15. THE STORY OF ISMAIL A.S.

Prophet Ibrahim a.s. had two sons who became messengers.  His first son was Ismail a.s. (Ishmael) from his second wife Hajar.  His second son was Ishaq a.s. (Isaac) who came later on from his first wife.  By the time Ibrahim a.s. and Sarah were blessed with the arrival of Ishaq a.s., he was already 100 years old while she was 90.  This episode in their life occurred after Ibrahim a.s. had sent Hajar and Ismail a,s, to Mecca.  It was also after Allah s.w.t. had commanded Ibrahim a.s. to sacrifice Ismail a.s.  Ishaq a.s. was born a noble man destined to become a Prophet and a Messenger.  Little is mentioned about Ishaq a.s. in Al-Quran.

After Ismail’s a.s. mother died, Ibrahim a.s. came to see his family, but he did not find Ismail a.s. there.  When he asked Ismail’s a.s. wife, she replied that he has gone in search of their livelihood.  He then asked about their way of living and their condition.  She replied that they are living in misery, hardship and destitution.  Ibrahim a.s. then leave a message to Ismail a.s. when he returns asking her to convey his salutation and tell him to change the threshold of the gate.

When Ismail a.s. came home he asked his wife if anyone had visited her.  She told him about the old man’s visit and that the old man asked about him and their state of living.  She also told him that the old man give his salutation to Ismail a.s. and asked him to change the threshold of their gate.  Ismail a.s. answered by telling her that the old man was his father and has ordered him to divorce his wife.  So Ismail a.s. divorced his wife and married another woman from among the Jurhum tribe.

Ibrahim a.s. called on them again but did not find Ismail a.s.  So he came to Ismail’s new wife and asked her about Ismail a.s.  She told him that he has gone in search of their livelihood.  When asked about their live, she said that they are prosperous and well-off.  Ibrahim a.s then asked her to give Ismail a.s. his salutation and to keep firm the threshold of his gate.

When Ismail a.s. came back and asked if anyone had visited.  She replied saying that there was a good-looking old man who came to see her and advise him to keep firm of the threshold of his gate.  Ismail then informed his wife that the good-looking old man is his father and the wife was the threshold and what he meant was for Ismail a.s. to keep his wife.

Ismail a.s. died at the age of 137 and was buried with his mother in Al-Hijr,

STORIES OF THE PROPHETS IN AL-QURAN

(Lessons that we can extract, lessons that we can apply)

(Teaser extraction from the book)

 To be continued…

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