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Ishmael, Isaac and the Kaaba

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.

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Genesis 22

1After these things, God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” 2He said, “Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.” 3Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him. 4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. 5Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come back to you.” 6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together. 7Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together. 9They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. 10Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son. 11Yahweh’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” 12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14Abraham called the name of that place “Yahweh Will Provide”. As it is said to this day, “On Yahweh’s mountain, it will be provided.” 15Yahweh’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky, 16and said, “‘I have sworn by myself,’ says Yahweh, ‘because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies. 18All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, because you have obeyed my voice.’” 19So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba. Abraham lived at Beersheba.

Genesis 22:1-19 (WEB) · context

The Quran

Surah 37 tells of Abraham's dream and the son's willing submission, without a name. After the ransom it announces the birth of Isaac. Muslims who hold the Ishmael view argue that the announcement of Isaac after the sacrifice shows the first son was Ishmael.

100My Lord! Vouchsafe me of the righteous. 101So We gave him tidings of a gentle son. 102And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast. 103Then, when they had both surrendered (to Allah), and he had flung him down upon his face, 104We called unto him: O Abraham! 105Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good. 106Lo! that verily was a clear test. 107Then We ransomed him with a tremendous victim. 108And We left for him among the later folk (the salutation): 109Peace be unto Abraham! 110Thus do We reward the good. 111Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves. 112And we gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac, a prophet of the righteous. 113And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do good, and some who plainly wrong themselves.

Quran 37:100-113 (Pickthall) · context

What early Muslim scholars said

Al-Tabari (died 923), in his History and his Quran commentary, reports authorities on both sides, including companions and successors who held it was Isaac, and himself judged the Isaac view more sound. Later scholarship, notably Ibn Kathir (died 1373), settled on Ishmael and attributed the Isaac view to material borrowed from Jews and Christians. The Quran itself does not settle it.

Where scholars disagree

  • Early Muslim authorities were divided between Isaac and Ishmael; the Ishmael view is dominant today.

Sources

  1. Earliest source Genesis 22 (WEB).
  2. The Quran, Pickthall translation: 37:100-113.
  3. al-Tabari, The History of al-Tabari, vol. II, Prophets and Patriarchs, trans. W. M. Brinner (SUNY Press, 1987).
  4. Reuven Firestone, Journeys in Holy Lands: The Evolution of the Abraham-Ishmael Legends in Islamic Exegesis (SUNY Press, 1990).

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