Ibrahim's Emigration, the Test of the Sacrifice of Isma`il, and how Allah blessed Him
Allah tells us that after He helped His close friend Ibrahim, peace be upon him, against his people, and after Ibrahim gave up hoping that they would ever believe despite all the mighty signs that they had witnessed, he emigrated away from them, and said:
وَقَالَ إِنِّى ذَاهِبٌ إِلَى رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ - رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِنَ الصَّـلِحِينِ
(Verily, I am going to my Lord. He will guide me! My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous.) meaning, obedient children, in compensation for his people and relatives whom he had left. Allah said:
فَبَشَّرْنَـهُ بِغُلَـمٍ حَلِيمٍ
(So We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy.) This child was Isma`il, peace be upon him, for he was the first child of whom glad tidings were given to Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and he was older than Ishaq. The Muslims and the People of the Book agree, and indeed it is stated in their Book, that Isma`il, peace be upon him, was born when Ibrahim, peace be upon him, was eighty-six years old, and Ishaq was born when Ibrahim was ninety-nine years old. According to their Book, Allah commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his only son, and in another text it says his firstborn son. But here they falsely inserted the name of Ishaq. This is not right because it goes against what their own Scripture says. They inserted the name of Ishaq because he is their ancestor, while Isma`il is the ancestor of the Arabs. They were jealous of them, so they added this idea and changed the meaning of the phrase "only son" to mean `the only son who is with you,' because Isma`il had been taken with his mother to Makkah. But this is a case of falsification and distortion, because the words "only son" cannot be said except in the case of one who has no other son. Furthermore, the firstborn son has a special status that is not shared by subsequent children, so the command to sacrifice him is a more exquisite test.
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْىَ
(And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him,) means, when he grew up and started to go with his father and walk with him, for Ibrahim used to go every so often to check on his son and his mother in the land of Faran (i.e., Makkah), to see how they were doing. It was said that he used to ride on Al-Buraq, traveling there swiftly, and Allah knows best. It was reported from Ibn `Abbas, peace be upon him, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ata' Al-Khurasani, Zayd bin Aslam and others that
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْىَ
(And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him,) means, when he became a young man and was able to work as his father did.
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْىَ قَالَ يبُنَىَّ إِنِّى أَرَى فِى الْمَنَامِ أَنِّى أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى
(And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you. So look what you think!") `Ubayd bin `Umayr said, "The dreams of the Prophets are revelation," then he recited this Ayah:
قَالَ يبُنَىَّ إِنِّى أَرَى فِى الْمَنَامِ أَنِّى أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى
(he said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you. So look what you think!"). He told his son that in order to make it easier for him, and also to test his patience and resolve, at a young age, in obeying Allah and obeying his father.
قَالَ يأَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤمَرُ
(He said: "O my father! Do that which you are commanded...") meaning, `obey the command of Allah and sacrifice me.'
سَتَجِدُنِى إِن شَآءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّـبِرِينَ
(if Allah wills, you shall find me of the patient.) meaning, `I will be patient and will seek the reward for that with Allah.' He, may peace and blessings be upon him, believed in what had been promised. Allah said:
وَاذْكُرْ فِى الْكِتَـبِ إِسْمَـعِيلَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَـدِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولاً نَّبِيّاً - وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُ بِالصَّـلَوةِ وَالزَّكَـوةِ وَكَانَ عِندَ رَبِّهِ مَرْضِيّاً
(And mention in the Book Isma`il. Verily, he was true to what he promised, and he was a Messenger, (and) a Prophet. And he used to enjoin on his family the Salah and the Zakah, and his Lord was pleased with him.) (19:54-55).
فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ
(Then, when they had both submitted themselves, and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead;) means, when both of them had pronounced the Shahadah and remembered Allah -- Ibrahim because he was about to offer a sacrifice and Isma`il because he was about to die. Or it was said that "submitted themselves" means that they submitted and followed the command of Allah; Ibrahim obeyed the command of Allah and Isma`il obeyed Allah and his father. This was the view of Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Ibn Ishaq, and others. lThe meaning of the phrase "and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead" is: he placed him facedown so that he could slaughter him from behind, and not have to see his face at the time of slaughter, so that it would be easier for him. Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ad-Dahhak and Qatadah said:
وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ
(and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead;) means, "He turned him upside down on his face." Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "When the rituals were enjoined upon Ibrahim, peace be upon him, the Shaytan appeared to him at the Mas`a and raced with him, but Ibrahim got there first. Then Jibril, upon him be peace, took him to Jamrat Al-`Aqabah and the Shaytan appeared to him, so he stoned him with seven pebbles until he disappeared. Then he appeared him at Al-Jamrah Al-Wusta and he stoned him with seven pebbles. Then he laid him prostrate on his face. Isma`il, peace be upon him, was wearing a white shirt, and he said, `O my father, I do not have any garment in which I can be shrouded apart from this; take it off me so that you can shroud me in it.' He started to take it off, then he was called from behind:
أَن يإِبْرَهِيمُقَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَآ
(O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream!) Ibrahim turned, and saw a fine, horned, white ram." Ibn `Abbas said, "We used to look for similar types of rams." Hisham mentioned this Hadith at length in Al-Manasik.
وَنَـدَيْنَـهُ أَن يإِبْرَهِيمُ قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَآ
(We called out to him: "O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream!") means, `the purpose of your dream has been fulfilled by your laying down your son to sacrifice him.' As-Suddi and others said that he passed the knife over Isma`il's neck, but it did not cut him at all, because a sheet of copper was placed between them. Ibrahim was called at that point, and it was said:
قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَآ
(You have fulfilled the dream!) Allah says;
إِنَّا كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِى الْمُحْسِنِينَ
(Verily, thus do We reward the doers of good.) means, `this is how We deal with those who obey Us in things that are difficult for them; We make for them a way out.' As Allah says:
فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَشْهِدُواْ ذَوَى عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُواْ الشَّهَـدَةَ لِلَّهِ ذَلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجاً - وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَـلِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْراً
(And whosoever has Taqwa of Allah, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things.) (65:2-3). On the basis of this Ayah and this story, some of the scholars of Usul have stated that it is valid for a ruling to be abrogated before anyone is able to act upon it -- unlike some of the Mu`tazilah. The evidence for this is obvious, because Allah commanded Ibrahim, peace be upon him, to sacrifice his son, then He abrogated that and pointed out the ransom. The purpose of His command had been primarily to reward His close Friend for his patience and resolve in sacrificing his son. Allah says:
إِنَّ هَـذَا لَهُوَ الْبَلاَءُ الْمُبِينُ
(Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial.) meaning, it was clearly a test when he was commanded to sacrifice his son, so, he hastened to do it, in submission to the command of Allah and in obedience to Him. Allah said:
وَإِبْرَهِيمَ الَّذِى وَفَّى
(And of Ibrahim who fulfilled all that.) (53:37), and
وَفَدَيْنَـهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ
(And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice). It was reported that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "A ram which had grazed in Paradise for forty years." Imam Ahmad recorded that Safiyyah bint Shaybah said, "A woman from Bani Sulaym, who was the midwife of most of the people in our household, told me that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent for `Uthman bin Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him." On one occasion she said, "I asked `Uthman, `Why did the Prophet call you' He said, `The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me,
«إِنِّي كُنْتُ رَأَيْتُ قَرْنَيِ الْكَبْشِ حِينَ دَخَلْتُ الْبَيْتَ فَنَسِيتُ أَنْ آمُرَكَ أَنْ تُخَمِّرَهُمَا فَخَمِّرْهُمَا، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي الْبَيْتِ شَيْءٌ يَشْغَلُ الْمُصَلِّي»
(I saw the horns of the ram when I entered the House i.e., the Ka`bah, and I forgot to tell you to cover them up; cover them up, for there should not be anything in the House which could distract the worshipper.)"' Sufyan said, "The horns of the ram remained hanging in the House until it was burned, and they were burned too." This offers independent evidence that the one who was to be sacrificed was Isma`il, peace be upon him. The Quraysh had inherited the horns of the ram that Ibrahim sacrificed, and they had been passed down from generation to generation, until the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sent. And Allah knows best.
Reports which state that the One Who was to be sacrificed was Isma`il, and that this is Correct with
Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Amir Ash-Sha`bi, Yusuf bin Mihran, Mujahid, `Ata' and others reported from Ibn `Abbas that it was Isma`il, peace be upon him. Ibn Jarir narrated that Ibn `Abbas said, "The one who was ransomed was Isma`il, peace be upon him. The Jews claimed that it was Ishaq, but the Jews lied." It was reported that Ibn `Umar said, "The sacrifice was Isma`il." Ibn Abi Najih said, narrating from Mujahid, "It was Isma`il, peace be upon him." This was also the view of Yusuf bin Mihran. Ash-Sha`bi said, "It was Isma`il, peace be upon him, and I saw the horns of the ram in the Ka`bah." Muhammad bin Ishaq reported from Al-Hasan bin Dinar and `Amr bin `Ubayd from Al-Hasan Al-Basri that he did not doubt that the one of the two sons Ibrahim was commanded to sacrifice was Isma`il, peace be upon him. Ibn Ishaq said, "I heard Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi say, `The one whom Allah commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice of his two sons was Isma`il.' We find this in the Book of Allah, because when Allah finishes the story of the one of the two sons of Ibrahim who was to be sacrificed, He then says:
وَبَشَّرْنَـهُ بِإِسْحَـقَ نَبِيّاً مِّنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ
(And We gave him the glad tidings of Ishaq -- a Prophet from the righteous), and
فَبَشَّرْنَـهَا بِإِسْحَـقَ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسْحَـقَ يَعْقُوبَ
(So, We gave her glad tidings of Ishaq and after Ishaq, of Ya`qub) (11:71). He mentions the son and the son of the son, but He would not have commanded him to sacrifice Ishaq when He had promised that this son would in turn have a son. The one whom He commanded him to sacrifice can only have been Isma`il." Ibn Ishaq said, "I heard him say that often." Ibn Ishaq reported from Buraydah bin Sufyan bin Farwah Al-Aslami that Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi told them that he mentioned that to `Umar bin `Abd Al-`Aziz, may Allah be pleased with him, when he was Khalifah, while he was with him in Syria. `Umar said to him, "This is something about which I have never given any thought, but I see that it is as you say." Then he sent for a man who was with him in Syria, a Jew who had become a Muslim and was committed to Islam, and he thought that he had been one of their scholars. `Umar bin `Abd Al-`Aziz, may Allah be pleased with him, asked him about that. Muhammad bin Ka`b said, "I was with `Umar bin `Abd Al-`Aziz. `Umar said to him, `Which of the two sons of Ibrahim was he commanded to sacrifice' He said, `Isma`il. By Allah, O Commander of the faithful, the Jews know this, but they were jealous of you Arabs because it was your father about whom Allah issued this command and the virtue that Allah mentioned was because of his patience in obeying the command. So they denied that and claimed that it was Ishaq, because he is their father."' `Abdullah bin Al-Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, said, "I asked my father about which son was to be sacrificed -- was it Isma`il or Ishaq" He said, "Isma`il." This was mentioned in Kitab Az-Zuhd. Ibn Abi Hatim said, "I heard my father say, `The correct view is that the one who was to be sacrificed was Isma`il, peace be upon him."' He said, "And it was narrated that `Ali, Ibn `Umar, Abu Hurayrah, Abu At-Tufayl, Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Al-Hasan, Mujahid, Ash-Sha`bi, Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi, Abu Ja`far Muhammad bin `Ali and Abu Salih, may Allah be pleased with them all, said that the one who was to be sacrificed was Isma`il." Al-Baghawi said in his Tafsir, "This was the view of `Abdullah bin `Umar, Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib, As-Suddi, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Mujahid, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi and Al-Kalbi." This was also reported from Ibn `Abbas and from Abu `Amr bin Al-`Ala'.
وَبَشَّرْنَـهُ بِإِسْحَـقَ نَبِيّاً مِّنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ
(And We gave him the glad tidings of Ishaq -- a Prophet from the righteous.) having given the glad tidings of the one who was to be sacrificed, who was Isma`il, Allah immediately follows that with mention of the glad tidings of his brother Ishaq. This is also mentioned in Surah Hud (11:71) and in Surat Al-Hijr (15:53-55).
نَبِيّاً
(a Prophet) means, from him there will come a righteous Prophet.
وَبَـرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى إِسْحَـقَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا مُحْسِنٌ وَظَـلِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ مُبِينٌ
(We blessed him and Ishaq. And of their progeny are (some) that do right, and some that plainly wrong themselves.) This is like the Ayah:
قِيلَ ينُوحُ اهْبِطْ بِسَلَـمٍ مِّنَّا وَبَركَـتٍ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى أُمَمٍ مِّمَّن مَّعَكَ وَأُمَمٌ سَنُمَتِّعُهُمْ ثُمَّ يَمَسُّهُمْ مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
(It was said: "O Nuh! Come down (from the ship) with peace from Us and blessings on you and on the people who are with you, but people to whom We shall grant their pleasures (for a time), but in the end a painful torment will reach them from Us.") (11:48)
And when he was old enough to walk with him that is to go about with him and help him out — this is said to have been either at the age of seven or at the age of thirteen — he said ‘O my dear son I see that is I have seen in a dream that I shall sacrifice you — and the visions of prophets are always true and their actions are inspired by the command of God exalted be He. So see what you think’ of this dream. He consulted him so that he his son might accept the idea of being sacrificed and comply with the command for it. He said ‘O my father the final tā’ in abati replaces the yā’ of the genitive possessive annexation yā abī do whatever you have been commanded to do. You shall find me God willing of the steadfast’ in this affair.
And when he reached the age of striving with him, he said “O my son! I see in a dream that I will sacrifice thee. Look, what dost thou see?” He said, “O my father! Do as thou art commanded. Thou shalt find me, God willing, one of the patient.” Ishmael was a child increasing day by day. He grew up noble and stood up exalted. He was the ex- tract of bosom friendship and the oyster shell for the pearl of MuḤammad the emissary. The corner of Abraham's heart became attached to him and looked upon him while deeming him beautiful. A rebuke came from the threshold of Exaltedness: “O Bosom Friend, I did not preserve you from Azar's idols so that you could attach your heart to passion for Ishmael. Whatever veils the road of bosom friendship-whether Azarite idol or passion for Ishmael!” Any talk that keeps you back from the road-let it be unbelief or faith. Any picture that holds you back from the Friend-let it be ugly or beautiful. [DS 51] “O Bosom Friend, you claimed friendship with Me and like a desirer you came into the road of desire: 'Surely I have turned my face toward Him who originated the heavens and the earth' [6:79]. You disowned creatures and attachments: Surely they are an enemy to me, save the Lord of the Worlds [26:77]. Now you have come with a heart that is dedicated to love for My majesty and beauty and you have turned it toward him, placing love's seal on him. Make a sacrifice of him for Me, and sever yourself completely for Me! If you want Me, apply the remedy to your pain.” As long as your heart has not done away with attachments, not one of your arrows will reach its mark. As long as you have not removed both worlds from the midst, the ship will not reach the shore of safety. At the beginning of desire, the pirs of the Tariqah have the desirers keep their eyes down so that they will not look at anything, for whenever they look at something, that thing will become their bond and the basis of tribulation. One day Jacob gazed at Joseph's beauty with an eye that deemed him beautiful-look at the tribulation he suffered and how he was afflicted by separation from Joseph! One day MuṣṬafā said, “I love ʿāÌisha” He suffered what he suffered and saw what he saw because of the words and calumny of the hypocrites! The same state occurred for Abraham.
And when he reached the age of striving with him, he said “O my son! I see in a dream that I will sacrifice thee. Look, what dost thou see?” He said, “O my father! Do as thou art commanded. Thou shalt find me, God willing, one of the patient.” Ishmael was a child increasing day by day. He grew up noble and stood up exalted. He was the ex- tract of bosom friendship and the oyster shell for the pearl of MuḤammad the emissary. The corner of Abraham's heart became attached to him and looked upon him while deeming him beautiful. A rebuke came from the threshold of Exaltedness: “O Bosom Friend, I did not preserve you from Azar's idols so that you could attach your heart to passion for Ishmael. Whatever veils the road of bosom friendship-whether Azarite idol or passion for Ishmael!” Any talk that keeps you back from the road-let it be unbelief or faith. Any picture that holds you back from the Friend-let it be ugly or beautiful. [DS 51] “O Bosom Friend, you claimed friendship with Me and like a desirer you came into the road of desire: 'Surely I have turned my face toward Him who originated the heavens and the earth' [6:79]. You disowned creatures and attachments: Surely they are an enemy to me, save the Lord of the Worlds [26:77]. Now you have come with a heart that is dedicated to love for My majesty and beauty and you have turned it toward him, placing love's seal on him. Make a sacrifice of him for Me, and sever yourself completely for Me! If you want Me, apply the remedy to your pain.” As long as your heart has not done away with attachments, not one of your arrows will reach its mark. As long as you have not removed both worlds from the midst, the ship will not reach the shore of safety. At the beginning of desire, the pirs of the Tariqah have the desirers keep their eyes down so that they will not look at anything, for whenever they look at something, that thing will become their bond and the basis of tribulation. One day Jacob gazed at Joseph's beauty with an eye that deemed him beautiful-look at the tribulation he suffered and how he was afflicted by separation from Joseph! One day MuṣṬafā said, “I love ʿāÌisha” He suffered what he suffered and saw what he saw because of the words and calumny of the hypocrites! The same state occurred for Abraham.
And when he reached the age of striving with him, he said “O my son! I see in a dream that I will sacrifice thee. Look, what dost thou see?” He said, “O my father! Do as thou art commanded. Thou shalt find me, God willing, one of the patient.” Ishmael was a child increasing day by day. He grew up noble and stood up exalted. He was the ex- tract of bosom friendship and the oyster shell for the pearl of MuḤammad the emissary. The corner of Abraham's heart became attached to him and looked upon him while deeming him beautiful. A rebuke came from the threshold of Exaltedness: “O Bosom Friend, I did not preserve you from Azar's idols so that you could attach your heart to passion for Ishmael. Whatever veils the road of bosom friendship-whether Azarite idol or passion for Ishmael!” Any talk that keeps you back from the road-let it be unbelief or faith. Any picture that holds you back from the Friend-let it be ugly or beautiful. [DS 51] “O Bosom Friend, you claimed friendship with Me and like a desirer you came into the road of desire: 'Surely I have turned my face toward Him who originated the heavens and the earth' [6:79]. You disowned creatures and attachments: Surely they are an enemy to me, save the Lord of the Worlds [26:77]. Now you have come with a heart that is dedicated to love for My majesty and beauty and you have turned it toward him, placing love's seal on him. Make a sacrifice of him for Me, and sever yourself completely for Me! If you want Me, apply the remedy to your pain.” As long as your heart has not done away with attachments, not one of your arrows will reach its mark. As long as you have not removed both worlds from the midst, the ship will not reach the shore of safety. At the beginning of desire, the pirs of the Tariqah have the desirers keep their eyes down so that they will not look at anything, for whenever they look at something, that thing will become their bond and the basis of tribulation. One day Jacob gazed at Joseph's beauty with an eye that deemed him beautiful-look at the tribulation he suffered and how he was afflicted by separation from Joseph! One day MuṣṬafā said, “I love ʿāÌisha” He suffered what he suffered and saw what he saw because of the words and calumny of the hypocrites! The same state occurred for Abraham.
And when he reached the age of striving with him, he said “O my son! I see in a dream that I will sacrifice thee. Look, what dost thou see?” He said, “O my father! Do as thou art commanded. Thou shalt find me, God willing, one of the patient.” Ishmael was a child increasing day by day. He grew up noble and stood up exalted. He was the ex- tract of bosom friendship and the oyster shell for the pearl of MuḤammad the emissary. The corner of Abraham's heart became attached to him and looked upon him while deeming him beautiful. A rebuke came from the threshold of Exaltedness: “O Bosom Friend, I did not preserve you from Azar's idols so that you could attach your heart to passion for Ishmael. Whatever veils the road of bosom friendship-whether Azarite idol or passion for Ishmael!” Any talk that keeps you back from the road-let it be unbelief or faith. Any picture that holds you back from the Friend-let it be ugly or beautiful. [DS 51] “O Bosom Friend, you claimed friendship with Me and like a desirer you came into the road of desire: 'Surely I have turned my face toward Him who originated the heavens and the earth' [6:79]. You disowned creatures and attachments: Surely they are an enemy to me, save the Lord of the Worlds [26:77]. Now you have come with a heart that is dedicated to love for My majesty and beauty and you have turned it toward him, placing love's seal on him. Make a sacrifice of him for Me, and sever yourself completely for Me! If you want Me, apply the remedy to your pain.” As long as your heart has not done away with attachments, not one of your arrows will reach its mark. As long as you have not removed both worlds from the midst, the ship will not reach the shore of safety. At the beginning of desire, the pirs of the Tariqah have the desirers keep their eyes down so that they will not look at anything, for whenever they look at something, that thing will become their bond and the basis of tribulation. One day Jacob gazed at Joseph's beauty with an eye that deemed him beautiful-look at the tribulation he suffered and how he was afflicted by separation from Joseph! One day MuṣṬafā said, “I love ʿāÌisha” He suffered what he suffered and saw what he saw because of the words and calumny of the hypocrites! The same state occurred for Abraham.
And when he reached the age of striving with him, he said �O my son! I see in a dream that I will sacrifice thee. Look, what dost thou see?� He said, �O my father! Do as thou art commanded. Thou shalt find me, God willing, one of the patient.�Ishmael was a child increasing day by day. He grew up noble and stood up exalted. He was the ex- tract of bosom friendship and the oyster shell for the pearl of MuḤammad the emissary. The corner of Abraham's heart became attached to him and looked upon him while deeming him beautiful. A rebuke came from the threshold of Exaltedness: �O Bosom Friend, I did not preserve you from Azar's idols so that you could attach your heart to passion for Ishmael. Whatever veils the road of bosom friendship-whether Azarite idol or passion for Ishmael!�Any talk that keeps you back from the road-let it be unbelief or faith.Any picture that holds you back from the Friend-let it be ugly or beautiful. [DS 51]�O Bosom Friend, you claimed friendship with Me and like a desirer you came into the road of desire: 'Surely I have turned my face toward Him who originated the heavens and the earth' [6:79]. You disowned creatures and attachments: Surely they are an enemy to me, save the Lord of the Worlds [26:77]. Now you have come with a heart that is dedicated to love for My majesty and beauty and you have turned it toward him, placing love's seal on him. Make a sacrifice of him for Me, and sever yourself completely for Me! If you want Me, apply the remedy to your pain.�As long as your heart has not done away with attachments, not one of your arrows will reach its mark.As long as you have not removed both worlds from the midst, the ship will not reach the shore of safety.At the beginning of desire, the pirs of the Tariqah have the desirers keep their eyes down so that they will not look at anything, for whenever they look at something, that thing will become their bond and the basis of tribulation. One day Jacob gazed at Joseph's beauty with an eye that deemed him beautiful-look at the tribulation he suffered and how he was afflicted by separation from Joseph! One day MuṣṬafā said, �I love ʿāÌisha� He suffered what he suffered and saw what he saw because of the words and calumny of the hypocrites! The same state occurred for Abraham.
فلما كَبِر إسماعيل ومشى مع أبيه قال له أبوه: إني أرى في المنام أني أذبحك، فما رأيك؟ (ورؤيا الأنبياء حق) فقال إسماعيل مُرْضيًا ربه، بارًّا بوالده، معينًا له على طاعة الله: أمض ما أمرك الله به مِن ذبحي، ستجدني -إن شاء الله- صابرًا طائعًا محتسبًا.
وقوله تعالى "فلما بلغ معه السعي" أى كبر وترعرع وصار يذهب مع أبيه ويمشي معه وقد كان إبراهيم عليه الصلاة والسلام يذهب في كل وقت يتفقد ولده وأم ولده ببلاد فاران وينظر في أمرهما وقد ذكر أنه كان يركب على البراق سريعا إلى هناك والله أعلم وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما ومجاهد وعكرمة وسعيد بن جبير وعطاء الخراساني وزيد بن أسلم وغيرهم "فلما بلغ معه السعي" بمعنى شب وارتحل وأطاق ما يفعله أبوه من السعي والعمل "فلما بلغ معه السعي قال يا بني إني أرى فى المنام أني أذبحك فانظر ماذا ترى" قال عبيد بن عمير رؤيا الأنبياء وحي ثم تلا هذه الآية "قال يا بني إني أرى في المنام أني أذبحك فانظر ماذا ترى" وقد قال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا علي بن الحسين بن الجنيد حدثنا أبو عبدالملك الكرندي حدثنا سفيان بن عيينة عن إسرائيل بن يونس عن سماك عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "رؤيا الأنبياء فى المنام وحي" ليس هو في شيء من الكتب الستة من هذا الوجه وإنما أعلم ابنه بذلك ليكون أهون عليه وليختبر صبره وجلده وعزمه في صغره على طاعة الله تعالى وطاعة أبيه "قال يا أبت افعل ما تؤمر" أي امض لما أمرك الله من ذبحي "ستجدني إن شاء الله من الصابرين" أي سأصبر وأحتسب ذلك عند الله عز وجل وصدق صلوات الله وسلامه عليه فيما وعد ولهذا قال الله تعالى "واذكر فى الكتاب إسماعيل إنه كان صادق الوعد وكان رسولا نبيا وكان يأمر أهله بالصلاة والزكاة وكان عند ربه مرضيا".
والفاء فى قوله - تعالى - : ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السعي ) فصيحة ، أى : بشرناه بهذا الغلام الحليم ، ثم عاش هذا الغلام حتى بلغ السن التى فى إمكانه أن يسعى معه فيها ، ليساعده فى قضاء مصالحه .قيل : كانت سن إسماعيل فى ذلك الوقت ثلاث عشرة سنة .( قَالَ يابني إني أرى فِي المنام أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فانظر مَاذَا ترى ) .أى : فلام بلغ الغلام مع أبيه هذه السن ، قال الأب لابنه : يا بنى إنى رأيت فى منامى أنى أذبحك ، فانظرماذا ترى فى شأن نفسك .قال الآلوسى ما ملخصه : يحتمل أنه - عليه السلام - رأى فى منامه أنه فعل ذلك . . ويحتمل أنه رأى ما تأويله ذلك ، ولكنه لم يذكره وذكر التأويل ، كما يقول الممتحن وقد رأى أنه راكب سفينة : رأيت فى المنام أنى ناج من هذه المحنة .ورؤيا الأنبياء وحى كالوحى فى اليقظة ، وفى رواية أنه رأى ذلك فى ليلة التروية فأخذ بفكر فى أمره ، فسميت بذلك ، فلما رأى ما رآه سابقا عرف أن هذه الرؤيا من الله ، فسمى بيوم عرفة ، ثم رأى مثل ذلك فى الليلة الثالثة فهمَّ بنحره فسمى بيوم النحر .ولعل السر فى كونه مناما لا يقظة ، أن تكون المبادرة إلى الامتثال ، أدل على كمال الانقياد والإِخلاص .وإنما شاوره بقوله : ( فانظر مَاذَا ترى ) مع أنه سينفذ ما أمره الله - تعالى - به فى منامه سواء رضى إسماعيل أم لم يرض ، لأن فى هذه المشاورة إعلاما له بما رآه ، لكى يتقبله بثبات وصبر ، وليكون نزول هذا الأمر عليه أهون ، وليختبر عزمه وجلده .وقوله : ( قَالَ ياأبت افعل مَا تُؤمَرُ ستجدني إِن شَآءَ الله مِنَ الصابرين ) حكاية لما رد به إسماعيل على أبيه إبراهيم - عليهما السلام - وهو رد يدل على علو كعبه فى الثبات ، وفى احتمال البلاء ، وفى الاستسلام لقضاء الله وقدره .أى : قال الابن لأبيه : يا أبت افعل ما تؤمر به من قبل الله - تعالى - ولا تتردد فى ذلك وستجدنى ن شاء الله من الصابرين على قضائه .وفى هذا الرد ما فيه من سمو الأدب ، حيث قدم مشيئة الله - تعالى - ، ونسب الفضل إليه ، واستعان به - سبحانه - فى أن يجعله من الصابرين على البلاء .وهكذا الأنبياء - عليهم السلام - يلهمهم الله - تعالى - فى جميع مراحل حياتهم ما يجعلهم فى أعلى درجات السمو النفسى ، واليقين القلبى . والكمال الخلقى .
وقوله ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) يقول: فلما بلغ الغلام الذي بشر به إبراهيم مع إبراهيم العمل، وهو السعي، وذلك حين أطاق معونته على عمله.وقد اختلف أهل التأويل في معنى ذلك، فقال بعضهم نحو الذي قلنا فيه.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثني عليّ، قال: ثنا أبو صالح، قال: ثني معاوية، عن عليّ، عن ابن عباس، قولهِ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) يقول: العمل.حدثني محمد بن عمرو، قال: ثنا أبو عاصم، قال: ثنا عيسى; وحدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعا، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد، في قوله ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) قال: لما شبّ حتى أدرك سعيه سَعْي إبراهيمَ في العمل.حدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد، مثله، إلا أنه قال: لما شبّ حين أدرك سعيه.حدثنا ابن المثنى، قال: ثنا ابن أبي عديّ، عن شعبة، عن الحكم، عن مجاهد ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) قال: سَعي إبراهيم.حدثنا ابن المثنى، قال: ثنا سهل بن يوسف، عن شعبة، عن الحكم، عن مجاهد ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) : سَعي إبراهيم.حدثني يونس، قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب، قال: قال ابن زيد، في قوله ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) قال: السَّعْيُ ها هنا العبادة.وقال آخرون: معنى ذلك: فلما مشى مع إبراهيم.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) : أي لما مشى مع أبيه.وقوله ( قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: قال إبراهيم خليل الرحمن لابنه: ( يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ ) وكان فيما ذكر أن إبراهيم نذر حين بشَّرته الملائكة بإسحاق ولدًا أن يجعله إذا ولدته سارَة لله ذبيحا; فلما بلغ إسحاقُ مع أبيه السَّعْي أرِي إبراهيم في المنام، فقيل له: أوف لله بنذرك، ورؤيا الأنبياء يقين، فلذلك مضى لما رأى في المنام، وقال له ابنه إسحاق ما قال.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا موسى بن هارون، قال: ثنا عمرو بن حماد، قال: ثنا أسباط، عن السديّ، قال: قال جبرائيل لسارَة: أبشري بولد اسمه إسحاق، ومن وراء إسحاق يعقوب، فضربت جبهتها عَجَبا، فذلك قوله فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا و قَالَتْ يَا وَيْلَتَى أَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا عَجُوزٌ وَهَذَا بَعْلِي شَيْخًا إِنَّ هَذَا لَشَيْءٌ عَجِيبٌ إلى قوله حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ قالت سارَة لجبريل: ما آية ذلك ؟ فأخذ بيده عودا يابسا، فلواه بين أصابعه، فاهتز أخضر، فقال إبراهيم: هو لله إذن ذَبيح; فلما كبر إسحاق أُتِيَ إبراهيمُ في النوم، فقيل له: أوف بنذرك الذي نَذَرْت، إن الله رزقك غلاما من سارَة أن تذبحه، فقال لإسحاق: انطلق نقرب قُرْبَانا إلى الله، وأخذ سكينا وحبلا ثم انطلق معه حتى إذا ذهب به بين الجبال قال له الغلام: يا أبت أين قُرْبانك؟( قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى ؟ قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ ) فقال له إسحاق: يا أبت أشدد رباطي حتى لا أضطرب، واكففْ عني ثيابك حتى لا ينتضح عليها من دمي شيء، فتراه سارَة فتحزن، وأَسْرِعْ مرّ السكين على حَلْقي؛ ليكون أهون للموت عليّ، فإذا أتيت سارَة فاقرأ عليها مني السلام; فأقبل عليه إبراهيم يقبله وقد ربطه وهو يبكي وإسحاق يبكي، حتى استنقع الدموع تحت خدّ إسحاق، ثم إنه جرّ السكين على حلقه، فلم تَحِكِ السكين، وضرب الله صفيحة من النحاس على حلق إسحاق; فلما رأى ذلك ضرب به على جبينه، وحزّ من قفاه، فذلك قوله فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا يقول: سلما لله الأمر وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ فنودي يا إبراهيم قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا بالحق فالتفت فإذا بكبش، فأخذه وخَلَّى عن ابنه، فأكبّ على ابنه يقبله، وهو يقول: اليوم يا بُنَيّ وُهِبْتَ لي; فلذلك يقول الله: وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ فرجع إلى سارَة فأخبرها الخبر، فجَزِعَت سارَة وقالت: يا إبراهيم أردت أن تذبح ابني ولا تُعْلِمني!.حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة، قوله ( يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ ) قال: رؤيا الأنبياء حق إذا رأوا فى المنام شيئا فعلوه.حدثنا مجاهد بن موسى، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سفيان بن عيينة، عن عمرو بن دينار، عن عبيد بن عمير، قال: رؤيا الأنبياء وحي، ثم تلا هذه الآية: ( إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ ).قوله ( فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى ) : اختلفت القرّاء في قراءة قوله ( مَاذَا تَرَى ؟ ) ، فقرأته عامة قرّاء أهل المدينة والبصرة، وبعض قراء أهل الكوفة: ( فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى ؟) بفتح التاء، بمعنى: أي شيء تأمر، أو فانظر ما الذي تأمر، وقرأ ذلك عامة قراء الكوفة: " مَاذَا تُرَى " بضم التاء، بمعنى: ماذا تُشير، وماذا تُرَى من صبرك أو جزعك من الذبح؟.والذي هو أولى القراءتين في ذلك عندي بالصواب قراءة من قرأه: ( مَاذَا تَرَى ) بفتح التاء، بمعنى: ماذا ترى من الرأي.فإن قال قائل: أو كان إبراهيم يؤامر ابنه في المضيّ لأمر الله، والانتهاء إلى طاعته؟ قيل: لم يكن ذلك منه مشاورة لابنه في طاعة الله، ولكنه كان منه ليعلم ما عند ابنه من العَزْم: هل هو من الصبر على أمر الله على مثل الذي هو عليه، فيسر بذلك أم لا وهو في الأحوال كلها ماض لأمر الله.وقوله ( قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: قال إسحاق لأبيه: يا أبت افعل ما يأمرك به ربك من ذبحي.( سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ ) يقول: ستجدني إن شاء الله صابرا من الصابرين لما يأمرنا به ربنا، وقال: (افعل ما تُؤْمَرُ، ولم يقل: ما تؤمر به، لأن المعنى: افعل الأمر الذي تؤمره، وذكر أن ذلك في قراءة عبد الله: " إني أرى في المنام: افعل ما أُمِرْت به ".
( فلما بلغ معه السعي ) قال ابن عباس وقتادة : يعني المشي معه إلى الجبل . وقال مجاهد عن ابن عباس : لما شب حتى بلغ سعيه سعي إبراهيم والمعنى : بلغ أن يتصرف معه ويعينه في عمله . قال الكلبي : يعني العمل لله تعالى ، وهو قول الحسن ومقاتل بن حيان وابن زيد ، قالوا : هو العبادة لله تعالى .واختلفوا في سنه ، قيل : كان ابن ثلاث عشرة سنة . وقيل : كان ابن سبع سنين .( قال يابني إني أرى في المنام أني أذبحك ) واختلف العلماء من المسلمين في هذا الغلام الذي أمر إبراهيم بذبحه بعد اتفاق أهل الكتابين على أنه إسحاق ، فقال قوم : هو إسحاق وإليه ذهب من الصحابة : عمر ، وعلي ، وابن مسعود ، وابن عباس ، ومن التابعين وأتباعهم : كعب الأحبار ، وسعيد بن جبير ، وقتادة ، ومسروق ، وعكرمة ، وعطاء ، ومقاتل ، والزهري ، والسدي ، وهي رواية عكرمة وسعيد بن جبير عن ابن عباس ، وقالوا : كانت هذه القصة بالشام .وروي عن سعيد بن جبير قال : أري إبراهيم ذبح إسحاق في المنام ، فسار به مسيرة شهر في غداة واحدة حتى أتى به المنحر بمنى ، فلما أمره الله تعالى بذبح الكبش ، ذبحه وسار به مسيرة شهر في روحة واحدة وطويت له الأودية والجبال .وقال آخرون : هو إسماعيل ، وإليه ذهب عبد الله بن عمر ، وهو قول سعيد بن المسيب ، والشعبي ، والحسن البصري ، ومجاهد ، والربيع بن أنس ، ومحمد بن كعب القرظي ، والكلبي ، وهي رواية عطاء بن أبي رباح ، ويوسف بن ماهك عن ابن عباس قال : المفدى إسماعيل .وكلا القولين يروى عن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ومن ذهب إلى أن الذبيح إسحاق احتج من القرآن بقوله : " فبشرناه بغلام حليم فلما بلغ معه السعي " ( الصافات - 101 ) أمره بذبح من بشره به ، وليس في القرآن أنه بشر بولد سوى إسحاق ، كما قال في سورة هود : " فبشرناها بإسحاق " ( هود - 71 ) .ومن ذهب إلى أنه إسماعيل احتج بأن الله تعالى ذكر البشارة بإسحاق بعد الفراغ من قصة المذبوح فقال : " وبشرناه بإسحاق نبيا من الصالحين " ( الصافات - 112 ) دل على أن المذبوح غيره ، وأيضا قال الله - تعالى - في سورة هود : " فبشرناها بإسحاق ومن وراء إسحاق يعقوب " ( هود - 71 ) فكما بشره بإسحاق بشره بابنه يعقوب ، فكيف يأمره بذبح إسحاق وقد وعده بنافلة منه .قال القرظي : سأل عمر بن عبد العزيز رجلا كان من علماء اليهود أسلم وحسن إسلامه : أي ابني إبراهيم أمر بذبحه ؟ فقال : إسماعيل ، ثم قال : يا أمير المؤمنين إن اليهود لتعلم ذلك ، ولكنهم يحسدونكم معشر العرب على أن يكون أباكم الذي كان من أمر الله - تعالى - بذبحه ، ويزعمون أنه إسحاق .ومن الدليل عليه : أن قرني الكبش كانا منوطين بالكعبة في أيدي بني إسماعيل إلى أن احترق البيت واحترق القرنان في أيام ابن الزبير والحجاج .قال الشعبي : رأيت قرني الكبش منوطين بالكعبة .وعن ابن عباس قال : والذي نفسي بيده لقد كان أول الإسلام وإن رأس الكبش لمعلق بقرنيه في ميزاب الكعبة ، قد وحش يعني يبس .قال الأصمعي : سألت أبا عمرو بن العلاء عن الذبيح إسحاق كان أو إسماعيل ؟ فقال : يا صميع أين ذهب عقلك متى كان إسحاق بمكة ؟ إنما كان إسماعيل بمكة ، وهو الذي بنى البيت مع أبيه .وأما قصة الذبح قال السدي : لما دعا إبراهيم فقال : رب هب لي من الصالحين ، وبشر به ، قال : هو إذا لله ذبيح ، فلما ولد وبلغ معه السعي قيل له : أوف بنذرك ، هذا هو السبب في أمر الله تعالى إياه بذبح ابنه ، فقال عند ذلك لإسحاق : انطلق فقرب قربانا لله - تعالى - فأخذ سكينا وحبلا وانطلق معه حتى ذهب به بين الجبال ، فقال له الغلام : يا أبت أين قربانك ؟ فقال : " يابني إني أرى في المنام أني أذبحك فانظر ماذا ترى قال ياأبت افعل ما تؤمر " .وقال محمد بن إسحاق : كان إبراهيم إذا زار هاجر وإسماعيل حمل على البراق فيغدو من الشام فيقيل بمكة ، ويروح من مكة فيبيت عند أهله بالشام ، حتى إذا بلغ إسماعيل معه السعي ، وأخذ بنفسه ورجاه لما كان يأمل فيه من عبادة ربه وتعظيم حرماته ، أمر في المنام أن يذبحه ، وذلك أنه رأى ليلة التروية كأن قائلا يقول له : إن الله يأمرك بذبح ابنك هذا ، فلما أصبح روي في نفسه أي : فكر من الصباح إلى الرواح ، أمن الله هذا الحلم أم من الشيطان ؟ فمن ثم سمي يوم التروية فلما أمسى رأى في المنام ثانيا ، فلما أصبح عرف أن ذلك من الله - عز وجل - ، فمن ثم سمي يوم عرفة .قال مقاتل : رأى ذلك إبراهيم ثلاث ليال متواليات ، فلما تيقن ذلك أخبر به ابنه ، فقال : " يابني إني أرى في المنام أني أذبحك فانظر ماذا ترى " .قرأ حمزة والكسائي : " ترى " بضم التاء وكسر الراء : ماذا تشير . وإنما أمره ليعلم صبره على أمر الله تعالى ، وعزيمته على طاعته .وقرأ العامة بفتح التاء والراء إلا أبا عمرو فإنه يميل الراء .قال له ابنه : ( ياأبت افعل ما تؤمر ) وقال ابن إسحاق وغيره : فلما أمر إبراهيم بذلك قال لابنه : يا بني خذ الحبل والمدية ننطلق إلى هذا الشعب نحتطب ، فلما خلا إبراهيم بابنه في شعب ثبير أخبره بما أمر ، ( قال ياأبت افعل ما تؤمر ستجدني إن شاء الله من الصابرين ) .
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ (102)والفاء في { فلمَّا بلغَ معهُ السَّعي } فصيحة لأنها مفصحة عن مقدر ، تقديره : فولد له ويفع وبلغ السعي فلما بلغ السعي قال يا بنيّ الخ ، أي بلغ أن يسعى مع أبيه ، أي بلغ سنّ من يمشي مع إبراهيم في شؤونه .فقوله : { معه } متعلق بالسعي والضمير المستتر في { بلغ } للغلام ، والضمير المضاف إليه { معه } عائد إلى إبراهيم . و { السعي } مفعول { بلغ } ولا حجة لمن منع تقدم معمول المصدر عليه ، على أن الظروف يتوسع فيها ما لا يتوسع في غيرها من المعمولات .وكان عمُر إسماعيل يومئذٍ ثلاث عشرة سنة وحينئذٍ حدّث إبراهيم ابنه بما رآه في المنام ورؤيا الأنبياء وحي وكان أول ما بُدىء به رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الرؤيا الصادقة ولكن الشريعة لم يوح بها إليه إلا في اليقظة مع رؤية جبريل دون رؤيا المنام ، وإنما كانت الرؤيا وحياً له في غير التشريع مثل الكشف على ما يقع وما أعد له وبعض ما يحل بأمته أو بأصحابه ، فقد رأى في المنام أنه يهاجِر من مكة إلى أرض ذات نخل فلم يهاجر حتى أُذن له في الهجرة كما أخبر بذلك أبا بكر رضي الله عنه ، ورأى بَقراً تُذبح فكان تأويل رؤياه مَن استشهد من المسلمين يوم أحد ، ولقد يُرجَّح قول القائلين من السلف بأن الإِسراء برسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقظة وبالجسد على قول القائلين بأنه كان في المنام وبالروح خاصة ، فإن في حديث الإِسراء أن الله فرَض الصلاة في ليلته والصلاة ثاني أركان الإِسلام فهي حقيقة بأن تفرض في أكمل أحوال الوحي للنبيء صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو حال اليقظة فافهم .وأمر الله إبراهيم بذبح ولده أمرُ ابتلاء .وليس المقصود به التشريع إذ لو كان تشريعاً لما نسخ قبل العمل به لأن ذلك يفيت الحكمة من التشريع بخلاف أمر الابتلاء .والمقصود من هذا الابتلاء إظهار عزمه وإثبات علوّ مرتبته في طاعة ربّه فإن الولد عزيز على نفس الوالد ، والولد الوحيد الذي هو أمل الوالد في مستقبله أشدّ عزّة على نفسه لا محالة ، وقد علمتَ أنه سأل ولداً لِيرثه نسله ولا يرثه مواليه ، فبعد أن أقرّ الله عينه بإجابة سؤله وترعرع ولده أمره بأن يذبحه فينعدم نسله ويخيب أمله ويزول أنسه ويتولى بيده إعدام أحب النفوس إليه وذلك أعظم الابتلاء . فقابَل أمر ربه بالامتثال وحصلت حكمة الله من ابتلائه ، وهذا معنى قوله تعالى : { إنَّ هذا لهو البلاء المبينُ } [ الصافات : 106 ] .وإنما برز هذا الابتلاء في صورة الوحي المنامي إكراماً لإِبراهيم عن أن يزعج بالأمر بذبح ولده بوحي في اليقظة لأن رُؤَى المنام يعقبها تعبيرها إذ قد تكون مشتملة على رموز خفيّة وفي ذلك تأنيس لنفسه لتلقّي هذا التكليف الشاقّ عليه وهو ذبح ابنه الوحيد .والفاء في قوله : { فانظر ماذا ترى } فاء تفريع ، أو هي فاء الفصيحة ، أي إذا علمت هذا فانظر ماذا ترى . والنظر هنا نظر العقل لا نظر البصر فحقه أن يتعدّى إلى مفعولين ولكن علّقه الاستفهام عن العمل . والمعنى : تأمل في الذي تقابل به هذا الأمر ، وذلك لأن الأمر لما تعلق بذات الغلام كان للغلام حظ في الامتثال وكان عرض إبراهيم هذا على ابنه عرض اختبار لمقدار طواعيته بإجابة أمر الله في ذاته لتحصل له بالرضى والامتثال مرتبة بذل نفسه في إرضاء الله وهو لا يرجو من ابنه إلا القبول لأنه أعلم بصلاح ابنه وليس إبراهيم مأموراً بذبح ابنه جبراً ، بل الأمر بالذبح تعلق بمأمورين : أحدهما بتلقي الوحي ، والآخرِ بتبليغ الرسول إليه ، فلو قدر عصيانه لكان حاله في ذلك حال ابن نوح الذي أبى أن يركب السفينة لما دعاه أبوه فاعتُبر كافراً .وقرأ الجمهور { ماذا ترى } بفتح التاء والراء . وقرأ حمزة والكسائي وخلف بضم التاء وكسر الراء ، أي مَاذا تُريني من امتثال أو عدمه . وحكى جوابه فقال : { يأبتتِ افعل ما تُؤمرُ } دون عطف ، جرياً على حكاية المقاولات كما تقدم عند قوله تعالى :{ قالوا أتجعل فيها من يُفسد فيها } في سورة [ البقرة : 30 ] .( وابتداء الجواب بالنداء واستحضار المنادى بوصف الأبوة وإضافة الأب إلى ياء المتكلم المعوض عنها التاء المشعر تعويضها بصيغة ترقيق وتحنّن .والتعبير عن الذبح بالموصول وهو { ما تُؤمَرُ } دون أن يقول : اذْبَحني ، يفيد وحده إيماء إلى السبب الذي جَعل جوابه امتثالاً لذبحه . وحُذف المتعلق بفعل { تُؤمرُ } لظهور تقديره : أي ما تؤمر به . وبقي الفعل كأنه من الأفعال المتعدية ، وهذا الحذف يسمى بالحذف والإِيصال ، كقول عمرو بن معد يكرب :أمرتك الخيرَ فافعل ما أمرتَ به ... فقد تركتُكَ ذا مال وذا نشَبوصيغة الأمر في قوله : { افْعَلْ } مستعملة في الإِذن . وعدل عن أن يقال : اذبحني ، إلى { افعل ما تؤمرُ } للجمع بين الإِذن وتعليله ، أي أذنت لك أن تذبحني لأن الله أمرك بذلك ، ففيه تصديق أبيه وامتثال أمر الله فيه .وجملة { ستَجِدُني } هي الجواب لأن الجمل التي قبلها تمهيد للجواب كما علمت فإنه بعد أن حثّه على فعل ما أُمر به وَعَده بالامتثال له وبأنه لا يجزع ولا يهلع بل يكون صابراً ، وفي ذلك تخفيف من عبْء ما عسى أن يعرض لأبيه من الحزن لكونه يعامل ولده بما يكره . وهذا وعد قد وفّى به حين أمكن أباه من رقبته ، وهو الوعد الذي شكره الله عليه في الآية الأخرى في قوله : { واذكر في الكتاب إسماعيل إنه كان صادق الوعد } [ مريم : 54 ] ، وقد قرن وعده ب { إن شاء الله } استعانةً على تحقيقه .وفي قوله : { مِنَ الصابِرينَ } من المبالغة في اتصافه بالصبر ما ليس في الوصف : بصابر ، لأنه يفيد أنه سيجده في عِداد الذين اشتهروا بالصبر وعرفوا به ، ألاَ ترى أن موسى عليه السلام لما وعد الخضر قال : { ستجدني إن شاء الله صابِراً } [ الكهف : 69 ] لأنه حُمل على التصبر إجابة لمقترح الخضر .
{ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ } الغلام { مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ } أي: أدرك أن يسعى معه، وبلغ سنا يكون في الغالب، أحب ما يكون لوالديه، قد ذهبت مشقته، وأقبلت منفعته، فقال له إبراهيم عليه السلام: { إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ } أي: قد رأيت في النوم والرؤيا، أن اللّه يأمرني بذبحك، ورؤيا الأنبياء وحي { فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى } فإن أمر اللّه تعالى، لا بد من تنفيذه، { قَالَ } إسماعيل صابرا محتسبا، مرضيا لربه، وبارا بوالده: { يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ } أي: [امض] لما أمرك اللّه { سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ } أخبر أباه أنه موطن نفسه على الصبر، وقرن ذلك بمشيئة اللّه تعالى، لأنه لا يكون شيء بدون مشيئة اللّه تعالى.
قوله تعالى : فلما بلغ معه السعي أي فوهبنا له الغلام ، فلما بلغ معه المبلغ الذي يسعى مع أبيه في أمور دنياه معينا له على أعماله قال يا بني إني أرى في المنام أني أذبحك . وقال مجاهد : فلما بلغ معه السعي أي : شب وأدرك سعيه سعي إبراهيم . وقال الفراء : كان يومئذ ابن ثلاث عشرة سنة . وقال ابن عباس : هو الاحتلام . قتادة : مشى مع أبيه . الحسن ومقاتل : هو سعي العقل الذي تقوم به الحجة . ابن زيد : هو السعي في العبادة . ابن عباس : صام وصلى ، ألم تسمع الله - عز وجل - يقول : وسعى لها سعيهااختلف العلماء في المأمور بذبحه . فقال أكثرهم : الذبيح إسحاق . وممن قال بذلك العباس بن عبد المطلب وابنه عبد الله وهو الصحيح عنه . روى الثوري وابن جريج يرفعانه إلى ابن عباس قال : الذبيح إسحاق . وهو الصحيح عن عبد الله بن مسعود أن رجلا قال له : يا ابن الأشياخ الكرام . فقال عبد الله : ذلك يوسف بن يعقوب بن إسحاق ذبيح الله ابن إبراهيم خليل الله صلى الله عليه وسلم . وقد روى حماد بن زيد يرفعه إلى رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال : إن الكريم ابن الكريم ابن الكريم ابن الكريم يوسف بن يعقوب بن إسحاق بن إبراهيم صلى الله عليهم وسلم . وروى أبو الزبير عن [ ص: 91 ] جابر قال : الذبيح إسحاق . وذلك مروي أيضا عن علي بن أبي طالب - رضي الله عنه - . وعن عبد الله بن عمر : أن الذبيح إسحاق . وهو قول عمر - رضي الله عنه - . فهؤلاء سبعة من الصحابة . وقال به من التابعين وغيرهم علقمة والشعبي ومجاهد وسعيد بن جبير وكعب الأحبار وقتادة ومسروق وعكرمة والقاسم بن أبي بزة وعطاء ومقاتل وعبد الرحمن بن سابط والزهري والسدي وعبد الله بن أبي الهذيل ومالك بن أنس ، كلهم قالوا : الذبيح إسحاق . وعليه أهل الكتابين اليهود والنصارى ، واختاره غير واحد منهم النحاس والطبري وغيرهما . قال سعيد بن جبير : أري إبراهيم ذبح إسحاق في المنام ، فسار به مسيرة شهر في غداة واحدة ، حتى أتى به المنحر من منى ، فلما صرف الله عنه الذبح وأمره أن يذبح الكبش فذبحه ، وسار به مسيرة شهر في روحة واحدة طويت له الأودية والجبال . وهذا القول أقوى في النقل عن النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وعن الصحابة والتابعين . وقال آخرون : هو إسماعيل . وممن قال ذلك أبو هريرة وأبو الطفيل عامر بن واثلة . وروي ذلك عن ابن عمر وابن عباس أيضا ، ومن التابعين سعيد بن المسيب والشعبي ويوسف بن مهران ومجاهد والربيع بن أنس ومحمد بن كعب القرظي والكلبي وعلقمة . وسئل أبو سعيد الضرير عن الذبيح فأنشد :إن الذبيح هديت إسماعيل نطق الكتاب بذاك والتنزيل شرف به خص الإله نبيناوأتى به التفسير والتأويل إن كنت أمته فلا تنكر لهشرفا به قد خصه التفضيلوعن الأصمعي قال : سألت أبا عمرو بن العلاء عن الذبيح ، فقال : يا أصمعي أين عزب [ ص: 92 ] عنك عقلك! ومتى كان إسحاق بمكة ؟ وإنما كان إسماعيل بمكة ، وهو الذي بنى البيت مع أبيه والمنحر بمكة . وروي عن النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : أن الذبيح إسماعيل . والأول أكثر عن النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وعن أصحابه وعن التابعين . واحتجوا بأن الله - عز وجل - قد أخبر عن إبراهيم حين فارق قومه ، فهاجر إلى الشام مع امرأته سارة وابن أخيه لوط فقال : إني ذاهب إلى ربي سيهدين أنه دعا فقال : رب هب لي من الصالحين فقال تعالى : فلما اعتزلهم وما يعبدون من دون الله وهبنا له إسحاق ويعقوب ولأن الله قال : وفديناه بذبح عظيم فذكر أن الفداء في الغلام الحليم الذي بشر به إبراهيم وإنما بشر بإسحاق ; لأنه قال : وبشرناه بإسحاق ، وقال هنا : بغلام حليم ، وذلك قبل أن يتزوج هاجر وقبل أن يولد له إسماعيل ، وليس في القرآن أنه بشر بولد إلا إسحاق . احتج من قال إنه إسماعيل : بأن الله تعالى وصفه بالصبر دون إسحاق في قوله تعالى : وإسماعيل وإدريس وذا الكفل كل من الصابرين وهو صبره على الذبح ، ووصفه بصدق الوعد في قوله : إنه كان صادق الوعد لأنه وعد أباه من نفسه الصبر على الذبح فوفى به ، ولأن الله تعالى قال : وبشرناه بإسحاق نبيا فكيف يأمره بذبحه وقد وعده أن يكون نبيا ، وأيضا فإن الله تعالى قال : فبشرناها بإسحاق ومن وراء إسحاق يعقوب فكيف يؤمر بذبح إسحاق قبل إنجاز الوعد في يعقوب . وأيضا ورد في الأخبار تعليق قرن الكبش في الكعبة ، فدل على أن الذبيح إسماعيل ، ولو كان إسحاق لكان الذبح يقع ببيت المقدس . وهذا الاستدلال كله ليس بقاطع ، أما قولهم : كيف يأمره بذبحه وقد وعده بأنه يكون نبيا ، فإنه يحتمل أن يكون المعنى : وبشرناه بنبوته بعد أن كان من أمره ما كان ، قاله ابن عباس وسيأتي . ولعله أمر بذبح إسحاق بعد أن ولد لإسحاق يعقوب . ويقال : لم يرد في القرآن أن يعقوب يولد من إسحاق .وأما قولهم : ولو كان الذبيح إسحاق لكان الذبح يقع ببيت المقدس ، فالجواب عنه ما قاله سعيد بن جبير على ما تقدم . وقال الزجاج : الله أعلم أيهما الذبيح . وهذا مذهب ثالث .قوله تعالى : قال يا بني إني أرى في المنام أني أذبحك فانظر ماذا ترى قال مقاتل : رأى ذلك إبراهيم - عليه السلام - ثلاث ليال متتابعات . وقال محمد بن كعب : كانت الرسل يأتيهم الوحي من الله تعالى أيقاظا ورقودا ، فإن الأنبياء لا تنام قلوبهم . وهذا ثابت في [ ص: 93 ] الخبر المرفوع ، قال - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : إنا معاشر الأنبياء تنام أعيننا ولا تنام قلوبنا . وقال ابن عباس : رؤيا الأنبياء وحي ، واستدل بهذه الآية . وقال السدي : لما بشر إبراهيم بإسحاق قبل أن يولد له قال : هو إذن لله ذبيح ، فقيل له في منامه : قد نذرت نذرا فف بنذرك . ويقال : إن إبراهيم رأى في ليلة التروية كأن قائلا يقول : إن الله يأمرك بذبح ابنك ؛ فلما أصبح روى في نفسه أي فكر ، أهذا الحلم من الله أم من الشيطان ؟ فسمي يوم التروية . فلما كانت الليلة الثانية رأى ذلك أيضا وقيل له : الوعد ، فلما أصبح عرف أن ذلك من الله فسمي يوم عرفة . ثم رأى مثله في الليلة الثالثة فهم بنحره فسمي يوم النحر ، وروي أنه لما ذبحه قال جبريل : الله أكبر الله أكبر . فقال الذبيح : لا إله إلا الله والله أكبر . فقال إبراهيم : الله أكبر ، والحمد لله ، فبقي سنة ، وقد اختلف الناس في وقوع هذا الأمر وهي : الثالثة : فقال أهل السنة : إن نفس الذبح لم يقع ، وإنما وقع الأمر بالذبح قبل أن يقع الذبح ، ولو وقع لم يتصور رفعه ، فكان هذا من باب النسخ قبل الفعل ؛ لأنه لو حصل الفراغ من امتثال الأمر بالذبح ما تحقق الفداء ، وقوله تعالى : " قد صدقت الرؤيا " ، أي حققت ما نبهناك عليه ، وفعلت ما أمكنك ثم امتنعت لما منعناك . هذا أصح ما قيل به في هذا الباب . وقالت طائفة : ليس هذا مما ينسخ بوجه ؛ لأن معنى ذبحت الشيء قطعته . واستدل على هذا بقول مجاهد : قال إسحاق لإبراهيم : لا تنظر إلي فترحمني ، ولكن اجعل وجهي إلى الأرض ، فأخذ إبراهيم السكين ، فأمرها على حلقه فانقلبت . فقال له : ما لك ؟ قال : انقلبت السكين ، قال : اطعني بها طعنا ، وقال بعضهم : كان كلما قطع جزءا التأم . وقالت طائفة : وجد حلقه نحاسا أو مغشى بنحاس ، وكان كلما أراد قطعا وجد منعا ، وهذا كله جائز في القدرة الإلهية ، لكنه يفتقر إلى نقل صحيح ، فإنه أمر لا يدرك بالنظر ، وإنما طريقه الخبر . ولو كان قد جرى ذلك لبينه الله تعالى تعظيما لرتبة إسماعيل وإبراهيم صلوات الله عليهما ، وكان أولى بالبيان من الفداء ، وقال بعضهم : إن إبراهيم ما أمر بالذبح الحقيقي الذي هو فري الأوداج وإنهار الدم ، وإنما رأى أنه أضجعه للذبح فتوهم أنه أمر بالذبح الحقيقي ، فلما أتى بما أمر به من الإضجاع قيل له : " قد صدقت الرؤيا " ، وهذا كله خارج عن المفهوم ، ولا يظن بالخليل والذبيح أن يفهما من هذا الأمر ما ليس له حقيقة حتى يكون منهما التوهم . وأيضا لو صحت هذه الأشياء لما احتيج إلى الفداء . الرابعة : قوله تعالى : " فانظر ماذا ترى " قرأ أهل الكوفة غير عاصم : {ماذا تري} بضم التاء وكسر الراء من أري يري . قال الفراء : أي فانظر ماذا تري من صبرك وجزعك . قال الزجاج : لم يقل هذا أحد غيره ، وإنما قال العلماء ماذا تشير ، أي ما تريك نفسك من الرأي ، وأنكر أبو عبيد {تري} ، وقال : إنما يكون هذا من رؤية العين خاصة ، وكذلك قال أبو حاتم . النحاس : وهذا غلط ، وهذا يكون من رؤية العين وغيرها وهو مشهور ، يقال : أريت فلانا الصواب ، وأريته رشده ، وهذا ليس من رؤية العين . الباقون : {ترى} مضارع رأيت ، وقد روي عن الضحاك والأعمش {ترى} غير مسمى الفاعل . ولم يقل له ذلك على وجه المؤامرة في أمر الله ، وإنما شاوره ليعلم صبره لأمر الله ، أو لتقر عينه إذا رأى من ابنه طاعة في أمر الله ف{قال يا أبت افعل ما تؤمر} أي ما تؤمر به فحذف الجار كما حذف من قوله : أمرتك الخير فافعل ما أمرت به فوصل الفعل إلى الضمير فصار تؤمره ، ثم حذفت الهاء ؛ كقوله : {وسلام على عباده الذين اصطفى} أي اصطفاهم على ما تقدم . و ( ما ) بمعنى الذي {ستجدني إن شاء الله من الصابرين} قال بعض أهل الإشارة : لما استثنى وفقه الله للصبر . وقد مضى الكلام في {يا أبت} وكذلك في {يا بني} في ( يوسف ) وغيرها .
In the days of Abraham, polytheism was so dominant that its continuity in history had been long established. Now, any child born into this situation was influenced by the surrounding atmosphere and was so immersed in polytheism that no effort even at the level of the Prophet was successful in weaning him away from it. When Abraham left Iraq, after a long missionary struggle, there were only two believers with him—one his wife Sarah and the other his nephew, Lot. People did not adhere to the concept of the oneness of God, despite the utmost struggle on the part of Prophet Abaraham. So, Almighty God planned that a new race be brought into existence which should be nurtured far away from the atmosphere of polytheism. For this purpose, the area of Hijaz was selected. This area, being dry and without any vegetation, was desolate and uninhabited. The plan was that a devotee should be settled in this area where he would become the progenitor of a pure race. Hijaz (Mecca and Medina) was a waterless desert and to settle anyone in such arid surroundings amounted to sacrificing him alive. God ordered Abraham to offer his son Ishmael as a sacrifice, and in all obedience, Abraham submitted to God’s will. Abraham’s second son was Isaac. Prophethood continued in his line of descent until the advent of the last prophet who belonged to the Children of Ishmael (the younger brother of Isaac). The Prophet Muhammad brought about a revolution, which destroyed polytheism as a dominant school of thought.
In verse 102, it was said: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ (Thereafter, when he reached an age in which he could work with him, he said, "0 my little son, I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you, so consider, what do you think?" ). From some narrations, it appears that this dream was shown to Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) for three consecutive days (Qurtubi). Then, it already stands settled that the dream of blessed prophets is a revelation (wahy). Therefore, this dream meant that Allah Ta'ala was asking Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) to slaughter his firstborn son. For that matter, this command could have been revealed directly through an angel. But, the wisdom behind communicating it through a dream was to unravel the obedience of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) at its most sublime form. A command given through a dream could have a lot of room for interpretations and excuses by the human self. But, this was Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) . He did not take to the way of excuses. On the contrary, he simply bowed down (sans interpretations, sans hesitations) before the command of his Lord. (Tafsir Kabir)
In addition to that, the purpose of the great Creator here was neither to have Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) be slaughtered actually, nor was it to make it binding upon Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) that he slaughters him ultimately, instead, the purpose was to give the command that he should, on his part, do everything necessary to slaughter him and take all steps leading to his slaughter. Now, had this command been given to him verbally, it would disclose that the actual slaughter is not intended, and the element of test would have remained missing. Therefore, he was shown in a dream that he was slaughtering his son. From this Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) understood that what he was been commanded with is slaughter - and he was all set for it literally and comprehensively. Thus, the element of trial went the full circle, and the dream also came true. So, as said earlier, if this thing were to come through a verbal command, either there would have been no test, or the command would have to be abrogated afterwards.
How hard this test was! It is to allude to this aspect that Allah Ta’ ala has placed additional words in the statement here: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ. (Thereafter, when he reached an age in which he could work with him, - 102). In other words, it could be said that he was commanded to sacrifice his son he had so wistfully prayed for at a time when this son was old enough to walk by the side of his father, and the days when he could become the right arm of his father were not far. Commentators say that the age of Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) was thirteen years at that time. Some others say that he had crossed the age of puberty. (Tafsir Mazhari)
In the next sentence of verse 102, it was said: فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ (So consider, what do you think?) When Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) posed this question before Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) he really had no hesitation about carrying out the Divine command. In fact, he wanted to accomplish two things by doing so. Firstly, he wanted to test his son as to the extent to which he was ready to face this trial. Secondly, the noble prophets P--11 always have a way of their own - they are prepared to carry out Divine commands at all times. But, they always opt for methods that are suitable in such obedience, methods that are based on wisdom and all possible convenience. Had Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) started laying down his son in readiness for slaughter without having said anything to him or having heard anything from him in advance, it would have caused difficulties for both of them. Now, this thing that he said to him was in the spirit and manner of a tender consultation with his son. What he intended thereby was to let his son become aware of the command of Allah in advance, so that he is all prepared to endure the pain of being slaughtered well before the zero hour comes. Moreover, even if there emerged some hesitation in the heart of his son, there will still be the time to make him understand the situation. (Ruh- Ma’ ani and Bayan-ul-Qur’ an)
But, that son was no less than the son of the Friend of Allah, and the one who himself was bound to rise to the office and station of a prophet. In his answer, he said: قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ (0 my dear father, do what you have been ordered to do - 102). Not only that this statement provides an evidence of the unique passion of Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) to surrender his life in the way of Allah, it also shows the kind of intelligence and knowledge Allah Ta’ ala had blessed him with at such a tender age. It should be borne in mind that Sayyidna Ibrahim ill had not referred to any command from Allah before him, in fact, had mentioned a dream only. But, Sayyidna Ismail ill got the point. He understood that the dream of a prophet is a revelation (wahy) - and this dream too was, in reality, a form of Divine command as such. Hence, in his response, rather than mention the dream, he referred to the Divine order.
The proof of 'revelation not recited' (وَحِی غیر متلوّ ): wahy ghayr matluww)
Right from here comes a clear refutation of those who deny the authority of Hadith and who do not accept the existence of any revelation that is not recited. They say that wahy or revelation is only that which has been revealed in the Scripture, the Book of Allah - other than that, no other form or kind of revelation exists. You have already noticed that the command to sacrifice his son was given to Sayyidna Ibrahim ill through a dream, and Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) had declared it to be the command of Allah in very clear words. Now, if 'the revelation not recited' (wahy ghayr matluww) is nothing, then where did this command come from and in which Scriptures was it revealed?
After that, Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) also gave an assurance to his great father from his own side by saying: سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ (you will find me, insha۔ Allah, [ if Allah wills ] one of those who endure patiently."- 102). Just look at the extreme etiquette and modesty demonstrated by Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) in this brief statement of his. First of all, by saying "insha'Allah" (if Allah wills), he entrusted the matter with Allah Ta’ ala, and thus he eliminated any flair of having made a boastful claim through this promise. Then, he could have also said: 'You will, insha'Allah, find me enduring.' But, he did not say that. What he actually said was: "You will find me one of those who endure patiently." ). Thereby he released the hint that all this endurance and patience is no feat of his all alone, rather, there have been many more of those who have been enduring and patient - insha'Allah, he too will hope to become one of them. Thus, through this statement, he eliminated the possibility of any traces of pride, arrogance, egotism and conceit, rather replaced it with the finest in manners and modesty. (Ruh ul-Ma’ ani) From here we learn the lesson that no matter how much confidence one has in one's own self, he should never make tall claims that smack of pride and bragging. If there is a compulsive need to have to say something of this nature, due attention should be paid to the choice of words that are being said. The best course is to shift the focus from one's own person and say what shows trust in Allah. In manners and attitudes too, one should try not to cut loose from the norms of modesty to the best of one's ability.
(And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him) when his son was old enough to strive for Allah and obey Him; it is also said that this means: when his son was old enough to walk with him in the mountains, ((Abraham) said) to his son Ishmael; and it is also said: to his son Isaac: (O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee) I am commanded in a dream vision to sacrifice you. (So look, what thinkest thou) what do you say? (He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded) of sacrificing me. (Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast) in the face of this sacrifice.
Ibrahim's Emigration, the Test of the Sacrifice of Isma`il, and how Allah blessed Him
Allah tells us that after He helped His close friend Ibrahim, peace be upon him, against his people, and after Ibrahim gave up hoping that they would ever believe despite all the mighty signs that they had witnessed, he emigrated away from them, and said:
وَقَالَ إِنِّى ذَاهِبٌ إِلَى رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ - رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِنَ الصَّـلِحِينِ
(Verily, I am going to my Lord. He will guide me! My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous.) meaning, obedient children, in compensation for his people and relatives whom he had left. Allah said:
فَبَشَّرْنَـهُ بِغُلَـمٍ حَلِيمٍ
(So We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy.) This child was Isma`il, peace be upon him, for he was the first child of whom glad tidings were given to Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and he was older than Ishaq. The Muslims and the People of the Book agree, and indeed it is stated in their Book, that Isma`il, peace be upon him, was born when Ibrahim, peace be upon him, was eighty-six years old, and Ishaq was born when Ibrahim was ninety-nine years old. According to their Book, Allah commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his only son, and in another text it says his firstborn son. But here they falsely inserted the name of Ishaq. This is not right because it goes against what their own Scripture says. They inserted the name of Ishaq because he is their ancestor, while Isma`il is the ancestor of the Arabs. They were jealous of them, so they added this idea and changed the meaning of the phrase "only son" to mean `the only son who is with you,' because Isma`il had been taken with his mother to Makkah. But this is a case of falsification and distortion, because the words "only son" cannot be said except in the case of one who has no other son. Furthermore, the firstborn son has a special status that is not shared by subsequent children, so the command to sacrifice him is a more exquisite test.
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْىَ
(And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him,) means, when he grew up and started to go with his father and walk with him, for Ibrahim used to go every so often to check on his son and his mother in the land of Faran (i.e., Makkah), to see how they were doing. It was said that he used to ride on Al-Buraq, traveling there swiftly, and Allah knows best. It was reported from Ibn `Abbas, peace be upon him, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ata' Al-Khurasani, Zayd bin Aslam and others that
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْىَ
(And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him,) means, when he became a young man and was able to work as his father did.
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْىَ قَالَ يبُنَىَّ إِنِّى أَرَى فِى الْمَنَامِ أَنِّى أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى
(And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you. So look what you think!") `Ubayd bin `Umayr said, "The dreams of the Prophets are revelation," then he recited this Ayah:
قَالَ يبُنَىَّ إِنِّى أَرَى فِى الْمَنَامِ أَنِّى أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى
(he said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you. So look what you think!"). He told his son that in order to make it easier for him, and also to test his patience and resolve, at a young age, in obeying Allah and obeying his father.
قَالَ يأَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤمَرُ
(He said: "O my father! Do that which you are commanded...") meaning, `obey the command of Allah and sacrifice me.'
سَتَجِدُنِى إِن شَآءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّـبِرِينَ
(if Allah wills, you shall find me of the patient.) meaning, `I will be patient and will seek the reward for that with Allah.' He, may peace and blessings be upon him, believed in what had been promised. Allah said:
وَاذْكُرْ فِى الْكِتَـبِ إِسْمَـعِيلَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَـدِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولاً نَّبِيّاً - وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُ بِالصَّـلَوةِ وَالزَّكَـوةِ وَكَانَ عِندَ رَبِّهِ مَرْضِيّاً
(And mention in the Book Isma`il. Verily, he was true to what he promised, and he was a Messenger, (and) a Prophet. And he used to enjoin on his family the Salah and the Zakah, and his Lord was pleased with him.) (19:54-55).
فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ
(Then, when they had both submitted themselves, and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead;) means, when both of them had pronounced the Shahadah and remembered Allah -- Ibrahim because he was about to offer a sacrifice and Isma`il because he was about to die. Or it was said that "submitted themselves" means that they submitted and followed the command of Allah; Ibrahim obeyed the command of Allah and Isma`il obeyed Allah and his father. This was the view of Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Ibn Ishaq, and others. lThe meaning of the phrase "and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead" is: he placed him facedown so that he could slaughter him from behind, and not have to see his face at the time of slaughter, so that it would be easier for him. Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ad-Dahhak and Qatadah said:
وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ
(and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead;) means, "He turned him upside down on his face." Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "When the rituals were enjoined upon Ibrahim, peace be upon him, the Shaytan appeared to him at the Mas`a and raced with him, but Ibrahim got there first. Then Jibril, upon him be peace, took him to Jamrat Al-`Aqabah and the Shaytan appeared to him, so he stoned him with seven pebbles until he disappeared. Then he appeared him at Al-Jamrah Al-Wusta and he stoned him with seven pebbles. Then he laid him prostrate on his face. Isma`il, peace be upon him, was wearing a white shirt, and he said, `O my father, I do not have any garment in which I can be shrouded apart from this; take it off me so that you can shroud me in it.' He started to take it off, then he was called from behind:
أَن يإِبْرَهِيمُقَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَآ
(O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream!) Ibrahim turned, and saw a fine, horned, white ram." Ibn `Abbas said, "We used to look for similar types of rams." Hisham mentioned this Hadith at length in Al-Manasik.
وَنَـدَيْنَـهُ أَن يإِبْرَهِيمُ قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَآ
(We called out to him: "O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream!") means, `the purpose of your dream has been fulfilled by your laying down your son to sacrifice him.' As-Suddi and others said that he passed the knife over Isma`il's neck, but it did not cut him at all, because a sheet of copper was placed between them. Ibrahim was called at that point, and it was said:
قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَآ
(You have fulfilled the dream!) Allah says;
إِنَّا كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِى الْمُحْسِنِينَ
(Verily, thus do We reward the doers of good.) means, `this is how We deal with those who obey Us in things that are difficult for them; We make for them a way out.' As Allah says:
فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَشْهِدُواْ ذَوَى عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُواْ الشَّهَـدَةَ لِلَّهِ ذَلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجاً - وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَـلِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْراً
(And whosoever has Taqwa of Allah, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things.) (65:2-3). On the basis of this Ayah and this story, some of the scholars of Usul have stated that it is valid for a ruling to be abrogated before anyone is able to act upon it -- unlike some of the Mu`tazilah. The evidence for this is obvious, because Allah commanded Ibrahim, peace be upon him, to sacrifice his son, then He abrogated that and pointed out the ransom. The purpose of His command had been primarily to reward His close Friend for his patience and resolve in sacrificing his son. Allah says:
إِنَّ هَـذَا لَهُوَ الْبَلاَءُ الْمُبِينُ
(Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial.) meaning, it was clearly a test when he was commanded to sacrifice his son, so, he hastened to do it, in submission to the command of Allah and in obedience to Him. Allah said:
وَإِبْرَهِيمَ الَّذِى وَفَّى
(And of Ibrahim who fulfilled all that.) (53:37), and
وَفَدَيْنَـهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ
(And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice). It was reported that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "A ram which had grazed in Paradise for forty years." Imam Ahmad recorded that Safiyyah bint Shaybah said, "A woman from Bani Sulaym, who was the midwife of most of the people in our household, told me that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent for `Uthman bin Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him." On one occasion she said, "I asked `Uthman, `Why did the Prophet call you' He said, `The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me,
«إِنِّي كُنْتُ رَأَيْتُ قَرْنَيِ الْكَبْشِ حِينَ دَخَلْتُ الْبَيْتَ فَنَسِيتُ أَنْ آمُرَكَ أَنْ تُخَمِّرَهُمَا فَخَمِّرْهُمَا، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي الْبَيْتِ شَيْءٌ يَشْغَلُ الْمُصَلِّي»
(I saw the horns of the ram when I entered the House i.e., the Ka`bah, and I forgot to tell you to cover them up; cover them up, for there should not be anything in the House which could distract the worshipper.)"' Sufyan said, "The horns of the ram remained hanging in the House until it was burned, and they were burned too." This offers independent evidence that the one who was to be sacrificed was Isma`il, peace be upon him. The Quraysh had inherited the horns of the ram that Ibrahim sacrificed, and they had been passed down from generation to generation, until the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sent. And Allah knows best.
Reports which state that the One Who was to be sacrificed was Isma`il, and that this is Correct with
Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Amir Ash-Sha`bi, Yusuf bin Mihran, Mujahid, `Ata' and others reported from Ibn `Abbas that it was Isma`il, peace be upon him. Ibn Jarir narrated that Ibn `Abbas said, "The one who was ransomed was Isma`il, peace be upon him. The Jews claimed that it was Ishaq, but the Jews lied." It was reported that Ibn `Umar said, "The sacrifice was Isma`il." Ibn Abi Najih said, narrating from Mujahid, "It was Isma`il, peace be upon him." This was also the view of Yusuf bin Mihran. Ash-Sha`bi said, "It was Isma`il, peace be upon him, and I saw the horns of the ram in the Ka`bah." Muhammad bin Ishaq reported from Al-Hasan bin Dinar and `Amr bin `Ubayd from Al-Hasan Al-Basri that he did not doubt that the one of the two sons Ibrahim was commanded to sacrifice was Isma`il, peace be upon him. Ibn Ishaq said, "I heard Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi say, `The one whom Allah commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice of his two sons was Isma`il.' We find this in the Book of Allah, because when Allah finishes the story of the one of the two sons of Ibrahim who was to be sacrificed, He then says:
وَبَشَّرْنَـهُ بِإِسْحَـقَ نَبِيّاً مِّنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ
(And We gave him the glad tidings of Ishaq -- a Prophet from the righteous), and
فَبَشَّرْنَـهَا بِإِسْحَـقَ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسْحَـقَ يَعْقُوبَ
(So, We gave her glad tidings of Ishaq and after Ishaq, of Ya`qub) (11:71). He mentions the son and the son of the son, but He would not have commanded him to sacrifice Ishaq when He had promised that this son would in turn have a son. The one whom He commanded him to sacrifice can only have been Isma`il." Ibn Ishaq said, "I heard him say that often." Ibn Ishaq reported from Buraydah bin Sufyan bin Farwah Al-Aslami that Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi told them that he mentioned that to `Umar bin `Abd Al-`Aziz, may Allah be pleased with him, when he was Khalifah, while he was with him in Syria. `Umar said to him, "This is something about which I have never given any thought, but I see that it is as you say." Then he sent for a man who was with him in Syria, a Jew who had become a Muslim and was committed to Islam, and he thought that he had been one of their scholars. `Umar bin `Abd Al-`Aziz, may Allah be pleased with him, asked him about that. Muhammad bin Ka`b said, "I was with `Umar bin `Abd Al-`Aziz. `Umar said to him, `Which of the two sons of Ibrahim was he commanded to sacrifice' He said, `Isma`il. By Allah, O Commander of the faithful, the Jews know this, but they were jealous of you Arabs because it was your father about whom Allah issued this command and the virtue that Allah mentioned was because of his patience in obeying the command. So they denied that and claimed that it was Ishaq, because he is their father."' `Abdullah bin Al-Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, said, "I asked my father about which son was to be sacrificed -- was it Isma`il or Ishaq" He said, "Isma`il." This was mentioned in Kitab Az-Zuhd. Ibn Abi Hatim said, "I heard my father say, `The correct view is that the one who was to be sacrificed was Isma`il, peace be upon him."' He said, "And it was narrated that `Ali, Ibn `Umar, Abu Hurayrah, Abu At-Tufayl, Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Al-Hasan, Mujahid, Ash-Sha`bi, Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi, Abu Ja`far Muhammad bin `Ali and Abu Salih, may Allah be pleased with them all, said that the one who was to be sacrificed was Isma`il." Al-Baghawi said in his Tafsir, "This was the view of `Abdullah bin `Umar, Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib, As-Suddi, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Mujahid, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi and Al-Kalbi." This was also reported from Ibn `Abbas and from Abu `Amr bin Al-`Ala'.
وَبَشَّرْنَـهُ بِإِسْحَـقَ نَبِيّاً مِّنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ
(And We gave him the glad tidings of Ishaq -- a Prophet from the righteous.) having given the glad tidings of the one who was to be sacrificed, who was Isma`il, Allah immediately follows that with mention of the glad tidings of his brother Ishaq. This is also mentioned in Surah Hud (11:71) and in Surat Al-Hijr (15:53-55).
نَبِيّاً
(a Prophet) means, from him there will come a righteous Prophet.
وَبَـرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى إِسْحَـقَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا مُحْسِنٌ وَظَـلِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ مُبِينٌ
(We blessed him and Ishaq. And of their progeny are (some) that do right, and some that plainly wrong themselves.) This is like the Ayah:
قِيلَ ينُوحُ اهْبِطْ بِسَلَـمٍ مِّنَّا وَبَركَـتٍ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى أُمَمٍ مِّمَّن مَّعَكَ وَأُمَمٌ سَنُمَتِّعُهُمْ ثُمَّ يَمَسُّهُمْ مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
(It was said: "O Nuh! Come down (from the ship) with peace from Us and blessings on you and on the people who are with you, but people to whom We shall grant their pleasures (for a time), but in the end a painful torment will reach them from Us.") (11:48)
In verse 102, it was said: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ (Thereafter, when he reached an age in which he could work with him, he said, "0 my little son, I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you, so consider, what do you think?" ). From some narrations, it appears that this dream was shown to Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) for three consecutive days (Qurtubi). Then, it already stands settled that the dream of blessed prophets is a revelation (wahy). Therefore, this dream meant that Allah Ta'ala was asking Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) to slaughter his firstborn son. For that matter, this command could have been revealed directly through an angel. But, the wisdom behind communicating it through a dream was to unravel the obedience of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) at its most sublime form. A command given through a dream could have a lot of room for interpretations and excuses by the human self. But, this was Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) . He did not take to the way of excuses. On the contrary, he simply bowed down (sans interpretations, sans hesitations) before the command of his Lord. (Tafsir Kabir)
In addition to that, the purpose of the great Creator here was neither to have Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) be slaughtered actually, nor was it to make it binding upon Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) that he slaughters him ultimately, instead, the purpose was to give the command that he should, on his part, do everything necessary to slaughter him and take all steps leading to his slaughter. Now, had this command been given to him verbally, it would disclose that the actual slaughter is not intended, and the element of test would have remained missing. Therefore, he was shown in a dream that he was slaughtering his son. From this Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) understood that what he was been commanded with is slaughter - and he was all set for it literally and comprehensively. Thus, the element of trial went the full circle, and the dream also came true. So, as said earlier, if this thing were to come through a verbal command, either there would have been no test, or the command would have to be abrogated afterwards.
How hard this test was! It is to allude to this aspect that Allah Ta’ ala has placed additional words in the statement here: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ. (Thereafter, when he reached an age in which he could work with him, - 102). In other words, it could be said that he was commanded to sacrifice his son he had so wistfully prayed for at a time when this son was old enough to walk by the side of his father, and the days when he could become the right arm of his father were not far. Commentators say that the age of Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) was thirteen years at that time. Some others say that he had crossed the age of puberty. (Tafsir Mazhari)
In the next sentence of verse 102, it was said: فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ (So consider, what do you think?) When Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) posed this question before Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) he really had no hesitation about carrying out the Divine command. In fact, he wanted to accomplish two things by doing so. Firstly, he wanted to test his son as to the extent to which he was ready to face this trial. Secondly, the noble prophets P--11 always have a way of their own - they are prepared to carry out Divine commands at all times. But, they always opt for methods that are suitable in such obedience, methods that are based on wisdom and all possible convenience. Had Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) started laying down his son in readiness for slaughter without having said anything to him or having heard anything from him in advance, it would have caused difficulties for both of them. Now, this thing that he said to him was in the spirit and manner of a tender consultation with his son. What he intended thereby was to let his son become aware of the command of Allah in advance, so that he is all prepared to endure the pain of being slaughtered well before the zero hour comes. Moreover, even if there emerged some hesitation in the heart of his son, there will still be the time to make him understand the situation. (Ruh- Ma’ ani and Bayan-ul-Qur’ an)
But, that son was no less than the son of the Friend of Allah, and the one who himself was bound to rise to the office and station of a prophet. In his answer, he said: قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ (0 my dear father, do what you have been ordered to do - 102). Not only that this statement provides an evidence of the unique passion of Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) to surrender his life in the way of Allah, it also shows the kind of intelligence and knowledge Allah Ta’ ala had blessed him with at such a tender age. It should be borne in mind that Sayyidna Ibrahim ill had not referred to any command from Allah before him, in fact, had mentioned a dream only. But, Sayyidna Ismail ill got the point. He understood that the dream of a prophet is a revelation (wahy) - and this dream too was, in reality, a form of Divine command as such. Hence, in his response, rather than mention the dream, he referred to the Divine order.
The proof of 'revelation not recited' (وَحِی غیر متلوّ ): wahy ghayr matluww)
Right from here comes a clear refutation of those who deny the authority of Hadith and who do not accept the existence of any revelation that is not recited. They say that wahy or revelation is only that which has been revealed in the Scripture, the Book of Allah - other than that, no other form or kind of revelation exists. You have already noticed that the command to sacrifice his son was given to Sayyidna Ibrahim ill through a dream, and Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) had declared it to be the command of Allah in very clear words. Now, if 'the revelation not recited' (wahy ghayr matluww) is nothing, then where did this command come from and in which Scriptures was it revealed?
After that, Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) also gave an assurance to his great father from his own side by saying: سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ (you will find me, insha۔ Allah, [ if Allah wills ] one of those who endure patiently."- 102). Just look at the extreme etiquette and modesty demonstrated by Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) in this brief statement of his. First of all, by saying "insha'Allah" (if Allah wills), he entrusted the matter with Allah Ta’ ala, and thus he eliminated any flair of having made a boastful claim through this promise. Then, he could have also said: 'You will, insha'Allah, find me enduring.' But, he did not say that. What he actually said was: "You will find me one of those who endure patiently." ). Thereby he released the hint that all this endurance and patience is no feat of his all alone, rather, there have been many more of those who have been enduring and patient - insha'Allah, he too will hope to become one of them. Thus, through this statement, he eliminated the possibility of any traces of pride, arrogance, egotism and conceit, rather replaced it with the finest in manners and modesty. (Ruh ul-Ma’ ani) From here we learn the lesson that no matter how much confidence one has in one's own self, he should never make tall claims that smack of pride and bragging. If there is a compulsive need to have to say something of this nature, due attention should be paid to the choice of words that are being said. The best course is to shift the focus from one's own person and say what shows trust in Allah. In manners and attitudes too, one should try not to cut loose from the norms of modesty to the best of one's ability.