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Abraham/Ibrahim, Ishmael/Ismail and Isaac/Ishaq
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In both Bible and Qur’an, Abraham is an important figure. Via his first-born son Ishmael on one side and his son Isaac on the other, he is believed to be the patriarch of both Arabs and Israelites. The New Testament gives this kinship a symbolic meaning, as determined by faith rather than parentage.

In both books, Abraham breaks with the past and carves out new paths. In the Bible, he leaves his father and his people behind to make a covenant with God, in which the land of Canaan is promised to his progeny, on condition of good behavior. Thus, the Bible relates how God becomes the only God of this one people.

The Qur’an also refers briefly to the land promised to the children of Israel with whom God had a covenant. But the concept of the Promised Land usually refers to the Paradise Gardens promised to all righteous people. This higher level of abstraction is also maintained in the story of Abraham. It is not so much about the relation of God to a specific people, as to a monotheism that is in principle valid for all humankind.

In the Qur’an Ibrahim frees himself of false gods, realizing that what others adored - the sun, the moon, etc. - are only aspects of creation. God, the creator, is far superior to all that He created. Thus, monotheism is declared generally valid for all peoples in opposition to the polytheism of their (and Ibrahim’s) forefathers. His destruction of idols angers Abraham’s people; they throw him into a fire. But God saves him by making the fire cold. Abraham then leaves his father and his people to find his own way. The ban on carving and worshipping idols, emphasized in the story of Ibrahim is also important in the Bible, but is addressed primarily within the context of the story of Moses.

Both books relate the dramatic events involving the two sons of Abraham. According to the Bible, Ishmael, his first-born, was conceived by the Egyptian slave, Hagar, at the request of Sarah, Abraham’s barren wife. The Biblical story is one of prejudice, exile and suffering. Twice, Hagar is forced to leave Abraham’s tent and flee into the desert. Twice, God and his angels lend a helping hand. Thus, Hagar discovers a well ‘Zamzam’ just before Ishmail dies of thirst.

The few words that the Qur’an devotes to Ishmail are very positive. He is mentioned in one breath with the great prophets. The story of Hagar is told summarily, without naming Hagar. The meaning of the phrase from 14 Abraham, 37, “I have made some of my offspring to dwell by Your Sacred House,” becomes clear against the backdrop of the tradition (Hadith) that Abraham did not simply send Hagar and Ishmael into the desert - as in the Biblical story - but took them to the ruins of the Ka’aba, the holy house built by Adam in Mecca. In that wild and arid place, Hagar runs back and forth seven times between two mountains, the as-Safa and al-Marwa, in her desperate search for water for her son. This running back and forth in honor of Hagar forms part of the ritual of the Hajj to Mecca; pilgrims still drink from the well (ZamZam) that eventually saved Hagar and Ishmael.

The Qur’an also praises Abraham’s second son Isaac. Both Bible and Qur’an give descriptions of the announcement of his birth by angelic messengers and the miracle of a child born from elderly parents.
The dramatic event of the near-sacrifice of Abraham’s son Isaac is also mentioned in the Qur’an, but according to Islamic tradition, the intended victim is Ishmael. There are subtle distinctions between the two versions of the story. Unlike the Biblical Abraham, Ibrahim does not receive a command from God, but has a dream in which he sees himself sacrificing his son. Perhaps because Ishmael was older at the time, his father discusses the intended sacrifice with his son, which the Biblical Abraham does not. Noteworthy is the willingness of Ishmael to cooperate in the sacrifice.

Ishmael, who is not mentioned by name in the story of the sacrifice, is explicitly mentioned in the story about (re)building the Ka’aba. He helps his father prepare the holy place for the feast of the sacrifice, in commemoration of the saving of Abraham’s son, a feast still celebrated.
According to the Bible, the two brothers meet once again at their father’s funeral. Isaac receives God’s blessing after the death of Abraham; Ishmael does not. Isaac’s wife Rebekah later gives birth to Jacob, who, in turn, fathers Joseph.

The Biblical story of Jacob and the ladder and his fight with the angel are not included in the Qur’an and, therefore, are not included in this anthology. The Qur’an only briefly mentions Jacob who, together with his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham, is held in high regard. They introduce the obligations of Salat (prayer) and Zakat (charity) and know of the heavenly reward for those who do good.

In the Qur’an, surah 14 is named Ibrahim. In the Bible, his story is found in Genesis, with brief references to him elsewhere. Halfway through the story, names change, from Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah, for reasons explained in the Bible.

 

We live in a globalized world in which the Children of Abraham increasingly live side by side in Muslim countries and in Europe and America.

John L. Esposito, Georgetown University

The Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding


 

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Abraham had faith
I will always keep the promise I have made to you and your descendants, because I am your God and their God. Genesis 17: 7

The Scriptures say that God accepted Abraham because Abraham had faith. And so, you should understand that everyone who has faith is a child of Abraham. (Letter of St Paul to the) Galatians 3: 6-7

Ban on Idols
God said to the people of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt where you were slaves. Do not worship any god except me. Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth. Don't bow down and worship idols. I am the LORD your God, and I demand all your love. “Exodus 20: 1-4

The LORD told Moses to say to the community of Israel: “…don't make idols or images. I am the LORD your God. “ Leviticus 19: 1-2, 4

No other nation has laws that are as fair as the ones the Lord my God told me (Moses) to give you. If you faithfully obey them… you will show other nations how wise you are. (Do)… not … commit the sin of worshiping idols. Don't make idols to be worshiped, whether they are shaped like men, women, animals, birds, reptiles, or fish. And when you see the sun or moon or stars, don't be tempted to bow down and worship them. The LORD put them there for all the other nations to worship. (From Moses’ speech to all Israel) Deuteronomy 4: 5-6, 16-19

Instead, you must destroy their altars and tear down the sacred poles …I demand your complete loyalty – you must not worship any other god! Exodus 34: 13-14




The promised land
The LORD said to Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. “ Genesis 12: 1-2

Look around to the north, south, east, and west. I will give you and your family all the land you can see. It will be theirs forever! I will give you more descendants than there are specks of dust on the earth, and someday it will be easier to count the specks of dust than to count your descendants. Genesis 13: 14-16

At that time the LORD made an agreement with Abram and told him: I will give your descendants the land east of the Shihor River on the border of Egypt as far as the Euphrates River. Genesis 15: 18

Abram bowed with his face to the ground, and God said: “I promise that you will be the father of many nations. That's why I now change your name from Abram to Abraham. I will give you a lot of descendants, and in the future they will become great nations. Some of them will even be kings. Abraham, you and all future members of your family must promise to obey me.“ Genesis 17: 3-6, 9

Ishmael, Son of a  slave
Abram's (Abraham’s) wife Sarai had not been able to have any children. But she owned a young Egyptian slave woman named Hagar, and Sarai said to Abram: “The LORD has not given me any children. Sleep with my slave, and if she has a child, it will be mine.” Abram agreed, and Sarai gave him Hagar to be his wife. Later, when Hagar knew she was going to have a baby, she became proud and was hateful to Sarai.… Sarai began treating Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away. Hagar stopped to rest at a spring in the desert… (where) the angel of the LORD came to her … (and) said: “Go back to Sarai and be her slave. I will give you a son, who will be called Ishmael… But your son will live far from his relatives; he will be like a wild donkey, fighting everyone, and everyone fighting him.” Genesis 16: 1-4, 6-7, 9-12

(Hagar returns and gives birth to Ishmael. Here follows a ‘preview’ inserted to hold onto Ishmael’s storyline. Another dispute arises after the birth of Isaac, see below)Sarah…said to Abraham: “Get rid of that Egyptian slave woman and her son! I don't want him to inherit anything. It should all go to my son.” Abraham… put the boy on her shoulder and sent them away. They wandered around in the desert… and after they had run out of water, Hagar put her son under a bush. Then she sat down a long way off, because she could not bear to watch him die. Then God let her see a well. So she went to the well and filled the skin with water, then gave some to her son. God blessed Ishmael, and as the boy grew older, he became an expert with his bow and arrows. Genesis 21: 10, 14-16, 19-20 

The birth of Isaac
One hot summer afternoon Abraham was sitting by the entrance to his tent. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. He quickly ran to meet them, bowed with his face to the ground, and said: “Please come to my home where I can serve you. I'll have some water brought, so you can wash your feet, then you can rest under the tree. Let me get you some food to give you strength before you leave.” After saying this, he rushed off to his herd of cattle and picked out one of the best calves, which his servant quickly prepared. He then served his guests some yogurt and milk together with the meat. While they were eating, he stood near them under the trees… One of the guests was the LORD, and he said: “I'll come back about this time next year, and when I do, Sarah will already have a son.” Sarah was… listening at the entrance to the tent. Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was well past the age for having children. So she laughed and said to herself: “Now that I am worn out and my husband is old, will I really know such happiness?” The LORD asked Abraham: “Why did Sarah laugh? Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age? I am the LORD! There is nothing too difficult for me. I'll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son.” Sarah was so frightened that she lied and said: “I didn't laugh.” Genesis 18: 1-5, 7-8, 10-15

The LORD was good to Sarah and kept his promise. Although Abraham was very old, Sarah had a son exactly at the time God had said. Abraham named his son Isaac… Genesis 21: 1-3





Isaac nearly sacrificed
Some years later God decided to test Abraham, so he spoke to him. “Go get Isaac, your only son, the one you dearly love! Take him to the land of Moriah, and I will show you a mountain where you must sacrifice him… ”So Abraham got up early the next morning and chopped wood for the fire. He put a saddle on his donkey and left… Abraham put the wood on Isaac's shoulder, but he carried the hot coals and the knife. As the two of them walked along, Isaac said: “Father, we have the coals and the wood, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” “My son,” Abraham answered: “God will provide the lamb.” … when they reached the place that God had told him about, Abraham built an altar and placed the wood on it. Next, he tied up his son and put him on the wood. He then took the knife and got ready to kill his son. But the LORD's angel shouted from heaven: “Abraham! Abraham!… Don't hurt the boy or harm him in any way!” the angel said. “Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son.” Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he took the ram and sacrificed it in place of his son. The LORD's angel called out from heaven a second time: “You were willing to offer the LORD your only son, and so he makes you this solemn promise, I will bless you and give you such a large family, that someday your descendants will be more numerous than the stars in the sky or the grains of sand along the beach. They will defeat their enemies and take over the cities where their enemies live. Genesis 22: 1-3, 6-13, 15-17









Isaac and Jacob
Abraham died at the ripe old age of one hundred seventy-five. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him... God blessed Isaac after this… Genesis 25: 8-11

Isaac was the son of Abraham, and he was forty years old when he married Rebekah… Almost twenty years later, Rebekah still had no children. So Isaac asked the LORD to let her have a child, and the LORD answered his prayer. When Rebekah gave birth, the first baby… was named Esau. The second baby… (was) named him Jacob. Genesis 25: 19-21, 24-26

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Abraham the Righteous
And who turns away from the religion of Abraham but such as debase their souls with folly? Him We chose and rendered pure in this world: And he will be in the Hereafter in the ranks of the Righteous. Surah 2: 130





Destruction of Idols
Lo! Abraham said to his father Azar: “Takest thou idols for gods? For I see thee and thy people in manifest error.” So also did We show Abraham the power and the laws of the heavens and the earth, that he might (with understanding) have certitude. When the night covered him over, He saw a star: He said: “This is my Lord.” But when it set, He said: “I love not those that set.” When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said: “This is my Lord.” But when the moon set, He said: “unless my Lord guide me, I shall surely be among those who go astray.” When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said: “This is my Lord; this is the greatest (of all).” But when the sun set, he said: “O my people! I am indeed free from your (guilt) of giving partners to Allah.“ For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah.” His people disputed with him… Surah 6: 74-80

Behold! he said to his father and his people: “What are these images, to which ye are (so assiduously) devoted?” They said: “We found our fathers worshipping them.” He said: “Indeed ye have been in manifest error - ye and your fathers.” Surah 21: 52-54

… your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, He Who created them (from nothing): and I am a witness to this (Truth).“ And by Allah, I have a plan for your idols - after ye go away and turn your backs” So he broke them to pieces, (all) but the biggest of them… Surah 21: 56-58

The cool fire
They said: “Who has done this to our gods? He must indeed be some man of impiety!” Surah 21: 59

They said: “Art thou the one that did this with our gods, O Abraham?” He said: “Nay, this was done by - this is their biggest one! ask them, if they can speak intelligently!” So they turned to themselves and said:…“Thou knowest full well that these (idols) do not speak!” (Abraham) said: “Do ye then worship, besides Allah, things that can neither be of any good to you nor do you harm? “Fie upon you, and upon the things that ye worship besides Allah. Have ye no sense?” They said: “Burn him and protect your gods, If ye do (anything at all)!” We said: “O Fire! be thou cool, and (a means of) safety for Abraham!” Then they sought a stratagem against him: but We made them the ones that lost most! Surah 21: 62-70












Ishmael, the firstborn son
(Abraham said: ) “O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!” So We gave him the good news of a boy (Ishmael) ready to suffer and forbear. Surah 37: 100-101

Also mention in the Book (the story of) Ishmael: He was (strictly) true to what he promised, and he was an apostle (and) a prophet..., (a man) of constancy and patience; We admitted them to Our mercy: for they were of the righteous ones. Surah 19: 54, 21: 85-86

And commemorate Ishmael… (he) was of the Company of the Good. Surah 38: 48

Say ye: “We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac… and that given to Moses and Jesus… Surah 2: 136

“O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring (Ishmael and his mother Hagar) to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks. “ Surah 14: 37

Behold! (the mountains)Safa and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the House (the Kaaba) in the Season or at other times, should compass them round, it is no sin in them. And if any one obeyeth his own impulse to good–- be sure that Allah is He Who recogniseth and knoweth. Surah 2: 158


Messengers of God
There came Our messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said: “Peace!” He answered: “Peace!” and hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf. But when he saw their hands went not towards the (meal), he felt some mistrust of them, and conceived a fear of them. They said: “Fear not: We have been sent…” And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed: But we gave her glad tidings of Isaac… She said: “Alas for me! shall I bear a child, seeing I am an old woman, and my husband here is an old man? That would indeed be a wonderful thing!” They said: “Dost thou wonder at Allah’s decree? The grace of Allah and His blessings on you, o ye people of the house! for He is indeed worthy of all praise, full of all glory!” Surah 11: 69-73

“Peace and salutation to Abraham!” Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.For he was one of our believing Servants. And We gave him the good news of Isaac - a prophet– one of the Righteous. We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right, and (some) that obviously do wrong, to their own souls. Surah 37: 109-113

“Praise be to Allah, Who hath granted unto me in old age Ishmael and Isaac: for truly my Lord is He, the Hearer of Prayer! “ Surah 14: 39

And commemorate Our Servants Abraham, Isaac…, possessors of Power and Vision. Verily We did choose them for a special (purpose– proclaiming the Message of the Hereafter. (see chapter 18 and 19) They were, in Our sight, truly, of the company of the Elect and the Good.And commemorate Ishmael… Each of them was of the Company of the Good. Surah 38: 45-48

The near offering of Ishmael
Then, when (the son) (Ishmael) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him (Abraham), he said: “O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!” (The son) said: “O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!” So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), We called out to him: “O Abraham!Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!” - thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial-And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times:“Peace and salutation to Abraham!” Surah 37: 102-109

And remember Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the House (the Kaaba) (With this prayer): “Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-knowing.“ Our Lord! make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy (Will), and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Thy (will); and show us our place for the celebration of (due) rites; and turn unto us (in Mercy); for Thou art the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. Surah 2: 127-128

Remember We made the House (the Kaaba) a place of assembly for men and a place of safety;… a place of prayer; and We covenanted with Abraham and Ishmael, that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer). Surah 2: 125

Allah made the Kaaba, the Sacred House, an asylum of security for men, as also the Sacred Months, the animals for offerings, and the garlands that mark them… Surah 5: 97

Our Servants
And We bestowed on him (Abraham) Isaac and, as an additional gift, (a grandson), Jacob, and We made righteous men of every one (of them). And We made them leaders, guiding (men) by Our Command, and We sent them inspiration to do good deeds, to establish regular prayers, and to practise regular charity; and they constantly served Us (and Us only). Surah 21: 72-73

And commemorate Our Servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, possessors of Power and Vision. Verily We did choose them for a special (purpose) – proclaiming the Message of the Hereafter. Gardens of Eternity, whose doors will (ever) be open to them; Surah 38: 45-46, 50

Koran and Bible side by side (Marlies ter Borg & Karima Bisschop) © 2007 Unieboek bv

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