Isma'il (Ishmael)

Isma'il is the firstborn son of Ibrahim, born of Hajar. Raised in the valley of Mecca, he is the ancestor of the Arab tribes, and from his lineage will come the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The Quran presents him as a model of patience and faithfulness to the promise.

As an infant, Isma'il was brought with his mother Hajar to the barren valley of Mecca, by God's command. It was there, as he cried with thirst, that the spring of Zamzam gushed near him.

When he had grown into a young boy, he was the subject of the trial of sacrifice: his father Ibrahim saw in a dream that he must offer him up. When he told him, Isma'il responded with whole-hearted faith that they must obey God's command. At the moment of carrying it out, God ransomed the child and replaced him with an offering — rewarding the submission of both father and son.

Later, with his father, Isma'il raised the foundations of the Ka'ba, asking God to accept their work.

Isma'il teaches the trust of the heart that says yes to God even in the hardest trial, and the faithfulness of one who keeps the promise made to his Lord.

وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّا

Mentionne dans le Livre Ismaël qui se montrait toujours fidèle à ses engagements et fut un prophète et un Messager.

19:54