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Analysing Abraham’s Sacrifice in Genesis 22… A. M. Jacob (13
the identity of the authors and those who commentators, and some Sunni
collected them or who edited them, how commentators have identified Ishmael
can we be so sure about the authenticity as the one to be sacrificed, while other
of these books? Ultimately, whether the early commentators and most Sunnis,
author of the book of Genesis was Moses, following the Bible, have identified
in entirety or part or its author is Isaac as the one to be sacrificed.
completely unknown, it is true that the Both groups have presented evidence
book of Genesis has undergone many from the Qur’an and hadith to support
redactions, omissions, and changes at the their views. However, the evidence that
hands of unknown authors, scribes and Ishmael was the one to be sacrificed, is
Rabbis over centuries. Thus, there is a more abundant and stronger. When
high probability that Genesis 22:1-19 too Abraham, after being saved from the fire
has changed and the name of Isaac was of Nimrod, left his people and migrated
deliberately inserted due to the prejudice from Babil, he prayed to God to grant
against Ishmael and his progeny. him a righteous child (Qarai, 2004; The
Former British MP and author, Qur'an, 37: 100).
Charles Bradlaugh asserts that there are This request indicates that at that
many inconsistencies, contradictions, time, Abraham had no children,
and factual discrepancies in the book of because the phrase ‘from among – min’
Genesis which renders it unreliable and indicates a portion, meaning at least one
doubtful (Bradlaugh, 1882, p. 5). He child. After this prayer, he was given
further quotes the Jewish scholar Spinoza the good news of a ‘forbearing boy’
who – against the widely held belief - (Ibid; The Qur'an, 37: 101). Therefore,
outrightly rejects the possibility of Moses the ‘forbearing boy’ mentioned by the
playing any role in the authorship of the Holy Qur’an, who was to be sacrificed,
first five books of the Old Testament and was Abraham’s firstborn son.
also casts serious doubts about the The Bible and all Muslims believe
identity of its authors and the authenticity that Ishmael was born before Isaac and
of its claims (Ibid, p.2). was Abraham’s first son. The Holy
Who Was The Sacrifice According Qur’an also reports the good news of
to The Qur’an: Ishmael or Isaac? Ishmael’s birth before the good news of
The Holy Qur’an does not explicitly Isaac’s birth. According to the Bible,
mention which of Abraham’s since Sarah, Isaac’s mother, could not
(Ibrahim) two sons was to be bear children, she gave her maid,
sacrificed, leading to differing Hagar, to Abraham in marriage. After
opinions among commentators. Some the birth of Ishmael, she expelled him
early commentators, all Shia and his mother. Also, according to the
