What Was Ismael’s Reaction to His Father’s Vision to Slaughter Him?
كيف تلقّى إسماعيل عليه السلام رؤيا أبيه في ذبحه؟
Ibrahim longed for a son for a long time, and when a son came to him and grew up, the divine command came to him to slaughter his son. He had so much faith that he took his son and told him about his dream. Ismael told him, “O father, do as you have been ordered, and I will be patient.” So his father laid him down on his forehead (Note: the earlier published wording said “on his back”; the verse says “and Abraham laid him on his forehead,” As-Saffat 37:103, which Ibn Kathir explains as laying him face down), and just as he was about to slay him, he heard a voice from Heaven telling him that this was a trial for him, and that he had passed the trial. Allah sent down a sacrifice (it is not mentioned in the Quran what the animal was) to slaughter instead. Ismael had great faith in Allah, so he complied immediately and urged his father to carry out the command. “Then when the boy reached the age to work with him, Abraham said, ‘O my dear son! I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you. So tell me what you think.’ He replied, ‘O my dear father! Do as you are commanded. Allah willing, you will find me steadfast.’ Then when they submitted to Allah’s Will, and Abraham laid him on his forehead for sacrifice, We called out to him, ‘O Abraham! You have already fulfilled the vision.’ Indeed, this is how We reward the good-doers. That was truly a revealing test. And We ransomed his son with a great sacrifice” (Surah As-Saffat 37:102-107).
كان إبراهيم عليه السلام يريد ابنا مدة طويلة، فلما جاءه ابن وكَبِر، جاءه الأمر الإلهي أن يذبح ابنه. وكان إيمانه كبيرا، فأخذ ابنه وقصّ عليه المنام، فقال له إسماعيل عليه السلام: يا أبت، افعل ما أُمرت به، وسأكون صابرا. فوضعه أبوه على جبينه (ملاحظة: كان في النص المنشور سابقا “مستلقيا”، والآية: وتله للجبين، أي صرعه على وجهه، كما فسرها ابن كثير في تفسير الآية 103 من سورة الصافات.)، ولما أراد أن يذبحه جاءه صوت من السماء يقول له إن هذا كان امتحانا له وقد نجح فيه. وأنزل الله تعالى ذِبحا (لم يحدد في القرآن الكريم نوع الحيوان الذي فدى به) ليذبحه فداءً لابنه. وكان إسماعيل أيضا على درجة كبيرة من الإيمان، فلم يناقش أباه، وإنما شجّعه على تنفيذ أمر الله، قال الله تعالى: 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 اللَّـهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ ﴿١٠٢﴾ فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ ﴿١٠٣﴾ وَنَادَيْنَاهُ أَن يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ ﴿١٠٤﴾ قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا ۚ إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٠٥﴾ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ الْبَلَاءُ الْمُبِينُ ﴿١٠٦﴾ وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿١٠٧﴾ (سورة الصافات: 102-107).
1. A Father Who Consulted, Not Commanded | أبٌ استشار ابنه ولم يأمره
Ibrahim did not simply inform Ismael of the vision and proceed; the Quran records him asking, “So tell me what you think,” treating his son as a partner in submission rather than a passive subject of the command. Ismael’s answer was given freely, which is precisely what makes his response so significant: it was not compliance under compulsion but a willing, informed acceptance.
لم يكتفِ إبراهيم عليه السلام بإخبار إسماعيل بالرؤيا ثم المضيّ فيها، بل حكى القرآن أنه قال له: (فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ) (الصافات 37: 102)، فجعل ابنه شريكًا في الاستسلام، لا متلقّيًا للأمر لا رأي له. وقد أجاب إسماعيل عن اختيار تام، وهذا ما يعطي جوابه قيمته: فلم يكن امتثالًا عن إكراه، بل قبولًا عن طوع وبصيرة.
2. A Promise Made Before the Trial, Kept During It | وعدٌ قُطع قبل الابتلاء، ووُفّي به فيه
Ismael promised his father he would be found “steadfast,” using the word “in sha Allah” (Allah willing) even in that promise, a mark of humility about his own certainty. The Quran later confirms his word was kept: he lay down for the sacrifice without struggle, submitting alongside his father in the single word “aslama,” meaning both of them submitted completely.
وعد إسماعيل عليه السلام أباه بقوله: (سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ) (الصافات 37: 102)، فاستثنى بالمشيئة حتى في وعده، تواضعًا وتبرّؤًا من الاعتداد بيقينه. ثم أخبر القرآن أنه وفّى بوعده: فقد انقاد للذبح دون مقاومة، وجمعه مع أبيه في كلمة واحدة قولُه تعالى: (فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا) (الصافات 37: 103)، أي استسلما كلاهما استسلامًا تامًّا.
3. Why the Quran Calls This “A Revealing Test” | لماذا وُصف هذا الابتلاء بأنه بلاء مبين؟
The description “a revealing test” (al-bala al-mubin) points to a trial that made something manifest and clear, here, the true depth of both father’s and son’s submission to Allah, tested at the point of the most severe possible loss. The ransom that followed did not diminish the test; the test had already been completed in full the moment both of them submitted.
يدل وصف القرآن له بأنه (الْبَلَاءُ الْمُبِينُ) (الصافات 37: 106) على ابتلاء أظهر أمرًا وكشفه، وهو هنا عمق استسلام الأب والابن لله وصدقه، إذ ابتُليا بأشد فقد يمكن تصوّره. ولم يُنقص الفداء الذي جاء بعده من الابتلاء شيئًا، فقد تمّ الابتلاء كاملًا في اللحظة التي استسلما فيها كلاهما.
4. The Vision Itself and Its Origin | أصلُ الرؤيا نفسها
This account focuses on Ismael’s own reaction and words. The full background of the dream itself, Ibrahim’s long wait for a son and how the command came to him, is covered in What Was Ibrahim’s Vision About His Son Ismael?
يتناول هذا الجواب ردّ إسماعيل عليه السلام وكلماته، أما خبر الرؤيا نفسها، وطول انتظار إبراهيم عليه السلام للولد، وكيف جاءه الأمر، فقد بيّناه في جواب: ما الرؤيا التي رآها إبراهيم عليه السلام في ابنه إسماعيل؟
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What did Ismael say when his father told him of the dream?
“O my dear father, do as you are commanded, you will find me, Allah willing, steadfast” (Surah As-Saffat 37:102).
Did Ismael resist or struggle during the sacrifice?
No, the Quran describes both of them submitting completely and Ibrahim laying him down without struggle.
What stopped the sacrifice from being carried out?
A voice from Heaven declared the vision already fulfilled, and Allah sent down a great sacrifice to ransom Ismael.
Why is this event called “a revealing test”?
Because it made manifest the true depth of both father’s and son’s submission to Allah at the point of the most severe possible loss.