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The Great Sacrifice of Ismail AS

Bismillah Hirrahman Nirrahim

It is inconceivable that Allah, the Most Merciful would even remotely hint at demanding human sacrifice nor is it conceivable that the noble prophet and Khalil of Almighty Allah, Ibrahim AS would ever contemplate slaughtering his son Ismail. The Qur’an commands use of intellect in many categorical verses more importantly in verse 25:73 and 8:22, 10:100. It also commands to arrive at the best meaning of God’s word. For ready reference I am quoting two verses: –

25:73
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا

“When they are reminded of (even) the revelations of their Lord, they do not fall at them deaf and blind (with deaf and blind acceptance).”

39:18
الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمْ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ

“Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best of its application (in a given situation), such are the ones whom God has guided, and they are the ones endowed with insight.”

My contention is that when Allah (SWA) has declared life sacred in no uncertain terms and condemned very harshly the taking of innocent life being as grave as killing entire humanity, it defies reason that he could demand or His prophet conceive such a thought? Below are verses which declare life sacred: –

6:151

‘………وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ

“……… Do not slay a life – life that God has made sacred ……”

17:33

“وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ

“You shall not kill any person, for God has forbidden it ……..”

25:68

وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا

“Those who call on no deities along with God. Nor take a life that God has forbidden except in the course of justice (through a court of law). Nor do they commit adultery; and whoever does this, drags down one’s own humanity.”

5:32
مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ

“On that account, We decreed to the Children of Israel (the Eternal Moral Ordinance for all humanity 2:178) that whoever kills a human being, unless it be for murder or bloody crimes on the earth, it would be as if he killed all mankind. And whoever saves the life of one human being it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind. Our Messengers came to them with evident truth, yet, even after this, many of them continue to commit excesses in the land.”

After quoting the verses related to use of intellect and verses which declare forbidden the taking of life, life which God has declared to be sacred, I would like to remind the reader the one verse which is central to understanding God’s word, ayat no. 3:7. I am quoting a part of it: –

“……….. In it some verses are literal, while some verses are allegorical. The verses that pertain to Permanent Values have been presented literally. These verses, Muhkamat, are the essence of the Divine law. But abstract phenomena, some historical events, and the World of the Unseen are described in similes, metaphors and allegories (Mutashaabihaat) for your understanding. But those who are given to crookedness in their hearts pursue the allegories and try to give them literal meanings, thus creating dissension of thought. ………. “

Now, let me attempt to understand the verses related to the ‘Great sacrifice.’

37:100 رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
(Abraham migrated to Syria and prayed), “My Lord! Grant me a healthy child.”

37:101 فَبَشَّرْنَاهُ بِغُلَامٍ حَلِيمٍ
So, We gave him the good news of a clement son (Ishmael)

37:102
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

And when he was old enough to strive along with him, Abraham said, “O My dear son! I have a vision that I must give you to a life of test and tribulation for a Noble cause (37:107). So look, what do you think?” He said, “O My father! Do what you are commanded. God willing, you will find me of the steadfast.” [Zibh and Zabh = Sacrifice = Disregard comfort for a Noble cause. Just as Qatl = To subdue, kill, fight, humiliate, bring low]

37:103 فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ
As both of them had surrendered themselves (to God), he made Ishmael further submit in gratitude. [Contrary to popular tradition, Abraham never envisioned or intended to slaughter his son. God does not play games with His servants. Literal ‘forehead to ground’ = complete submission in gratitude]

37:104 وَنَادَيْنَاهُ أَن يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ
We called unto him, “O Abraham!

37:105 قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ
You have already affirmed the vision. We – This is so – We must reward the doers of good.”

37:106 إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ الْبَلَاءُ الْمُبِينُ
This was a trial, clear in itself. [Leaving the prestigious office of Chief Priesthood in Babylon and now the comfort of Syria for the wilderness of Makkah]

37:107 وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ
We exchanged his life for a Momentous Sacrifice. [Please notice here the absence of the Biblical and the traditional myth of a ’ram’ sent from the heavens. Also, note that slaughtering of a sheep or goat, by no means, can be considered a Momentous Sacrifice. 14:37, 37:102]

37:108 وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الْآخِرِينَ
And We left for him remembrance among the later generations

37:109 سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
Peace and salutation to Abraham!

37:110 كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Thus, do We reward the benefactors of humanity.

The above verses as per my understanding. These verses are the most beautiful ones expressing metaphorically, as Allah accords the sacrifice of Ishamel AS’s youth for the arduous mission of establishing the Divine system in a remote and barren land to that of literally giving his life. This I believe is the true meaning of these verse as per my understanding.

Ibrahim AS, as per the Qur’an was an intellectual par excellence. The most rational person. He questioned Allah regarding recreating the dead. Allah called him His Khalil. Allah commanded Muhammad (SAW) to follow his creed. Human sacrifice was a bloodthirsty pagan custom in ancient Arabia and also other parts of the world. It is inconceivable that Allah would make such a demand from his Khaleel. The true sacrifice in fact was to sacrifice Ismail AS’s youth and comforts of Syria and leave him in the arid desert in Mecca sowing a seed of monotheism for what was to be the Kaaba till today the zenith of human relationship with One God.

As the group is going to discuss verses related to Eid al Adha, I deemed it necessary to share my views before we discuss these in the group. Before I end, let me quote verse 2:141 which is self explanatory.

تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبْتُمْ وَلَا تُسْأَلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

“They were a community that has passed on. Theirs is what they earned, and yours is what you earn. And you will not be asked about what they did”

No one is infallible, not the clergy, nor the scholars therefore it is the duty of each and every one to ponder, question and apply the best meaning of God’s guidance.

Seeking pardon from the Most Forgiving, for errors and misconception and seeking guidance from the Most Wise. May He guide us all on path of those He rewarded. Aameen

Hanif Salat
25Jul2020