Where the claim starts

Ishmael, Isaac and the Kaaba

Islam traces itself to Abraham through Ishmael. Here is Genesis word for word, what it says about Ishmael and Isaac, and where each Islamic claim first appears in writing.

Genesis on Ishmael, word for word

Ishmael's whole story in Genesis: his birth to Hagar, God's promise to him, his sending away, and his descendants. Read it all.

The covenant is with Isaac

God blesses Ishmael and establishes his covenant with Isaac, by name, before Isaac is born, and repeats it to Isaac and to Jacob.

Which son did Abraham offer in sacrifice?

Genesis says Isaac, by name. The Quran names no son. Early Muslim scholars disagreed; the Ishmael view won out later.

Abraham and the Kaaba

The Quran says Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the House at Mecca. That claim is first written in the Quran itself. Genesis puts Ishmael in the wilderness of Paran, south of Canaan.

Ishmael's real blessing

God did not forget Ishmael. He heard his cry, promised him a great nation and twelve princes, and in Christ invites his children into Abraham's covenant family.

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Sister sites

JesusTokEvery word Jesus spoke, as cards you can swipe.DivineTokSwipe Scripture. Tap deeper.AngelTokWhat Scripture says about angels.JewTokYeshua, the Messiah of Israel, in the Hebrew Scriptures.BibVidRead the Bible: watch the story.