Ismail

Who was Prophet Ismail?

Ismail (Ishmael) was a prophet of Allah and the elder son of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and Hajar. He is a central figure in the rites of Islam: he was the son offered in the great sacrifice, he helped his father build the Kaaba, and from his lineage came the Arabs and the final Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ.

His Story

By Allah's command, Ibrahim left the infant Ismail and his mother Hajar in the barren valley of Mecca. When their water ran out, Hajar ran in desperation between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times searching for help — an act now commemorated in the sa'i of Hajj and Umrah — and Allah caused the well of Zamzam to spring forth at the baby's feet. When Ismail grew old enough to walk and work with his father, Ibrahim saw in a dream that he was to sacrifice his son. Both father and son submitted to Allah's command; as Ibrahim was about to carry it out, Allah ransomed Ismail with a great sacrifice — the origin of the Eid al-Adha. Later, father and son together raised the foundations of the Kaaba, praying: "Our Lord, accept this from us. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing."

Ismail in the Quran

• "And [mention] when Ibrahim was raising the foundations of the House and Ismail, [saying]: Our Lord, accept this from us..." (2:127)
• "...he said: O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you... He said: O my father, do as you are commanded; you will find me, if Allah wills, of the patient." (37:102)
• "And mention in the Book, Ismail. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet." (19:54)

Lessons from His Life

Ismail is the model of submission to Allah and faithfulness to one's word. As a young man, he willingly offered his own life in obedience to Allah's command, displaying extraordinary patience and trust. The Quran praises him as "true to his promise". His story is woven into the heart of Islamic worship: the sa'i, the well of Zamzam, the Kaaba, and the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha all trace back to him and his family's devotion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was it Ismail who was to be sacrificed?

The majority of Muslim scholars hold that the son Ibrahim was commanded to sacrifice was Ismail, his elder son, and this is the well-known position. What the Quran emphasises is the willing submission of both father and son to Allah's command, and Allah's mercy in ransoming the son with a great sacrifice — commemorated every year at Eid al-Adha.

How is Ismail connected to the Hajj?

Several core rites of Hajj and Umrah trace back to Ismail and his family: the sa'i between Safa and Marwah re-enacts Hajar's search for water, the well of Zamzam sprang forth for the infant Ismail, the Kaaba was built by Ibrahim and Ismail, and the sacrifice (Qurbani) commemorates the ransom of Ismail.