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Introduction:
This blog is going to talk about prophet Ismail. The story of prophet Ismail was mentioned in the Holy Quran.He was the son of prophet Ibrahim. Prophet Ismail was very important because he was considered the father of all the Arabs. Moreover, prophet Ismail was the great great grandfather of prophet Mohammad. Prophet Ismail lived and died in makkah, Arabia. Prophet Ismail was born in Makkah. Also, he died in Makkah. Many sera scholars say that he was also buried in Makkah near al-Kaabah. Ismail was Ibrahim’s eldest son. Therefore, prophet Ismail is very important in the islamic history. For this reason, we have dedicated this blog to tell the life story of the virtuous prophet Ismail, son of Ibrahim.
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّا
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Who prophet ismail was:
Prophet Ismail had an inspiring life story. This life story was mentioned in Islam, Christianity and Judaism. However, Ismail’s life story in Islam differs greatly from the Jewish and the Christian narrative. In Islam, it was full of hardships and struggles. On the other hand, prophet Ismail was a devout and pious worshiper. Ismail willingly was ready to sacrifice himself to please his father Ibrahim and gain the satisfaction of Allah. Therefore, he was a loyal and grateful son to his father, Ibrahim. In addition, he readily helped his father Ibrahim to rebuild the Kaaba, Allah’s holy house of worship. For this reason, Ismail is a source of inspiration to all Muslims.
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What characterizes ismail in islam:
Historically, prophet Ismail is considered the father of all the Arabs. From day one in his life, prophet Ismail dedicated his life to carry out the commands of Allah. Ibrahim left Ismail and his mother, Hajar all alone in the desert of Makkah in execution of Allah’s commands. Ismail was then just a baby at that time. Later, as a teenager, Ismail willingly allowed his aging father, Ibrahim to sacrifice him in the hope of satisfying their lord, allah. As a youngman, Ismail did not hesitate to help his aging father, Ibrahim, to rebuild the holy shrine, al-Kaaba. For this reason, the Holy Quran mentioned Ismail as one of the loyal and dedicated prophets of Allah.
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّا
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Ismail grows up in Makkah:
Ismail lived all his life in Makkah. One day, prophet Ibrahim came to his son Ismail and said: ((Oh, my son, i see in a dream that I slaughter you in sacrifice to Allah.)) Ibrahim asked Ismail’s opinion. At once, Ismail replied: ((Oh, my good father, do as you are commanded. You will find me a patient believer inshallah.”)) On another occasion, Ibrahim told Ismail that Allah commanded him to build a house of worship in makkah. At once, Ismail agreed to help his father carry out the command of Allah. Immediately, both Ibrahim and Ismail set to work and build the holy kaaba. While they were working, Ibrahim and Ismail asked Allah to accept their endeavors.
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ
يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ
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How Ibrahim and Ismail worked:
Ibrahim put the rocks in place. Ismail would bring his father the rocks to put them in place during the process of building the holy kaaba. While they were working, Ibrahim and Ismail repeated the dua: ((“Allahumma accept what we are doing, You are All-Hearing; you are All Knowing.”)). This great story reminds us of the story of building the first mosque in Islam in al-Madina al-Munawwara. Prophet Mohammad built the mosque in al-Madinah after he migrated to it. The mosque was very important for Muslims at that time. Muslims would perform their prayers. Moreover, prophet Mohammad would meet his companions to teach them Islam in the mosque.
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
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The miracles of prophet ismail:
One day, prophet Ibrahim woke up and asked his wife Hajar to carry her newly born son Ismail. They would all travel to Makkah. Ibrahim left Hajar and Ismail in the barren town of Makkah. There was neither plant nor water to support them. Hajar desperately asked Ibrahim where he was going. Ibrahim did not answer her. She knew it was a divine command. At that moment, Hajar realized that Allah would not let them down. On his turn, Ibrahim made the dua to Allah saying that he left his family in a barren wadi. Moreover, he asked Allah for people to come and live as neighbors to his family.
رَبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنْتُ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ
أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ
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More miracles of ismail:
Before he left, Ibrahim left Hajar and Ismail with very little food and water. Soon, the food and water ran out. Hajar and Ismail felt hungry and thirsty. She ran up and down in despair leaving the baby near an empty spot. Suddenly, she saw an angel digging in the ground where Zamzam sprung out. Hajar filled her water skin and drank. Hajar wanted not to waste the precious water so she said ((“Zamzam”)) it means stop running. On another occasion, Ibrahim ordered his son Ismail to agree to sacrifice him. At once, Ismail surrendered his will to the command of Allah. It was a very hard test for Ibrahim and Ismail. However, due to their strong faith and confirmed belief, Allah redeemed Ismail by sending a ram to ibrahim who slaughtered it instead of Ismail.
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ
قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ
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Ismail’s life as a married man:
Ismail married and had many sons and daughters. One day, Ibrahim visited Ismail’s house. However, Ismail was out hunting. When Ibrahim asked Ismail’s wife how they were, the woman said that they were not well and complained. Consequently, Ibrahim told her to tell Ismail to change the step of his house when he returned. Ismail understood the message and divorced the woman. Many years later, the same thing happened again. Ibrahim asked the new wife how they were, the woman spoke well. Ibrahim asked her to tell Ismail that his father told him not to change the step of his house. Ismail understood the message and did not divorce the woman.
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
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The end of prophet ismail’s life:
prophet ismail lived for about 130 – 137 years. Ismail had many children, sons and daughters. He was a kinsman of the Arab tribe of Jurhum. Ismail contributed to establishing the Arabian race in the Arabian peninsula. prophet ismail was the first human to ride a horse. He was a clever horse rider. He had many virtues. prophet ismail lived and died in makkah. When he died, prophet ismail was buried next to al-kaaba in makkah. The story of prophet Ismail’s life teaches us that the only way to attain happiness in this worldly life as well as the hereafter is to stick to the commands of allah. This is to reach the pleasure and satisfaction of allah.
