in great curiosity to her child, she found that there was water around for which she thanked God profusely. The place where God created this spring of water came to be known as the well of Zamzam which remains the source of holy water till this day. This is mentioned in the Quran (surah 14).

The other happening relates with Ibrahim’s three dreams in which God asked him if he would sacrifice his dearest thing. He was then asked if he would sacrifice even his own son when commanded to do so. Ibrahim agreed to carry out God’s will. When Ibrahim told Ismail about his dream and asked if he would agree to be sacrificed, he bowed down before the will of God. In between, the Satan tried to dissuade Ibraheem three times but both the son and the father remained steadfast all through. Ulimately, when the fated moment came, Ibrahim brought Ismail to the ground for sacrificing him in the way of God. He got ready with his knife, wrapped his eyes and tied up Ismail’s hand so that the sacrifice could be done without any hesitation or fear. That was when he heard a voice from above. Ibrahim was told that he had succeeded in his test. To complete his sacrifice, God sent a sacrificial goat then and there to help Ibrahim perform his sacrifice with a goat rather than his son. This great sacrifice went down in history as a festival of sacrificing an animal to commemorate Ibrahim’s spirit of complete submission to God’s will. Ibrahim’s sacrifice is mentioned in the Quran (chapter 37).

Reference: Ye faizaan-e-nazar tha ya ke maktab ki karaamat thi/Sikhaai kis ne Ismail ko aadaab-e farzandi (Iqbal), Ghareeb-o-saada-o-rangeen hai daastaan-e-haram/Nehayet us ki haseen ibtida hain Ismail (Iqbal), Yaani har ek maarhala yann Kerabla ka tha/Jeena bhi jaise ik saee Marwa Safa ka tha (Anisur Rahman).

Ismail, known as Ishmael in the Christian narrative, is also mentioned in Judaism. He was the son of Hajra (Hagar) and Ibrahim (Abraham). Hajra had the premonition of his birth and the name he should be given. There are two oft-quoted happenings from Ismail’s life. One relates with his thirst for water and his mother frantically running seven times between the two hillocks of Mecca—Safa and Marwa—to get some water for her little son. Tragically enough, she did not see any sign of water or help anwhere. This is when she heard the voice of an angel sent by God. Rushing back in great curiosity to her child, she found that there was water around for which she thanked God profusely. The place where God created this spring of water came to be known as the well of Zamzam which remains the source of holy water till this day. This is mentioned in the Quran (surah 14).

The other happening relates with Ibrahim’s three dreams in which God asked him if he would sacrifice his dearest thing. He was then asked if he would sacrifice even his own son when commanded to do so. Ibrahim agreed to carry out God’s will. When Ibrahim told Ismail about his dream and asked if he would agree to be sacrificed, he bowed down before the will of God. In between, the Satan tried to dissuade Ibraheem three times but both the son and the father remained steadfast all through. Ulimately, when the fated moment came, Ibrahim brought Ismail to the ground for sacrificing him in the way of God. He got ready with his knife, wrapped his eyes and tied up Ismail’s hand so that the sacrifice could be done without any hesitation or fear. That was when he heard a voice from above. Ibrahim was told that he had succeeded in his test. To complete his sacrifice, God sent a sacrificial goat then and there to help Ibrahim perform his sacrifice with a goat rather than his son. This great sacrifice went down in history as a festival of sacrificing an animal to commemorate Ibrahim’s spirit of complete submission to God’s will. Ibrahim’s sacrifice is mentioned in the Quran (chapter 37).

Reference: Ye faizaan-e-nazar tha ya ke maktab ki karaamat thi/Sikhaai kis ne Ismail ko aadaab-e farzandi (Iqbal), Ghareeb-o-saada-o-rangeen hai daastaan-e-haram/Nehayet us ki haseen ibtida hain Ismail (Iqbal), Yaani har ek maarhala yann Kerabla ka tha/Jeena bhi jaise ik saee Marwa Safa ka tha (Anisur Rahman).