manifest. (al-Ṣāffāt 37:99–113)
The Exalted recounts that when His intimate friend Abraham emigrated from his people’s land, he asked his Lord to grant him a righteous child. Allah therefore gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing son—that is, Ishmael, peace be upon him—for he was the first child born to him when the Friend of the Compassionate had reached eighty-six years of age. On this there is no disagreement among the followers of the revealed religions: he was Abraham’s firstborn and eldest.
Concerning the verse, “When he reached the age to walk with him” (al-Ṣāffāt 37:102), meaning when the boy grew up and began to assist his father in his affairs, Mujāhid (1) said: “When he reached the age to walk with him”—that is, he matured, travelled with him, and became capable of undertaking the work his father did.
Once this stage had been reached, Abraham—peace be upon him—was shown in a dream that he was commanded to sacrifice this very son. A ḥadīth traced back to Ibn ʿAbbās and attributed to the Prophet states, “The dreams of the prophets are revelation” (2); ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr (3) said the same.
This was a test from Allah, Mighty and Majestic, for His intimate friend: that he should slaughter this beloved son who had come to him in his old age, after he had already been ordered to settle that son and his mother in a barren land, a valley devoid of sound or companion, of cultivated crop or livestock. Abraham complied with Allah’s command, leaving them there in full trust and reliance upon Him; and Allah granted them relief and a way out, providing for them from sources they could never have imagined.
Then, after all of this, when he was commanded to sacrifice that same son—his firstborn, his only child—he answered his Lord, obeyed the order, and hastened to comply. He then presented the matter to his son so that it would be easier on the father’s heart and lighter upon the boy than if he were seized and slaughtered by force: “My dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you, so consider what you think” (al-Ṣāffāt 37:102). The forbearing youth, the joy of his father Abraham’s heart, at once replied, “My dear father, do as you are commanded; you will find me, Allah willing, among the steadfast” (al-Ṣāffāt 37:102). Such a response displays the utmost rectitude and obedience to both father and Lord of all worshippers.
Allah, Exalted is He, says: “Then, when they had both surrendered and he laid him down upon his forehead” (al-Ṣāffāt 37:103).
It is said, “They had both surrendered,” meaning they submitted to Allah’s command and resolved to carry it out. Others hold that the clauses are inverted, the intended sense being: “he laid him down upon his forehead,” that is, he cast him upon his face.
It is reported that he wished to slaughter him from the back of the neck so that he would not see him at the moment of sacrifice; this was stated by Ibn ʿAbbās, Mujāhid, Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, Qatādah, and al-Ḍaḥḥāk. Others say he laid him down as beasts are laid for slaughter, leaving the side of his forehead touching the ground.
“They surrendered” may also mean that Abraham pronounced Allah’s name and proclaimed the takbīr, while the son bore witness in readiness for death.
Al-Suddī and others said: He passed the knife over his throat, but it did not cut anything. Some say that Allah placed between it and the throat a plate of copper—Allah knows best.
(1) Mujāhid ibn Jabr, d. 103 AH.
(2) Recorded in several collections; see al-Bukhārī, “Taʿbīr al-Ruʾyā.”
(3) ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr al-Laythī, d. 68 AH.