What Was Ismael’s Reaction to His Father’s Vision to Slaughter Him?
كيف كانت ردة فعل إسماعيل برؤيا أبيه أن يذبحه؟
Ibrahim longed for a son for a long time, and finally when Allah granted him a son, he received a divine order 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 he laid him 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 لمدة طويلة، فلما جاءه ابن وكبر، جاءه الأمر الإلهي أن يذبح ابنه. كان إيمانه كبيرا فأخذ ابنه وقص عليه المنام. إسماعيل عليه السلام قال له: يا أبت، افعل ما أمرت به وأنا سأكون صابرا. فوضعه أبوه مستلقيا، ولما أراد أن يذبحه جاءه صوت من السماء يقول له أن هذا كان امتحانا له وقد نجح فيه. وأنزل الله تعالى ذبحا (لم يحدد في القرآن الكريم نوع الحيوان الذي فدى به) ليذبحه ويفديه. كان إسماعيل على درجة كبيرة من الإيمان أيضا، فلم يناقش أباه وإنما شجعه على تنفيذ أمر الله. 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 | أب استشار ولم يأمر
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 بإخبار إسماعيل بالرؤيا والمضي قدما؛ فيسجل القرآن أنه سأله، “فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ”، معاملا ابنه شريكا في الاستسلام لا موضوعا سلبيا للأمر. وجاءت إجابة إسماعيل بحرية تامة، وهذا بالضبط ما يجعل رده بهذه الأهمية، فلم يكن امتثالا تحت إكراه بل قبولا طوعيا ومدركا.
2. A Promise Made Before the Trial, Kept During It | وعد قُطع قبل الابتلاء وتحقق أثناءه
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 أباه بأنه سيجده “من الصابرين”، مستخدما عبارة “إن شاء الله” حتى في ذلك الوعد، علامة على تواضعه بشأن يقينه هو نفسه. ويؤكد القرآن لاحقا أن كلمته تحققت: فاستلقى للذبح دون مقاومة، مستسلما إلى جانب أبيه في كلمة واحدة “أسلما”، أي استسلما كلاهما استسلاما تاما.
3. Why the Quran Calls This “A Revealing Test” | لماذا وصف القرآن هذا بـ البلاء المبين
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.
يشير الوصف “البلاء المبين” إلى ابتلاء أظهر شيئا وأوضحه، هنا، عمق استسلام الأب والابن لله الحقيقي، اختُبر عند نقطة أشد خسارة ممكنة. ولم يقلل الفداء الذي تلا ذلك من الاختبار؛ فقد اكتمل الاختبار بالفعل تماما في اللحظة التي استسلما فيها كلاهما.
4. The Vision Itself and Its Origin | أصل 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?
تركز هذه الرواية على رد فعل إسماعيل نفسه وكلماته. أما الخلفية الكاملة للحلم نفسه، انتظار إبراهيم الطويل لابن وكيف جاءه الأمر، فمذكورة في مقال ما كانت رؤيا إبراهيم بشأن 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.