The Messengers of God
nabi ismail's story
The Story of Prophet Ismail with Prophet Ibrahim
Abraham was born in the city of Babylon (now Iraq) as three brothers, Nahur, Ibrahim and Haran, the parents were Tarakh (Azar) and Umailah1 or Buna bint Karbana bint Karli from Bani Arfahshadz bin Sam bin Noah2. After a long time, Prophet Ibrahim as married to Siti Sarah and all of them (Tarakh, Prophet Ibrahim as and his wife, Siti Sarah, as well as the cousin of Prophet Ibrahim as, Nabi Luth as) moved to the area of Kan’an and located in the land of Harran, the region of Jerusalem.
All the inhabitants of the region of Harran worshiped the star and they were all in error until finally Prophet Abraham was sent as a prophet and an apostle to them and the person who was first invited to believe in Allah swt was his own father was rejected.3 After that, Prophet Ibrahim as preached in Babylon who worshiped idols but the call of Prophet Abraham as dawah was rejected also until there was a debate that was so fierce that Prophet Ibrahim as sentenced to be burned alive in the blaze the burning as Allah says in the Qur’an.4
Long story short, after a long marriage with Siti Sarah, Prophet Ibrahim as has not had children, he decided to move to Sham. From there, Prophet Abraham continued to travel to Egypt and met with the king who was in power at that time and was given many gifts including one of which was Hajar (as a slave). Not having had a child for a long time, finally Siti Sarah advised Prophet Ibrahim as to remarry and Siti Sarah chose Siti Hajar who at that time was a slave of the family of Prophet Ibrahim as the second wife of Prophet Abraham as and he agreed.
The Birth of Prophet Ismail AS
A few hours, though, Siti Hajar contains and increasingly looks the love of Prophet Ibrahim as to Siti Hajar that makes Siti Sarah jealous so that makes Prophet Ibrahim as feel guilty to Siti Sarah until Prophet Ibrahim as said to Siti Sarah: “I've followed what you want but why is it still mad at me, isn't she (Siti Hajar) your choice?”. After some time, Siti Hajar gave birth to a handsome baby boy named Ismail and increasingly seen the greater love of Prophet Ibrahim as to Siti Hajar and her son5.
Because of the situation of the family of Prophet Ibrahim as increasingly heated up because of the jealousy of Siti Sarah towards Siti Hajar and her son, Siti, finally, Prophet Ibrahim decided to bring his second hijrah to a faraway area which he finally walked to a land without anything and anyone who is now famous as the illegal land (Mecca)6.
The Hijrah of Siti Hajar and Prophet Ismail to Mecca
After that, Prophet Ibrahim as left them both with a potluck until finally both of them ran out of supplies. It makes Siti Hajar have to run from one hill to another7 to look for needs for her and her child, especially drinking water because Ismail is already very thirsty. However, Siti Hajar did not find anything. After looking tired, finally Siti Hajar returned to where Ismail was left and surprised because in the soles of Ismail's feet came out of the water which is now famous with “Air Zamzam”.
Months changed, months changed years until finally, Siti Hajar died at the age of 90 years while Nabi Ismail as had grown up and married the girl from Bani Jurhum, al-Juda’ bint Sa’d. Once Prophet Ibrahim wanted to visit his son, Prophet Ismail as because of longing, for that he asked permission to Siti Sarah and allowed.
After arriving in Mecca, Prophet Abraham searched the house of his son and met the wife of Prophet Ishmael. Then there was a dialogue between the Prophet Abraham and his son-in-law:
Prophet Abraham: Where is your husband?
Prophet Ishmael's wife: He is not there, is going hunting.
Prophet Abraham: Is there anything you can serve for guests?
Prophet Ishmael's wife: None and no one here.
Prophet Ibrahim: If your husband returns, say my regards to him and tell him to change the door of his house.
After the Prophet Ismail as returned home, the message of the father was conveyed and the purpose of the greeting was that Prophet Ismail as told to divorce his wife because it was considered not to have proper manners as a wife.
One day, Prophet Ibrahim wanted to visit his son for the second time in Mecca. Arriving at the house of Prophet Ismail as, Prophet Ibrahim as met his second wife Prophet Ismail as named Samah bint Muhalhil and there was a dialogue between the two.
Prophet Abraham: Where is your husband?
Prophet Ishmael's wife: He is hunting and soon will return, God willing, so come down may Allah have mercy on you.
Prophet Abraham: Do you accept guests?
Prophet Ishmael's Wife: Yes.
Prophet Abraham: Do you have bread, wheat or dates?
Long story short, finally Prophet Ibrahim as saying goodbye and said to the wife of Prophet Ishmael as: If Ishmael returns, tell him: Ibrahim saluted you and told you to keep the door of your house because it is the best door 8.
The Story of Prophet Ismail Settled in Mecca
When Siti Hajar had given birth to a son, he, Prophet Ibrahim as increasingly seen his affection for the two that made Siti Sarah jealous and asked Prophet Ibrahim as to take away Siti Hajar and her son to a distant place. So Prophet Abraham took them both to a no-man's and a barren place now called Mecca.
There, various events and events that accompany both to test their faith and belief in Allah have graced their second lives. From the beginning of the exhaustion of supplies, running Siti Hajar between Shafa–Marwah to find water to drink Ismail until the emergence of a spring that was later named “Zamzam”. After so many lives together in the valley with the help of zamzam water, then one day came a caravan that finally settled in the place with Siti Hajar and her son, and the caravan came from Bani Jurhum.
Prophet Ibrahim's Dream to Slaughter the Prophet Ismail AS
When Ishmael was a teenager, Abraham dreamed of slaughtering Ishmael. He dreamed up to 3 times three times in a row in 3 days. Beginning on the 7th of Dhulhijjah, he dreamed of slaughtering Ishmael for the first time, then it continued to the next day with the same dream and here Prophet Abraham as hesitated whether this was the command of Allah swt or just a dream of satan9. Then the dream continued into the next day and Prophet Abraham as convinced that the dream was a revelation from Allah10 as an order to slaughter Ishmael11.
After believing that the dream was a revelation from Allah, Prophet Abraham as discussed to the family about the dream to get input and consideration. And Ishmael as a righteous son gave a truly remarkable opinion as proof of Ishmael's love for Allah. Ishmael agreed to the command and asked the beloved father for prayers that he might be among the people who are patient. Similarly, Siti Hajar agreed to this.
This is confirmed by Allah in His Word in QS. Shaffat:
وقال إني ذاهب إلى ربي سيهدين * رب هب لي من الصالحين * فبشرناه بغلام حليم * فلما بلغ معه السعي قال يبني إني أرى في المنام إني أذبحك فانظر ماذا ترى قال يأبت افعل ما تؤمر ستجدني إن شاء الله من الصابرين * فلما أسلما وتله للجبين * وناديناه أن يا إبراهيم * قد صدقت الرأيا إنا كذلك نجزي المحسنين * إن هذا لهو البلؤا المبين * وفديناه بذبح عظيم * وتركنا عليه في الآخرين * سلام على إبرهيم * كذلك نجزي المحسنين * إنه من عبادنا المؤمنين *
Meaning:
and Abraham said: “Truly I go before my Lord, and He will guide me.”12O my Lord, grant me (a child) which includes the righteous, and We give him glad tidings with a very patient child.13Then when the boy arrived (at the age of being able) to try to be with Ibrahim, Ibrahim said: “Hi my son I saw in my dream that I slaughtered you. Think about what you think!” he replied: “Hai my father, do what you are told; insha Allah you will find me Including those who are patient.”when both have surrendered themselves and Ibrahim lays his son on his temple (him), (real patience both).and We call him: “Hai Ibrahim”.Verily ye have justified the dream.14 Verily, Thus do We recompense those who do good.This is indeed a clear test, and We redeemed the child with a great slaughter.15We consecrate to Ibrahim it (good praise) among those who came later.(i.e.) “Welfare bestowed upon Ibrahim.”Thus do We recompense those who do good, including Our believing servants.
When these three devout servants were willing to carry out Allah's commandments, Satan and the army began to launch their strategies to tempt and thwart the execution of the commandments. Satan came to the three of them in turn, but the three resisted the temptations and deceits of the devil by throwing stones at him so that he might go and stop tempting them in carrying out God's commandments.16
When Abraham arrived at Mina, he carried out Allah's command to kill his son Ishmael. But suddenly God sent a goat in lieu of Ishmael to be slaughtered. And from here the origin of the order of slaughtering qurban on the day of Eid al-Adlha which is famous as Eid al-Qurban.
Wife and Descendants of Prophet Ishmael
Nabi Ismail as married first to al-Juda’ bint Sa’d, a girl from Bani Jurhum, but eventually separated and then married for the second time to Samah bint Muhalhil, from Bani Jurhum as well.
Prophet Ismail as was appointed as an apostle to his people consisting of the tribe of Bani Jurhum, Kabilah Bani Amaliq and the people of Yemen. He died at the age of 136 and was buried in his room next to the tomb of his beloved mother, Siti Hajar.
And all the land of Hejaz (the land of the Arabs), its inhabitants rested upon the two sons of the Prophet Ishmael as Nabat and Qidzar.17
Wisdom from the Story of the Prophet Ismail
Thus the story of Prophet Ismail AS briefly. From the story above, there are valuable lessons for our lives including:
To be a big man, it takes tremendous struggle and sacrifice.We must believe that God will never waste the efforts of His servants with help that is beyond our ability.We must remember that behind the difficulties will come ease, ease, behind sadness will come happiness and behind misery will come pleasure.In this life, the, all human beings must experience trials and trials and the only way to overcome them all is to surrender everything to Allah with confidence and patience.As wise and wise parents, in deciding matters relating to children's problems, the, must still invite them to discuss in deciding this as pointed out by Prophet Ibrahim as and Prophet Ismail as.Bersabar does not mean despair but must remain endeavored to the fullest extent of our abilities and the fruits of the patience is a great gift and victory in return from Allah to His patient servant.