Prophet Ismail (A.S.)
Quran References:
Prophet Ismail (AS) is mentioned 11 times in the following verses of the Quran:
(Quran, 2:125, 2:127, 2:133, 2:136, 3:84, 4:163, 6:86, 14:39, 19: 54-55, 21:85, 37:101)
Prophet Ibrahim, Ismail and Hajar in the Dessert:
Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was with his wife Hajar and his son Ismail on a desert in the Arabian Peninsula. He left them with a small amount of food and water which was just enough for a period of two days.
After providing them with this, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) turned around and walked away.
Hajar asked: where are you going Ibrahim, leaving us in this barren valley? Ibrahim (AS) did not answer and she said: Did Allah command you to do so?
Ibrahim replied: Yes. Hajar then said: we are not going to be lost since Allah is with us.
The Discovery of Zamzam Water:
When they had used up all the water they had, Hajar and Ismail (AS) became thirsty.
Hajar then left her son and started looking in the valley trying to find someone to help her. Eventually, she descended from Mount Safa and crossed the valley to Mount Marwah, but no one was there. She repeated the running between Safa and Marwah seven times.
This event is why the Sa’i (walking/running) between Mount Safa and Marwah seven times is one of the most important rituals when pilgrims perform Hajj and Umrah. This is done to commemorate the struggle of Hajar, the mother of Prophet Ismail (AS).
Eventually, when Hajar reached Mount Marwah for the final time, she heard a voice and saw Angel Jibril at the place of Zamzam, digging into the earth and water then flowed from that exact place.
After witnessing this, Hajar started filling her water-skin with water and she scooped some of it.
Hadith of the Prophet:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: if she had let the Zamzam flow without trying to control it, Zamzam would have been a stream flowing on the surface of the Earth. (Bukhari)
Prophet Ismail and the People of Jurhum:
Angel Jibril told Hajar: Do not be afraid of being neglected, for the House of Allah will be built by this boy and his father and Allah never neglects His people.
The people of Jurhum then arrived and settled in the area where Hajar and Ismail (AS) were residing.
Ismail (AS) grew up and learnt Arabic from them and eventually, he married a woman from the tribe of Jurhum.
Prophet Ibrahim’s Visits to Ismail:
After Ismail’s mother Hajar passed, Ibrahim (AS) went to look for his son Ismail.
He approached his house but Ismail (AS) was not present at that time. Prophet Ibrahim asked Ismail’s wife about him and asked about their way of living. The wife replied: we are living in misery and hardship.
Ibrahim (AS) replied: when your husband returns, give him my salutations and tell him to change the threshold of the gate.
Prophet Ismail (AS) returned and asked his wife: has anyone visited you? His wife informed him that his father instructed him to change the threshold of the gate.
Prophet Ismail (AS) replied: it was my father, and he has ordered me to divorce you.
After some time, Ismail (AS) married another woman from the tribe of Jurhum.
Ibrahim (AS) then returned looking for his son and he asked Ismail’s wife about how they were getting on and she replied: we are well off (thanking Allah).
Prophet Ibrahim (AS) asked Ismail’s wife about the food and drink they consume and she replied: with meat and water.
Ibrahim (AS) replied: May Allah bless your meat and water! When your husband comes, give him my regards and tell him that he should keep the threshold of his gate firm.
Prophet Ismail (AS) later returned and asked his wife: has anyone come over? She replied: Yes, a good-looking old man came to me.
After praising Prophet Ibrahim (AS), Ismail’s wife continued: he told me to give his regards to you and ordered that you keep firm the threshold of your gate.
After hearing this, Ismail (AS) replied: it was my father, and you are the threshold of the gate. He has ordered me to keep you with me.
Building the Kabah:
Prophet Ibrahim (AS) then returned to Ismail (AS) again and saw him under a tree near Zamzam. He told his son: O Ismail, Allah has given me an order. Ismail (AS) said: Do what Allah has ordered you to do.
Ibrahim (AS) asked: will you help me? Ismail (AS) replied: I will help you.
Ibrahim (AS) said: Allah has ordered me to build a house here.
They then started to build the foundations Kabah together and both father and son would say: ‘Our Lord! Accept this service from us, verily you are the All Hearer, All Knower.’ (Quran, 2:127)
The Sacrifice of Ismail (Quran, 37:101-113):
After building the Kabah with his son, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) then had a series of dreams, and in one, he had a dream where he was being instructed to sacrifice his son.
After speaking to his son about this dream, Ismail (AS) comforted him and encouraged him to follow the commands of Allah SWT. (Quran, 37:102)
Ibrahim (AS) decided to blindfold himself while carrying out his slaughter to ease his pain.
Prophet Ibrahim (AS) then carried out the command of Allah SWT. However, when he removed the blindfold, he realised by that Ismail (AS) was sitting beside him, and Allah SWT sent a ram to be slaughtered in the place of his son.
Allah SWT says about this in the Quran: ‘We called to him: O Ibrahim, you have fulfilled the vision. Indeed, this was the clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.’ (Quran, 37:103-107)
Prophet Ismail – The Messenger:
Allah SWT blessed Prophet Ismail (AS) with prophethood and his mission was to guide the residents of Makkah back to believing in Allah alone.
At this time, people began to drift away from the religion of his father, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and Prophet Ismail (AS) called for them to abandon their worship of idols.
The Character of Prophet Ismail:
Allah SWT mentions in the Quran that Ismail (AS) was truthful and honoured his promises. Allah says: ‘And mention in the Book, O Prophet, the story of Ismail. He was truly a man of his word, and was a messenger and a prophet.’
Allah SWT also mentions that Ismail (AS) encouraged his people to pray and give charity. Allah says: ‘He used to urge his people to pray and give alms-tax. And his Lord was well pleased with him.’ (Quran, 19:55)
Prophet Ismail (AS) was also known to be patient and steadfast as Allah SWT says in the Quran: ‘And ˹remember˺ Ismail, Idris, and Dhul-Kifl. They were all steadfast.’ (Quran, 21:85)
Allah SWT also mentions in the Quran that he was chosen amongst the best: ‘Also remember Ismail, Elisha, and Dhul-Kifl. All are among the best.’ (Quran, 38:48)