Ishmael

Audio transcript:

>>STEVE ST. GEORGE: This is your crash course in Islam. I'm Steve St. George. Today who is Ishmael? In the Old Testament Abraham cannot have a child with his wife Sarah. So she gives him her handmaiden Hagar. With Hagar, Abraham has a child, a son Ishmael. Eventually though in her old age Sarah conceives of a child with divine help. That child is Isaac. After the birth of her son Sarah forces Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away from their home. Although in the Quran, it is Allah who tells Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael into the desert. Well some Jews and Christians believe they are descendants of Isaac, Muslims believe they are inheritors of Ishmael's legacy that they along with Jews and Christians are the children of Abraham. And they believe it was Ishmael not Isaac that Abraham almost sacrificed to God. Despairing of Ishmael's life is celebrated with the festival Eid Al Adha. When God spared Ismail the boy was replaced with a ram, it is because of this Muslims take animal sacrifices during the festival. Ishmael is highly regarded in Islam for his goodness and His wisdom. After wandering in the desert with his mother, they settled in Mecca. There it is believed Ismail built the Kaaba with Abraham.

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