The name of Abrahamas does not at all require an introduction, for who is unacquainted with Khalīlullāh, the Father of Prophets? He is accepted by the Muslims, Christians and Jews alike. In approximation, his era has been declared to be 2100 to 2200 years before Christ, in other words, Abrahamas lived approximately 2700 to 2800 years prior to the advent of the Holy Prophetsa. Abrahamas was a descendant of Noahas and was a resident of Iraq. However, later on, he travelled through Egypt and ultimately settled in Northern Palestine. He married three times. The name of his first wife was Sarahas, that of his second was Hagaras and the name of his third wife was Keturahas. The particulars of the last of these wives are not known, nor are we concerned with them in this particular instance. However, it would not be irrelevant to mention that she was among the descendants of the nation of Midian. Among his first two wives, Sarahas was a close relative of Abrahamas, but Hagaras was not related to him, and was a native of Egypt. Both of these wives begot children who spread in such multitude, as today, they are found in every corner of the world. Ishmaelas was born of Hagaras and was the eldest son of Abrahamas and Isaacas was born of Sarahas. Both of these children were born under the distinct glad tidings of God and both were promised the accompaniment of extraordinary blessings from God the Almighty.2 Their names were also given by Divine revelation.3 Moreover, in relation to Ishmaelas, Abrahamas and Hagaras had especially prayed for him4, as is apparent from his name, which in fact is a compound of the words Sa-mi-‘a and Īl.5 Therefore, God the Almighty made both of these children the recipients of immense blessings, and as promised, enriched the progeny of both these children with virtually every type of reward in this world. Therefore, the Banū Isrā’īl, among whom such high-ranking prophets were born, such as Mosesas, Davidas, Solomonas and Jesusas, were the descendants of Isaacas. However, presently, we are concerned with the Banū Ismā‘īl who settled in Arabia, from whom the being of the Pride of the First and the Pride of the Last, Muḥammad, the Prophet of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him was born.
1 The Friend of Allāh (Publishers)
2 Genesis (16:1), Genesis (17:20), Genesis (17:16-19)
3 Genesis (16:11) and Genesis (17:19)
4 Aṣ-Ṣāffāt (37:102-112) and Genesis (16:11)
5 Sami‘a meaning ‘he heard’ and Īl meaning ‘God’, i.e., ‘God heard the prayer’. (Publishers)