Many muslims claim that Ishmael is the son that was to be sacraficed by Abraham. Since the muslims use the koran as a book of authority we will review what it says on the matter. Which son was to be sacraficed? The son that was promised. The story is located in Suras 11, 15, and 37.
Sura 11 says, "Our messengers came to Ibrahim with good news. They said: 'Peace!' 'Peace!' he said, and hastened to bring them roasted calf. But when he saw that their hands did not reach to it, he was afraid of them: 'Do not be alarmed. We are sent forth to the people of Lut.'
"His wife, who was waiting on them, rejoiced. We gave her the good news of Ishaq, and after Ishaq of Yaqub.
"'Alas!' she replied. 'How shall I bear a child when I am old an my huband is well-advanced in years? This is indeed a strange thing."'
The Pickthall translation of verses 71-72 reads: "'And his wife, standing by, laughed when We gave her good tidings (of the birth) of Isaac, and, after Isaac, of Jacob. She said: 'Oh, woe is me! Shall I bear a child when I am an old woman, and this my husband is an old man? Lo! This is a strange thing!'
Sura 37 tells of Abraham's earlier prayer for the son:
"100. O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!
"101. So We (Allah) gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forebear.
"102. Then when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: 'O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice. Now see what is thy view!' (The son) said, 'O my father! Do as thou art commanded. Thou will find me if Allah so wills one practicing Patience and Constancy!'
"103. So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah) and he had laid down porstrate on his forehead (for sacrifice),
"104. We called out to him, 'O Abraham!
"105. Thou hast already fulfilled the vision'--Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.
"106. For this was obviously a trial-
"107. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrafice.
"108. And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times.
"109. Peace and salutation to Abraham!"
Now while Sura 37 does not even name the son being sacraficed Sura 11 identifies him clearly as Isaac, the son who was promised in response to Abraham's prayer. Ishmael is not even promised but brought in to being out of Abraham and Sarah's impatience for God to fulfill His promise. The koran states that it is a "righteous son" that is prayed for, a son that God promised He would give, and later ask for in sacrafice. To drive the point home Islamic scholars in the early years of Islam could reach no concensus on the identity of the son. Had the koran been arranged thematically the story would have shown easily who the son to be sacraficed was.
Many scholars who cannot reconcile this apparent discrepency between their dogma and their scriptures state that the identity of the son is not important. That the moral gleaned from the story is what is important. The problem with that view point is the fact that the son who is promised is to recieve the fulfillment of the promises of God. He is to be the son that will create a nation in the Promised Land. Since even the koran says that the Promise Land is given to the Israelites this again identifies the son through the fulfilment of the promise given to the son.
"To Moses We [Allah] gave nine clear signs. Ask the Israelites how he [Moses] first appeared amongst them. Pharoah said to him: 'Moses, I can see that you are bewitched.' 'You know full well,' he [Moses] replied, 'that none but the Lord of the heavens and the earth has revealed these visible signs. Pharoah, you are doomed.'"
"Pharoah sought to scare them [the Israelites] out of the land [of Israel]: but We [Allah] drowned him [Pharoah] together with all who were with him. Then We [Allah] said to the Israelites: 'Dwell in this land [the Land of Israel]. When the promise of the hereafter [End of Days] comes to be fulfilled, We [Allah] shall assemble you [the Israelites] all together [in the Land of Israel]."
"We [Allah] have revealed the Qur'an with the truth, and with the truth it has come down. We have sent you [Muhammed] forth only to proclaim good news and to give warning."
[Qur'an, "Night Journey," chapter 17:100-104]
Now while this "prophecy" existed hundreds of years before Muhammad ever lived in the Bible it still shows that Isaac is the son from which the promise is to be fulfilled in. This also brings the question up as to why muslims seek their destruction and removal from a land that even they admit God promised them. But that is another topic. The point is that Isaac is the promised son and the one to be sacraficed. NOT Ishmael. Hope this sheds some light on the subject.
God bless
