Muslim Christian Dialogue

8. Both Ismael and Isaac were Blessed

MUHAMMED (pbuh) IN THE BIBLE
BOTH ISHMAEL AND ISAAC WERE BLESSED.

M. Why did Ishmael and his mother Hagar leave Sarah?

m. According to the Old Testament after Isaac was weaned, his mother Sarah, saw Ishmael mocking him, and didn't want Ishmael to be heir with her son Isaac (Genesis 21:8-10): "And the child grew, and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son, for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac."

M. The mocking part is an interpolation, as you will see later.
Isaac was about two years old when he was weaned. Ishmael was then sixteen years old because Abraham was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael and was a hundred years old when Isaac was born, according to Genesis 16:16: "And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram;' and Genesis 21:5: "And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him." Genesis 21:8-10 is in contradiction with Genesis 21:14-21 where Ishmael was portrayed as a baby put on the shoulder of his mother, called lad and child, when both left Sarah: "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand..." This is the profile of a baby and not of a teenager. So Ishmael and his mother Hagar left Sarah long before Isaac was born.. How could Ishmael mock Isaac when Isaac was not born and when Ishmael left when he was still a lad / child? So now you can see the interpolation.

m. Off course! You are right. I read this part but never gave it much thought about the ages, and Ishmaels going away and not being there, etc. Please carry on.

M. According to the Islamic version, Abraham took Ishmael and Hagar and made a new settlement in Makkah, (called Paran in the Bible Genesis 21:21) because of a divine instruction given to Abraham as a part of God's plan. Hagar ran seven times between two hills, Safa and Marwa, near the Ka'bah, looking for water. Allah loved this action of Hagar running, looking for water to save her child's life so much that this became part of the Islamic ritual for the annual Pilgrimage (Haj) in Makkah by millions of Muslims from all over the world from the time of Prophet Abraham. The well of water mentioned in Genesis 21:19 is still used till today and provides water for millions of pilgrims for all these centuries. The well is called Zamzam. Both Abraham and Ishmael later built the holy stone Ka'bah in Makkah. The spot where Abraham used to perform prayers near the Ka'bah is called "Maqame Ibrahim," i.e. the Station of Abraham. During the days of Pilgrimage, Pilgrims in Makkah and Muslims all over the world commemorate the offering of Abraham and Ishmael by slaughtering cattle, camels, goats and sheep.

m. But the Bible mentions Isaac to be sacrificed.

M. No, the Qur'an states that the covenant by God was made with Abraham and his only son Ishmael. And on the day of the covenant Abraham, Ishmael and all men of the household were circumcised while Isaac was not yet born. (Genesis 17:24-27) "And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him." A year later Isaac was born and circumcised when he was eight days old (Genesis 21:4-5): "And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him." So when the covenant was made and sealed (circumcision and sacrifice) Abraham was ninety-nine and Ishmael thirteen years old. Isaac was born a year later when Abraham was a hundred years old. The descendants of Ishmael, Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) and including all Muslims, remain faithful to this day to the covenant of circumcision. Muslims include the praise of Abraham and his descendants with the praise of Muhammed (pbuh) and his descendants in all the five obligatory prayers every day all over the world.