As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Today’s selection is from Surah 37, As-Sãffãt or Those Ranged in Ranks, verses 99-113. It tells the story of the time when Prophet Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son to God as a test of faith.
Tafseer for this selection compares the Muslim version of this story with the Jewish-Christian version.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.Abraham (Ibrãhïm) said: “I am going to take refuge with my Lord, He will surely guide me.[99] O Lord! Grant me a righteous son.”[100] So We gave him the good news of a gentle son.[101] When he reached the age to work with him, Abraham said to him: “O my son! I have seen a vision that I should offer you as a sacrifice, now tell me what is your view.” He replied: “O my father! Do as you are commanded: you will find me, if Allah so wills, to be of the patient.”[102] And when they both submitted to Allah and Abraham laid down his son prostrate upon his forehead for sacrifice;[103] We called out to him: “O Abraham stop![104] You have fulfilled your vision.” Thus do We reward the righteous.[105] That was indeed a manifest test.[106] We ransomed his son for a great sacrifice[107] and We left his good name among the later generations.[108] Salutation to Abraham.[109] Thus We reward the righteous.[110] Surely he was one of Our believing devotees.[111] We gave him the good news of Isaac (Ishãq) – a prophet – one of the righteous.[112] We blessed him and Isaac both. Among their progeny there are some who are righteous and some who are clearly doing wrong to their own souls.[113] 37:[99-113]
Ameen.
Tafseer
Comparing the Muslim version of this story to the Christian-Jewish tradition:
The Jewish tradition, in order to glorify the younger branch of the family descended from Isaac, ancestor of the Jews, as opposed to the elder branch, descended from Ishmael, ancestor of the Arabs, refers this sacrifice to Isaac (Gen. xxii, 1-18). Now Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old (Gen. xxi. 5), while Ishmael was born to Abraham when Abraham was 86 years old (Gen. xvi. 16). Ishmael was therefore 14 years older than Isaac. During his first 14 years, Ishmael was the only son of Abraham; at no time was Isaac the only son of Abraham. Yet in speaking of the sacrifice, the Old Testament says (Gen. xxii. 2): ‘And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah: and offer him there for a burnt offering…’. This slip shows at any rate which was the older version, and how it was overlaid, like the present Jewish records, in the interests of a tribal religion. The ‘Land of Moriah’ is not clear: it was three days’ journey from Abraham’s place (Gen. xxii. 4) There is less warrant for identifying it with the hill of Moriah on which Jerusalem was afterwards built than with the hill of Marwah which is identified with the Arab tradition about Ishmael.
This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.
Thank you and be well.