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Bible, Abraham was commanded to Qur'an, 15:53). This indicates that
sacrifice his firstborn son, so naturally, Ishmael and the ‘forbearing boy’ are
the son to be sacrificed was Ishmael. the same person, and Ishmael showed
However, the Bible, inconsistently, patience when he was about to be
identifies Isaac as Abraham’s only son sacrificed. Additionally, the Holy
and the one to be sacrificed. After Qur’an describes Ishmael as ‘truthful
reporting the good news of the ‘forbearing in his promise’ (Ibid; The Qur'an
boy’ and the story of his intended 19:54).
sacrifice, the Holy Qur’an also reports the This is interpreted to mean that he
good news of the birth of Isaac (Qarai, fulfilled his promise to his father to be
2004; The Qur'an, 37: 101-107, 112). patient during his sacrifice. Besides, the
Therefore, Isaac cannot be the good news of Isaac’s birth was given to
‘forbearing boy’ because if he were, Ibraham along with the good news of the
the good news about him would be birth of a son named Jacob (Ibid; The
redundant. Reflection on the verses Qur’an 11:71). Moreover, if there had
shows that the good news about the been a divine command to sacrifice Isaac,
‘forbearing boy’ is different from the there would have been no possibility of
good news about Isaac. Some have Jacob’s birth and the fulfillment of God’s
responded to this reasoning by saying promise regarding him.
that the good news about Isaac pertains Hence, Isaac had to remain alive for
to his prophecy, not his birth and that Jacob to be born. In summary, this
since he successfully passed the test of suggests that when the Holy Qur’an
being sacrificed, God gave him the announces the birth of Isaac, it also
good news of prophethood. promises that Isaac will have a son,
However, this interpretation Jacob. However, when the glad tidings
contradicts the apparent meaning of the are given about Ishmael’s birth, the
verse. The characteristics of the promise is limited to the birth of a
‘forbearing boy’ and Ishmael are forbearing lad (Ibid; The Qur’an
consistent with each other. The Holy 37:101), without mention of his
Qur’an describes the boy who will be born descendants. Therefore, when Abraham
to him as ‘forbearing’ (Qarai, 2004; The is commanded to sacrifice his son, he is
Qur'an, 37: 101-102), and also describes unaware of whether this son will
Ishmael as forbearing in Qur’an 21:85. survive the ordeal or not. On the other
Conversely, Isaac is not described as hand, if Isaac were the son chosen for
‘forbearing’ anywhere in the Holy the sacrifice, Abraham would already
Qur’an; instead, he is explicitly know from God’s promise that Isaac
described as knowledgeable (Ibid; The would have a son, Jacob.
