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Ismail, son of Ibrahim and builder of the Kaaba
Ismail
The Building of the Kaaba
The Trial of the Sacrifice
The Water of Zamzam
The Excellence of Ismail
The Tradition of the Sacrifice
The Prophetic Legacy
Important Note
This collection brings together a selection of authentic texts about the Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him). The English translations are given as a guide.
- Refer to the original Arabic texts
- Consult the commentaries of the scholars
- Study the historical context of each account
- Check the authentic sources
Discover the story of the Prophet Ismail in Islam on Muslim Alim
Ismail, son of Ibrahim and Hajar, holds a central place in the story of the prophets of Islam. His story begins with the divine command given to Ibrahim to leave his wife Hajar and his newborn son in the desert of Mecca. Allah had a plan for that family.
When the water ran out, Hajar ran between the hills of Safa and Marwah looking for help. It was then that a spring welled up beneath Ismail's feet. That spring, called Zamzam, still flows today and gives water to millions of pilgrims every year.
The tribe of Jurhum settled near that precious spring. Ismail grew up among them and learnt their language. He became a strong and devout man, following the teachings of his father Ibrahim. The bond between father and son stayed strong despite the distance.
The greatest trial came when Ibrahim received in a dream the command to sacrifice his beloved son. Ismail accepted the divine will with courage. At the decisive moment, Allah replaced Ismail with a ram, rewarding their total submission. The event is commemorated every year at Eid al-Adha.
Ibrahim and Ismail together built the Kaaba, the first house dedicated to the worship of Allah on earth. They raised the foundations stone by stone, calling for divine blessing. That building stands for the perfect union of father and son in the worship of Allah.
Ismail married a woman of the tribe of Jurhum and had many descendants. The prophets of Islam regard Ismail as the forefather of the Arabs. His spiritual legacy lives on in the rites of the pilgrimage and the teachings of the Quran.
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ReadYou may be wondering…
Who is the Prophet Ismail in Islam?
Ismail is the son of the prophet Ibrahim and of Hajar. The Quran describes him as true to his promise, a messenger and a prophet (Surah Maryam, 54-55). Raised near Mecca, he is regarded by tradition as the forefather of the Arabs, and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ descends from his line through the tribe of Quraysh.
How did the spring of Zamzam appear?
According to a hadith reported by Al-Bukhari, Hajar was left with the infant Ismail near the site of the Kaaba with nothing but a waterskin. When it was empty, she ran between Safa and Marwah looking for help, and Allah caused the spring of Zamzam to well up beneath the child's feet. Pilgrims retrace that course to this day.
Was it Ismail or Ishaq that Ibrahim was to sacrifice?
The Quran (Surah As-Saffat, 102-107) does not name the son explicitly, but most Muslim scholars hold that it was Ismail. The son accepted the divine command with patience, and Allah ransomed him with a great sacrifice. Muslims commemorate this episode every year at Eid al-Adha.
What part did Ismail play in building the Kaaba?
The Quran relates that Ibrahim and Ismail together raised the foundations of the Sacred House, calling on Allah to accept their work (Surah Al-Baqarah, 127). Father and son thus built the first place of worship dedicated to Allah alone, towards which Muslims turn today for prayer and pilgrimage.
Why is Ismail called the forefather of the Arabs?
After growing up among the tribe of Jurhum, who had settled near Zamzam, Ismail learnt their language and married a woman of that tribe. His descendants formed Arab tribes, among them Quraysh. A hadith reported by Muslim states that Allah chose Ismail from the sons of Ibrahim, then Quraysh, then Banu Hashim, from whom the Prophet ﷺ came.