إسماعيل
Ismail (Ishmael)Dhbih Allah (The Sacrifice of Allah)
Also known as: Ishmael, Dhbih Allah (The One Slaughtered for Allah)
Nation / People
The Arab tribes of the Hijaz (western Arabia), particularly the Jurham and later Qahtanite tribes
Period
Son of Ibrahim, approximately 4,000 years ago
Lifespan
137 years according to some narrations
Burial Place
Inside the Hijr Ismail, an area adjacent to the Ka'bah in Makkah
Message
Complete obedience to Allah, even at the cost of one's life. His example, alongside his father's, is the highest model of submission, which is the literal meaning of "Islam".
Lineage
- 1.Ibrahim- Father
- 2.Hajar (Hagar)- Mother
Key Miracles
- As an infant, his feet struck the ground and the blessed Zamzam spring burst forth
- Submitted to being sacrificed by his father; Allah substituted a ram for him
- Helped his father build the Ka'bah, which remains to this day
Key Stories
- Born to Hajar in response to Ibrahim's prayer for righteous children
- Left as an infant with his mother in the barren valley of Makkah by divine command
- The miracle of Zamzam: the spring that still flows today
- The Jurham tribe settled near Zamzam and Ismail grew up among them, learning Arabic
- His father's dream-command to sacrifice him; his willing submission (the origin of Eid al-Adha)
- Helped Ibrahim build the Ka'bah and both supplicated for the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ
- His lineage eventually produced the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through Adnan
Mentioned in the Quran
Special Characteristics
The firstborn son of Ibrahim, from whom the Arab lineage and ultimately the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ descended. His story is commemorated every year by Muslims worldwide during the celebration of Eid al-Adha and through the rites of Hajj (the Sa'i between Safa and Marwa, and the slaughter of animals).