Question:
Who was meant as the son of Prophet Abraham AS that was slaughtered? Is it Ishmael AS or Isaac AS?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
In answering the above question, we start with the saying of Allah SWT:
وَقَالَ إِنِّي ذَاهِبٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ ﴿٩٩﴾ رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١٠٠﴾ فَبَشَّرْنَاهُ بِغُلَامٍ حَلِيمٍ ﴿١٠١﴾ 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 اللَّـهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ ﴿١٠٢﴾
And [then] he said, "Indeed, I will go to [where I am ordered by] my Lord; He will guide me. (99) My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous." (100) So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy. (101) And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast." (102)
Surah al-Saffat (99-102)
The scholars have differing opinions on which prophet was slaughtered:
First: Prophet Ishmael AS
This is the opinion of several Companions like Abu Hurairah R.A, Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma, Sa’id bin Jubair, al-Sya’bi, Ahmad bin Hanbal, Ibn Taimiyyah, Ibn Kathir and many more.
Second: Prophet Isaac AS
This is told by Umar ibn al-Khattab, Ali, Ibn Abbas in another sanad, Ibn Umar in another sanad, Jabir and Muqatil, al-Suddi, Atha’, Malik bin Anas, al-Tabari and others.
Third: Ulama’ Tawaqquf
The scholars tawaqquf (discontinued) and did not discuss this issue
Tarjih
- The sahih opinion is the first. This is based on Allah’s revelation in verse 69-71 of Surah Hud.[1] The dalil indicates that only Prophet Ishmael AS was present and Prophet Isaac AS was not born yet.
- Allah described Isaac as a ghulam ‘alim (an intelligent boy) while when Allah described Ishmael, it is ghulam halim (a well-mannered and always serves his father).
- The slaughter event happened in Mecca without khilaf (disagreement) and it is not thabit anywhere that Prophet Isaac AS ever went to Mecca.
- Hence, we decide the tarjih based on the evidences from kitab, Sunnah and the most popular among the Companions, tabi’in and others that the one who was slaughtered was Allah’s Apostle Prophet Ishmael AS.
May Allah SWT bless us all with knowledge and understanding. Ameen.
End notes:
[1] Allah SWT says:
وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَىٰ قَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ ۖ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذٍ ﴿٦٩﴾ فَلَمَّا رَأَىٰ أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً ۚ قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ ﴿٧٠﴾ وَامْرَأَتُهُ قَائِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَاهَا بِإِسْحَاقَ وَمِن وَرَاءِ إِسْحَاقَ يَعْقُوبَ ﴿٧١﴾
And certainly did Our messengers come to Abraham with good tidings; they said, "Peace." He said, "Peace," and did not delay in bringing [them] a roasted calf. (69) But when he saw their hands not reaching for it, he distrusted them and felt from them apprehension. They said, "Fear not. We have been sent to the people of Lot." (70) And his Wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob. (71)
Surah Hud (69-71)