Juz 23: Yā Sīn 28 to Az-Zumar 31
Section 11 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
11. Stories of Prophets: Ibrahim and Ismail's Sacrifice
The noble Quran often presents the narratives of prophets as exemplary models of faith, patience, and submission to Allah (swt). In Surah As-Saffat, after establishing the reality of Divine Oneness and warning about the consequences of disbelief, Allah (swt) turns to the inspiring story of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his son Ismail (peace be upon him).
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) stands as a paragon of devotion to Allah (swt). His story begins with his flight from his disbelieving people after destroying their idols. Upon leaving his homeland, he turned to Allah (swt) in supplication:
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
“O my Lord, bless me with a child from among the righteous.”
This beautiful prayer of a righteous servant who had left everything behind for the sake of his Lord was answered with glad tidings of a forbearing son. As Ibrahim (peace be upon him) grew older, this son—Ismail—became the comfort of his eyes and the joy of his heart.
Then came the supreme test. When Ismail reached the age where he could walk and work alongside his father, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) saw a dream. For prophets, dreams are a form of divine revelation, and Ibrahim knew this vision was a command from Allah (swt). Allah describes this profound moment:
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ
“When he reached the age of working with him, he said, 'O my son, I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you, so consider what you think.'”
Notice the tenderness in Ibrahim's address—"O my son"—and his consultative approach, though he knew this was Allah's command. Even more remarkable was Ismail's response:
قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ
“He said, 'O my father, do what you have been ordered to do. You will find me, if Allah wills, among the patient.'”
This response demonstrates extraordinary faith from a young man. Not rebellion, not negotiation, not even reluctant acceptance—but complete, wholehearted submission to Allah's decree. Ismail (peace be upon him) had inherited the profound faith of his father.
The climax of the narrative follows as both father and son submitted to Allah's command:
فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ
“So when they both submitted and he laid him down on his forehead,”
At this moment of ultimate submission, when Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was about to sacrifice his beloved son, Allah (swt) intervened. This was not a test requiring the actual sacrifice of Ismail, but rather a test of their willingness to submit completely to Allah's command:
وَنَادَيْنَاهُ أَن يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ، قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا ۚ إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“And We called out to him, 'O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the vision.' This is how We reward those who do good.”
Allah (swt) then provided a magnificent ram as a substitute:
وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ
“And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.”
This divine intervention established the tradition of qurbani (sacrifice) that continues until today. Every year during Eid al-Adha, Muslims worldwide commemorate this profound act of submission by sacrificing animals, not as an end in itself, but as a symbol of their willingness to surrender everything beloved to them for the sake of Allah (swt).
The narrative concludes with Allah's blessing upon Ibrahim:
وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الْآخِرِينَ، سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
“And We preserved his remembrance for later generations. Peace be upon Ibrahim.”
This remarkable story of father and son stands as one of the most powerful demonstrations of true faith—where love of Allah (swt) transcends even the deepest bonds of human affection.