Ishmael (as) – Dhabihullah — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 1
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Ishmael (as) – Dhabihullah.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: III-Makkah, the Ka’bah & the Quraish
Pages: Book pp. 90–92 (PDF pp. 114–116)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Settlement in Hijaz and the Population of Makkah] | Next: [A Rebuttal to Various Allegations Levelled Against Ishmael(as) and Hagar(as)] »
Historical Account
had been revealed to Abrahamas and human sacrifice was a custom in the country, Abrahamas desired to fulfill this dream in the literal sense. Abrahamas indicated his intent to Ishmaelas, who responded, “Indeed, fulfill your dream, for I present myself to fulfill the command of God.” Hence, Abrahamas took Ishmaelas to the outskirts of the inhabitation and lay him on the ground in order to sacrifice him. This extraordinarily loyal son also placed his neck before his father in complete silence and contentment. Abrahamas was about to proceed, knife in hand, when an angel of God called out, “O Abraham! Verily, you have fulfilled your dream. Now release Ishmael and in his stead sacrifice a ram in the way of God. Apparently, this is its symbolic allusion. However, the actual purport of this dream shall be fulfilled in another manner.” Therefore, Abrahamas did as he was commanded, and in its remembrance the custom of sacrificing animals at the occasion of Ḥajj was established among the Muslims.
There is a disaccord in the actual inference of this dream. However, in our belief, the true meaning is that ‘slaughtering’ symbolically refers to devoting one’s life for the sake of God, which in relation to one’s worldly life, is equivalent to bringing it to an end. Therefore, it is apparent that the purpose of settling Ishmaelas in Makkah was the construction of the Ka‘batullāh and that the life of Ishmaelas be devoted in the service of God and in the establishment of monotheism. When with the passage of time, idolatry overcame monotheism, God the Almighty gave rise to Muḥammad, the Prophet of God (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) from the descendants of Ishmaelas in order to fulfill this sacred dream. This man (peace be upon him), along with his companions, sacrificed his entire life in the propagation and publication of monotheism in its true letter and spirit. It is this great slaughtering, or in other words, this magnificent sacrifice to which the Holy Qur’ān alludes whilst stating that we decreed a glorious sacrifice in exchange for the literal slaughtering of Ishmaelas. The custom of slaughtering animals among the Muslims at the occasion of Ḥajj is also to rejuvenate this sacred memory, in that everyone should always be prepared to sacrifice themselves in the way of their Lord.
[Aṣ-Ṣāffāt (37:108)]
A Rebuttal to Various Allegations Levelled Against
Ishmaelas and Hagaras
At this point it is imperative to mention that various Christian historians raise the allegation that there is no historical evidence that Ishmaelas settled in Arabia. Therefore, the fact that the Holy Prophetsa was a descendant of the children of Ishmaelas also lacks authenticity. Moreover, they claim that the child, whom Abrahamas wished to slaughter, as the Bible contends, was in fact Isaacas and not Ishmaelas. The brief confutation of both these allegations has been provided below. The rebuttal to the first allegation is as follows:
- It is categorically proven in light of the unanimous narrations of
the Arabs that Ishmaelas settled in Arabia and that the Quraish of Makkah are his descendants. There is not even a single narration found before the time of the Holy Prophetsa or in subsequent eras, that confutes this fact. Moreover, the greatest testimony about the history of a nation is its own authentic narrations. Therefore, in the existence of the above mentioned testimony, no fair-minded individual can doubt the fact that Ishmaelas settled in Arabia and that the Quraish are the descendants of his blessed progeny.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Aḥādīthil-Anbiyā’, Bābu Qaulillāhi Ta‘ālā Wadhkur fil-Kitābi Ismā‘īla, Ḥadīth No. 3373 * Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitābul-Faḍā’il, Bābu Faḍli Nasbin-Nabīsa, Ḥadīth No. 5938 * Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī, By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Al-Jarīr Ṭabarī, Dhikru Khabri Wuldi Ismā‘īl bin Ibrāhīm, Volume 1, p. 193, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002) * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, p. 25, Siyāqatin-Nasabi min Waladi Ismā‘īla ‘Alaihis-Salām, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Dhikru Ismā‘īla ‘Alaihis-Salām, Volume 1, p. 22, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmaiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, Al-Maqṣadul-Awwal, Volume 1, pp. 130- 131, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Tārīkhul-Khamīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan Dayār Bakrī, Aulādu Ibrāhīm, Volume 1, p. 130, Muwassasatu Sha‘bān, Beirut]
- The Holy Qur’ān, which is accepted by both friend and foe for
its historical credibility, also considers the Quraish as being descendants of the children of Ishmaelas.
[Al-Ḥajj (22:79)]
- The Bible admits that due to the displeasure of Sarahas, Ishmaelas
and Hagaras were exiled from their homeland. If Ḥijāz is not the country of their settlement then where is it that his descendants
[Genesis (21:14)]
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Section: III-Makkah, the Ka’bah & the Quraish | Navigation: « Previous: [Settlement in Hijaz and the Population of Makkah] | Next: [A Rebuttal to Various Allegations Levelled Against Ishmael(as) and Hagar(as)] »