The Sacrifice of Ibrahim : A Study on Surah 37: 100113

1
The Sacrifice of Ibrahim A Study on Surah 37
100-113
Graduates Christian Fellowship
Comparative Religions Interest Group
2
The Sacrifice of Ibrahim

• The Covenant with Ibrahim
  - in you all the families of the
  earth shall be blessed Gen 123 - Concept
  of the First Born Eliezer of Damascus (Geb
  151), Ishmael (Gen 1718) Isaac (Gen
  1719) -
  Sealed by the Blood Covenant (Gen 159-17)
• The Sacrifice of Abraham (Gen 22)
• Why was Isaac called the only Son when his half
  brother Ishmael was 13 yrs his senior ? (Gen 22)
• Sacrifice of Ibrahim (Surah 37100-117)
  - Animal sacrifice needed for
  salvation
  - Vicarious Hajj Sacrifice
  
  - Is Intercessionshafaah allowed ?
  
  - Is there a RansomFidyah for Sin ?

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The Promise to Abraham
Gen 12 1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your
country, your people and your father's household
and go to the land I will show you.  2 "I will
make you into a great nation        and I will
bless you        I will make your name great,
       and you will be a blessing.  3 I will
bless those who bless you,        and whoever
curses you I will curse        and all peoples
on earth        will be blessed through you."
Abram - "exalted father" or "my father is
exalted
Abraham - av hamon (goyim) "father of many
(nations)" (Gen 175)
4
Was Eliezer of Damascus the fulfillment of the
Promise ?
Gen 15 1 After this, the word of the LORD came
to Abram in a vision        "Do not be afraid,
Abram.        I am your shield, a        your
very great reward. b "  2 But Abram said, "O
Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I
remain childless and the one who will inherit c
my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram
said, "You have given me no children so a
servant in my household will be my heir."  4
Then the word of the LORD came to him "This man
will not be your heir, but a son coming from your
own body will be your heir." 5 He took him
outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and
count the starsif indeed you can count them."
Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring
be."
5
If Nashwi had his own son later .
The Inheritance of Adopted son Wullu may be
transferable Nuzi
Akkadian cuneiform Tablet No 2 (1500-1400
BC) The adoption tablet of Nashwi of Arsehnni.
HeNashwi adopted Wullu, son of Puhishenni. As
long as as Nashwi lives, Wullu shall give him
food and clothing. When Nashwi dies, Wullu shall
be heir. Should Nashwi beget a son, the latter
Nashwis son shall divide equally with Wullu
but only Nashwis son shall take Nashwis gods.
But if there is no son of Nashwi, then Wullu
shall take Nashwis gods. CJ Gadd, RA XXIII
49-161 No 51. Note ownership of
gods are actually title deeds. Rachels took the
gods in Gen 3134 and not for idolatry
Nashwi
Wullu Adopted son
Title Deed Nashwis gods
Nashwi own son
Transferred to
Title Deed Nashwis gods
If Nashwi did not have own son later .
Nashwi
Wullu Adopted son
Title Deed Nashwis gods
6
Abraham was accounted to be righteous before he
performed the circumcision rite or the sacrifice !
Gen 15  5 And He took him outside and said,
"Now look toward the heavens, and count the
stars, if you are able to count them " And He
said to him, "So shall your descendants be."  6
Then he believed in the LORD and He reckoned it
to him as righteousnesssedaqah.  7 And He
said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out
of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to
possess it."  
Romans 4  1 What then shall we say that
Abraham, our forefather (A)according to the
flesh, has found?  2 For if Abraham was
justified by works, he has something to boast
about, but (B)not before God.  3 For what does
the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT
WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."  4 Now
to the one who works, his wage is not credited as
a favor, but as what is due.  5 But to the one
who does not work, but believes in Him who
justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as
righteousness,
7
Romans 4  2 For if Abraham was justified by
works, he has something to boast about, but not
before God.  3 For what does the Scripture
say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED
TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."  4 Now to the one
who works, his wage is not credited as a favor,
but as what is due.  5 But to the one who does
not work, but believes in Him who justifies the
ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
 6just as David also speaks of the blessing on
the man to whom God credits righteousness apart
from works 7 "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE
LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,      AND WHOSE
SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. 8 "BLESSED IS THE MAN
WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."
9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised,
or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH
WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
8
Romans 4 (contd) 10 How then was it credited?
While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not
while circumcised, but while uncircumcised  11
and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal
of the righteousness of the faith which he had
while uncircumcised, so that he might be the
father of all who believe without being
circumcised, that righteousness might be credited
to them,  12 and the father of circumcision to
those who not only are of the circumcision, but
who also follow in the steps of the faith of our
father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his
descendants that he would be heir of the world
was not through the Law, but through the
righteousness of faith.  14 For if those who
are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and
the promise is nullified  15 for the Law
brings about wrath, but where there is no law,
there also is no violation.  16 For this reason
it is by faith, in order that it may be in
accordance with grace, so that the promise will
be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to
those who are of the Law, but also to those who
are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of
us all,  17 (as it is written, "A FATHER OF
MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of
Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to
the dead and calls into being that which does not
exist.
9
Galatians 3  6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND
IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.  7
Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of
faith who are sons of Abraham.  8 The
Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the
Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand
to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE
BLESSED IN YOU."  9 So then those who are of
faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
 10 For as many as are of the works of the Law
are under a curse for it is written, "CURSED IS
EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN
IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM."  11
Now that no one is justified by the Law before
God is evident for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL
LIVE BY FAITH."  12 However, the Law is not of
faith on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM
SHALL LIVE BY THEM."  13 Christ redeemed us
from the curse of the Law, having become a curse
for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE
WHO HANGS ON A TREE"--  14 in order that in
Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come
to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the
promise of the Spirit through faith.
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Promise to Ishmael
Gen 17 18 And Abraham said to God, "Oh that
Ishmael might live before You!"  19 But God
said, "No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a
son, and you shall call his name Isaac and I
will establish My covenant with him for an
everlasting covenant for his descendants after
him.  20 "As for Ishmael, I have heard you
behold, I will bless him, and will make him
fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly He
shall become the father of twelve princes, and I
will make him a great nation.  21 "But My
covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah
will bear to you at this season next year."
Promise to Ishmael was fulfilled long ago in Gen.
2512- 18
Gen 25 Descendants of Ishmael  12 Now these are
the records of the generations of Ishmael,
Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's
maid, bore to Abraham  13 and these are the
names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, in
the order of their birth Nebaioth, the firstborn
of Ishmael, and Kedar and Adbeel and Mibsam  14
and Mishma and Dumah and Massa,  15 Hadad and
Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.  16 These
are the sons of Ishmael and these are their
names, by their villages, and by their camps
twelve princes according to their tribes.  17
These are the years of the life of Ishmael, one
hundred and thirty-seven years and he breathed
his last and died, and was gathered to his
people.  18 They settled from Havilah to Shur
which is east of Egypt as one goes toward
Assyria he settled in defiance of all his
relatives.
Gen 25 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a
ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life
and he was (F)gathered to his people.  9 Then
his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave
of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of
Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre,
11
At the time of Abraham, the title firstborn
does not mean born first. It is in fact a title
deed which could be transferable from one person
to another as documented in an archaeological
discovery ie Alalakh Mari Tablet. This story is
similar with the story of Sarah and Hagar. Before
Isaac was born, Ishmael,son of second wife was
the firstborn ie conferred the title deed of the
entire estate of Abraham. But when Isaac, son of
the first wife, the firstborn title was
transferred from Ishmael to Isaac.
Irihalpa
Alalakh Mari Tablet No 92 (1720-1650)
If
Naidu does not give birth to a son, then daughter
of his brother Iwashura shall be given Irihalpa
(as wife). If another wife of Irihalpa gives
birth to a son first and afterwards Naidu gives
birth to a son, the son of Naidufirst wife
alone shall be the firstborn. Wiseman DJ
Archaeology and Old Testament Study, D Winton
Thomas, pg 127
Naidu (Irihalpas 1st wife
Daughter of Iwashura (Irihalpas 2nd wife)
Older son
Younger son
Firstborn Title
Transferred to
Firstborn Title
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First Hijrah of Hagar West ward journey from
Canaan to Egyptby way of Shur
 Gen 16 3 After Abram had lived ten years in
the land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar
the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her
husband Abram as his wife. 4 He went in to
Hagar, and she conceived and when she saw that
she had conceived, her mistress was despised in
her sight. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, "May the
wrong done me be upon you I gave my maid into
your arms, but when she saw that she had
conceived, I was despised in her sight May the
LORD judge between you and me." 6 But Abram
said to Sarai, "Behold, your maid is in your
power do to her what is good in your sight." So
Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her
presence. 7 Now the angelMalak of the
LORDYahweh found her by a spring of water in
the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.
8 He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you
come from and where are you going?" And she said,
"I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress
Sarai." 9 Then the angelMalak of the
LORDYahweh said to her, "Return to your
mistress, and submit yourself to her authority."
10 Moreover, the angelMalak of the
LORDYahweh said to her, "I will greatly
multiply your descendants so that they will be
too many to count." 11 The angelMalak of the
LORDYahweh said to her further, "Behold, you
are with child,And you will bear a son And you
shall call his name IshmaelGod Hears, Because
the LORDYahweh has given heed to your
affliction. 12 "He will be a wild donkey of a
man, His hand will be against everyone, And
everyone's hand will be against him And he will
live to the east of all his brothers." 13 Then
she called the nameshem of the LORDYahweh who
spokebadar daw-bar to her, "You are a
GodElohim who sees" for she said, "Have I even
remained alive here after seeing Him?" 14
Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roiWell
of the Livining who sees behold, it is between
Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son
and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar
bore, Ishmael.  16 Abram was eighty-six years
old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him.
13
First Hijrah of Hagar Westward journey from
Hebron to Egyptby way of Shur
N
80 miles
To Egypt
From Hebron
12 miles
Beer Lahai Hoi
Kadesk
14
Second Hijrah of Hagar Ishmael from Gerar
to BeerSheba about 20 miles
Sarah Turns against Hagar Gen 21 9 Now Sarah
saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had
borne to Abraham, mocking. 10 Therefore she
said to Abraham, "Drive out this maid and her
sonben, for the son of this maid shall not be
an heir with my son Isaac." 11 The matter
distressed Abraham greatly because of his
sonben. 12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not
be distressed because of the ladyeled and your
maid whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her,
for through Isaac your descendants shall be
named. 13 "And of the sonben of the maid I
will make a nation also, because he is your
descendantzera -seed." 14 So Abraham rose
early in the morning and took bread and a skin of
water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her
shoulder, and gave her the boyyeled-boy, child,
young man, and sent her away. And she departed
and wandered about in the wilderness of
Beersheba. 15 When the water in the skin was
used up, she left the boyyeled under one of the
bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite
him, about a bowshot away, for she said, "Do not
let me see the boyyeled die." And she sat
opposite him, and lifted up her voice and wept.
17 God heard the ladnaar- youth crying
and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven
and said to her, "What is the matter with you,
Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice
of the ladnaar-youth where he is. 18
"Arise, lift up the ladnaar- youth, and hold
him by the hand, for I will make a great nation
of him." 19 Then God opened her eyes and she
saw a well of water and she went and filled the
skin with water and gave the ladnaar-youth a
drink. 20 God was with the ladnaar youth,
and he grew and he lived in the wilderness and
became an archer. 21 He lived in the
wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife
for him from the land of Egypt.
15
How could Abraham send Hagar her infant Ishmael
away to the desert ?
1 Ishmael was already 17 years old as pointed out
earlier. He was in a position to look after her
mother Hagar. The word yeled in Gen 2114
means boy, child, fruit, son, young man. In 1 Ki
128-14, 2 Ki 224 and 2 Chron 108-14, yeled
is used for young adults. Naar was also
translated as youth or young servants
(Gen 22 3 5. 2 Notwithstanding the fact
that section 25 of Lipit-Ishtar Code allowed
Abraham to in Gen 2111 was still unwilling to
do so until God legally send Hagar and her 17 yrs
old son away, Abraham gave him the assurance.
Yeled/Naar Young Man
Yeled Boy
16
Lipit-Ishtar Code first half of the second
millennium BC
25 If a man married a wife (and) she bore
him children and those children are living and a
slave also bore children for her master (but) the
father granted freedom to the slave and her
children, the children of the slave shall not
divide the estate with the children of their
(former) master.
In Genesis 22, Abraham had acted properly in
accordance with Lipit-Ishtar Code, in which a man
could repudiate his marriage covenant ie to
free the slave her children ! Apparently,
they were relocated from Hebron to
Beersheba(Abrahams another real estate
property), which was 30 miles away
17
3 At 17 yrs old, Ishmael was in the position to
care for her mother Hagar. However, that does
not mean that a young person could bear more
fatique than a mature person like his mother.
They have a higher metabolism rate and as such,
they are less able to bear hunger or thirst than
a mature person !
17 yrs old
Ishmael
Hagar
18

• The trip contemplated by Abraham for Hagar
  Ishmael was not a long one in view of the little
  provision ie a skin of water and bread. Gen 21
  14
• The destination was probably BeershebaWell of
  Seven, one of Abrahams real estate property.
  But both lost their way in the wilderness of
  Beersheba. In the subsequent chapter, Abraham
  had business interest in Beersheba as reflected
  by the commercial water dispute concerning the
  seizure of the well by Abimelechs servants in
  Gen 2125.
• If Ishmael was only an infant as alleged in the
  Hadiths, Why was there a hurry to get a wife for
  Ishmael ?

19
Second Hijrah of Hagar Ishmael from Gerar
to BeerSheba about 20 miles
A short 20 miles journey from Gerar to Beersheba
anticipated. Hence, little provision was taken eg
bread and a skin of water
30 miles
From Gerar
20 miles
To Egypt
To Beer Sheba
Beersheba - One of Abrahams propriety interest.
I dug this well Gen 2130 A prior arrangement
with Abimelech Gen 2015,2122-34
20
Hagar was more able to endure the survival test
as this was not the first one. On her first trip,
she ran away from Sarai in Gen 166 and she
survived in the wilderness on the way to Shur (
the way to Egypt). In Gen 21 14, it was her
second survival test in the wilderness of
Beersheba Well of Seven
Second Hijrah
First Hijrah
To Egypt
To Egypt
30 miles
From Hebron
From Hebron
By way of Shur
Beer Lahai Hoi
Beer Sheba
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The Blood Covenant Between God and Abraham

• Gen 15
•  7 He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who
  brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give
  you this land to take possession of it."
•  8 But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I
  know that I will gain possession of it?"
•  9 So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer,
  a goat and a ram, each three years old, along
  with a dove and a young pigeon."
•  10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in
  two and arranged the halves opposite each other
  the birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11
  Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses,
  but Abram drove them away.
•  12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a
  deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness
  came over him.
• Then the LORD said to him, "Know for certain that
  your descendants will be strangers in a country
  not their own, and they will be enslaved and
  mistreated four hundred years.
• But I will punish the nation they serve as
  slaves, and afterward they will come out with
  great possessions.
• 15 You, however, will go to your fathers in
  peace and be buried at a good old age.
• 16 In the fourth generation your descendants
  will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites
  has not yet reached its full measure."
•  17 When the sun had set and darkness had
  fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch
  appeared and passed between the pieces.
• On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram
  and said, "To your descendants I give this land,
  from the river of Egypt to the great river, the
  Euphrates-
• the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,
• Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,
• Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites."

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The Meaning of Ancient Covenant
Webster defines a covenant as "a mutual
agreement", an engagement entered into between
God and a person or a people." When you add the
Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic languages to the
definition, then the definition of a covenant
becomes "A solemn, binding agreement between
two or more parties that cannot be broken except
by the death of the one who breaks it."
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Covenant
A promise between two or more parties. The term
"covenant" usually refers the major covenants in
the Old Testament between God and the
Israelites.  Four of these Covenants are
considered major and are give their own
definitions, while the other four are covered in
the Biblical Covenants. There are four methods
used in the Bible to ratify a covenant.  They are
ordered from the least binding to the most
binding form of commitment to the covenant 1.
i) Hand CovenantMuch like the handshake of
today, two parties would shake hands or strike
the palms of their hands together.  (Ezra 1019
Eze. 1718)
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ii) Shoe CovenantThe two parties would exchange
sandals signifying that the covenant was in
effect until the sandals were returned.  Boaz
made this type of covenant with the
kinsman-redeemer to redeem Ruth (Ruth 48).
iii) Salt CovenantBecause salt was vital to
every traveler in Biblical times (it prevents
dehydration and allows the body to retain
moisture), each carried a pouch that they would
carry around their waste.  Once the terms of a
covenant had been agreed upon, each party would
put a small pinch of salt in the others pouch. 
This signified that the covenant could only be
broken if the exact grains of salt were returned
to the original owner. (God made several of these
with the Israelites Lev. 213 Num. 1819 2 Chr.
135)
25
iv) Blood Covenant After the terms were
settled an animal was divided in half through its
median plane and laid out on the ground.  Both
parties would grasp hands, recite the terms and
walk together between the pieces of the carcass. 
This was the most severe and serious of the
covenants.  It signified that the party that
broke the covenant would have the same thing done
to them as to the animal - it carried the death
penalty.  The animal's death also represented the
permanancy of the terms of the covenant.  The two
parties could alter the terms while they were
alive, but once dead they could not change them. 
The animal represented the death of both parties,
meaning that the covenant was unchangeable.
26
The Promise sealed by the Blood Covenant
27
Make A Cut Until the Blood Flows
Meaning - My life is yours, your life is
mine I'll protect you even unto death ! "And he
said unto him 'Take me an heifer of three years
old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram
of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young
pigeon." Genesis 159"This is My covenant, which
ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed
after thee Every man child among you shall be
circumcised." (Genesis 179) Verse 10 goes on to
say that the circumcision would be a token
between God and Abraham.
28
The Splitting of Animals Right Down the Middle.
"And he took unto him all these, and
divided them in the midst, and laid each piece
one against another but the birds divided he
not. And it came to pass, that, when the sun went
down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace
eah (aysh) fire, burning, fiery, fire,
flaming, hot, and a burning lamplappiyd(lap-peed
) or lappid(lap-peed) to shine, lamp or flame,
burning lamp, torch that passed between those
pieces. In the same day the Lord made a covenant
with Abram, saying 'Unto thy seed have I given
this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great
river, the river Euphrates." (Genesis 1510,
17-18)
29
For our God is a Consuming Fire ! Heb 1229
30
Genesis 22 Abraham Tested  1 Some time later
God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
      "Here I am," he replied.  2 Then
GodElohim said, "Take your son, your
onlyyachiyd sonben, Isaac, whom you love, and
go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there
as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I
will tell you about."  3 Early the next morning
Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took
with him two of his servantsnaar-youths and
his sonben Isaac. When he had cut enough wood
for the burnt offering, he set out for the place
God had told him about. 4 On the third day
Abraham looked up and saw the place in the
distance. 5 He said to his servantsnaar-youths
, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the
boynaar-youth go over there. We will worship
and then we will come back to you."  6 Abraham
took the wood for the burnt offering and placed
it on his sonben Isaac, and he himself carried
the fire and the knife. As the two of them went
on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his
father Abraham, "Father?"       "Yes, my
sonben?" Abraham replied.       "The fire and
wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the
lamb for the burnt offering?"  8 Abraham
answered, "God himself will provide the
lambson for the burnt offering, my sonben."
And the two of them went on together.
Yachiyd(yaw-keed) derived from yachad to be
one,join, unite united ie sole by implication
beloved also alone- darling, desolate, onlt
(child, son), solitary
31

• Genesis 22
•  9 When they reached the place God had told
  him about, Abraham built an altar there and
  arranged the wood on it. He bound his sonben
  Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the
  wood.
• 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the
  knife to slay his sonben.
• 11 But the angelMalak of the LORDYahweh
  called out to him from heaven, "Abraham!
  Abraham!"   "Here I am," he replied.
• 12 "Do not lay a hand on the boynaar," he
  said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that
  you fear God, because you have not withheld from
  me your sonben, your onlyyachiyd son."
• 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he
  saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and
  took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt
  offering instead of his sonben.
• 14 So Abraham called that place The LORDYahweh
  Will ProvideJireh. And to this day it is said,
  "On the mountain of the LORD it will be
  provided."
• 15 The angelMalak of the LORDYahweh called
  to Abraham from heaven a second time
• and said, "I swear by myself, declares the
  LORDYahweh, that because you have done this and
  have not withheld your sonben, your
  onlyyachiyd son,
• I will surely bless you and make your descendants
  as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the
  sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take
  possession of the cities of their enemies,
• 18 and through your offspring all nations on
  earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed
  me."
•  19 Then Abraham returned to his
  servantsnaar-youth, and they set off together
  for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

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Was Isaac a willing Sacrifice ?

• Abraham believed that even if his son was
  sacrificed, God will raised him up again.
• He said to his servantsnaar-youths, "Stay
  here with the donkey while I and the
  boynaar-youth go over there. We will worship
  and then we will come back to you." Gen 225.
  Yes. Both expected to come back alive after
  sacrifice.
• By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered
  up Isaac, and he who had received the promises
  was offering up his only begotten son it was he
  to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS
  SHALL BE CALLED." He considered that God is able
  to
• raise people even from the dead, from
  which he also received him back as a type.
• Heb 1117-19
• In Gen 22, even though the age of Isaac was
  not mentioned, Isaac was
• definitely a little 3-year old boy. Isaac
  was called benson and naar
• which had been translated as boy in the
  case of Isaac. naar was also
• given to two male servants Gen 223
  5. Josephus Talmud said that
• he was definitely 25 or 36 years old.
• 3 If Isaac was not a willing sacrifice,
  Abraham, being 125 years Isaac, may
• not have the strength to coerce and tied
  up a 25 year old Isaac as a
• sacrifice. (see slides)

33
Was Isaac a Willing Sacrifice ?
R Jumahbuoy like some Muslim Scholars in a talk
The Meaning of religion on 18 Jan 2002
organised by Jamiyah suggests that the story in
the Quran is a superior one as the Biblical
account alleges the following - The son involved
was ignorant that he would be the
sacrifice - He had to be tied up for the
sacrifice, thus indicating that he was an
unwilling sacrifice.
34
Reply Was the Son involved unwilling to be
the Sacrifice ?
Isaac was at least 25 yrs old below 40 yrs old
According to Josephus,The Antiquities of the
Jews, Bk 1, chap 13.2. Now Isaac was 25 and as
he was building the altar he asked his father
what he was about to offer since there was no
animal there for oblation. The Works of
Josephus,pg 43 The Talmud says that Isaac was 36
yrs old at the time of sacrifice. The Bethany
Parallel Commentary on OT, pg 65 by Adam
Clarke. Isaac must be below 40 year old as the
incident preceded his marriage to Rebecca when
he was 40 yrs old in Gen 2520
35
Reply Was the Son involved unwilling to be
the Sacrifice ?
According to The New Strong Complete Dictionary
of Bible Words, the Hebrew word naar in Gen
225 includes means a boy from the age of
infancy to adolescence by implication a servant
babe, boy, child, damsel, lad, servant, young
(man). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
by R Laird Harris, Gleason Archer Bruce Waltke,
Vol 2 pg 585-6, also supports the range, It also
include servants of king of Assyria in 1 King
2015.
It would have been unjust if the Korban was an
unwilling person !
36
If Isaac was 25 yrs old at the material time,
Abraham was already 125 yrs old, a very old man.
Abraham died at 175 yrs old. Gen 257 If Isaac
had not wanted to submit willingly to God, how
could an weak old man be able to tie up at full
grown man for the sacrifice ! If he was
unwilling, Abraham, instead of Isaac, could end
up being tied up for sacrifice !
Both Abraham and his son believed in God His
goodness, power and even the power to raise the
dead ! According to Hebrews 1119, Abraham
considered that God is able to raise men even
from the dead. No wonder, Abraham told his
servants was not expecting any harm to fall upon
him or his son Stay here with the donkey and
I and the lad will go yonder and we will worship
and return to you.
37
Evidence of Textual Corruption ? Muslims have
claimed that the person to be sacrificed by
Abraham was Ishmael and not Isaac in Gen 221-19.
Prof Abdul Ahad Dawud, Muhammad in the Bible,
page 32 argues "The Jews have always been
jealous of Ishmael because they know very much
very well that in him the Covenant was made and
with his circumcision it was concluded and
sealed. And it is out of this rancour that
scribes and doctors of law have corrupted and
interpolated many passages in their Scriptures.
To efface the name "Ishmael" from the second,
sixth, and seventh verses of the twenty-second
chapter of the Book of Genesis and to insert in
its place "Isaac" and to leave the descriptive
epithet "thy only begotten son" is to deny the
existence of the former(Ishmael) and to violate
the Covenant made between God and Ishmael. It is
expressly said in this chapter by God Because
thou didst not spare thy only begotten son, I
will increase and multiply thy posterity like the
stars and sands on the seashore." (Gen 2216,17)
38
Was Isaac the only Son ? Isnt Ishmael the
Firstborn, the one born first ?

• Yes. Ishmael was born first. At 13 yrs old, he
  was circumcised when Abraham was 99 yrs old.Gen
  1724/5
• When Abraham was 100 yrs old, Isaac was born.
  Gen 215
• When Isaac weaned at 3 yrs old in Gen 21 8,9,
  Ishmael was already 17 yrs old who was also in a
  position to take care of her mother. Normally,
  weaning occurs at 3 yrs of age (2 Chron 3116 2
  Macc 727) whereas in Surah 3114, the child
  weaned at 2 yrs of age.
• But in Gen 222, God commanded Abraham to
  sacrifice his only Son Isaac notwithstanding
  that Ishmael was an older brother.

39
Gen 222 did not mentioned the word firstborn,
just your only son. At that time, Ishmael was
no longer staying with Abraham. The word
firstborn does not mean born first. It is in
fact a title deed which could be transferable
from one person to another as documented in an
archaeological discovery ie Alalakh Mari Tablet
Alalakh Mari Tablet No 92 (1720-1650)
If Naidu does
not give birth to a son, then daughter of his
brother Iwashura shall be given Irihalpa (as
wife). If another wife of Irihalpa gives birth to
a son first and afterwards Naidu gives birth to a
son, the son of Naidufirst wife alone shall be
the firstborn. Wiseman DJ Archaeology and Old
Testament Study, D Winton Thomas, pg 127
Irihalpa
Naidu (Irihalpas 1st wife
Daughter of Iwashura (Irihalpas 2nd wife)
Older son
Younger son
Firstborn Title
Transferred to
Firstborn Title
40
If Nashwi had his own son later .
The Inheritance of Adopted son Wullu may be
transferable Nuzi
Akkadian cuneiform Tablet No 2 (1500-1400
BC) The adoption tablet of Nashwi of Arsehnni.
HeNashwi adopted Wullu, son of Puhishenni. As
long as as Nashwi lives, Wullu shall give him
food and clothing. When Nashwi dies, Wullu shall
be heir. Should Nashwi beget a son, the latter
Nashwis son shall divide equally with Wullu
but only Nashwis son shall take Nashwis gods.
But if there is no son of Nashwi, then Wullu
shall take Nashwis gods. CJ Gadd, RA XXIII
49-161 No 51. Note ownership of
gods are actually title deeds. Rachels took the
gods in Gen 3134 and not for idolatry
Nashwi
Wullu Adopted son
Title Deed Nashwis gods
Nashwi own son
Transferred to
Title Deed Nashwis gods
If Nashwi did not have own son later .
Nashwi
Wullu Adopted son
Title Deed Nashwis gods
41
If Wullu remains faithful to his wife father in
law, Wullu will get the title deed Nashwis gods
The Inheritance of Adopted son Wullu withdrawn
Nuzi Akkadian
cuneiform Tablet No 2 (1500-1400 BC) The
adoption tablet of Nashwi of Arsehnni. (cont) And
Nashwi had given his daughter Nuhuya a wife to
Wullu. And if Wullu takes another wife, he
forfeits Nashwis lands and buildings. Whoever
breaks the contract shall pay one mina of silver
and one mina of Gold. CJ Gadd, RA XXIII 49-161
No 51. Note ownership of gods are
actually title deeds. Rachels took the gods in
Gen 3134 and not for idolatry
Nashwi
Title Deed Nashwis gods
Wullu Adopted son
Nashwis daughter as Wullus wife
If Wullu marries anotheremains faithful his wife
father in law, Wullu will get the title deed
Nashwis gods
Title Deed Nashwis gods
Nashwi
No Title Deed
Wullu Adopted son
Nashwis daughter as Wullus wife
Wullu takes another wife
42

• Yahweh Jireh(Yahweh Will Provide the Lamb)
• In the Quran, the story of the sacrifice of an
  unnamed son started off as a vision in Surah
  37102 but it almost ended up as a real sacrifice
  if not for Divine intervention(Surah 37
  104-105). The son was "ransomed" by the
  substitution of momentous (Azim) sacrifice namely
  sheep or ram(Surah 37106). In the Bible, it was
  not visionary at all. God spoke to Abraham
  directly not in a vision or dream. The story can
  be read in Gen 221-19.
• 2 As the bible story unfolded, Abraham believed
  that "God will provide(see) Himself the lamb of
  the burnt offering"(Gen 228). After the Divine
  intervention, he saw "a ram caught in the thicket
  by his horns, and Abraham went and took the ram
  and offered him(ram) up in place of his son"(Gen
  2213).

43

• Even after the ram was provided by God and
  sacrificed, Abraham called this place Yahweh
  Jireh(Yahweh will provide) as though another
  sacrifice will be provided. "Abraham called the
  name of that place Yahweh Jireh(The LORD will
  provide) as it is said to this day. In the mount
  of the LORD it will be provided."(Gen 2214)
  Perhaps, the lamb is still being awaited
  according to Gen 228 "God will provide Himself
  the lamb for the burnt offering." The ram came
  but not the lamb.
• 4 This lamb, which will be provided by God on
  Mount Moriah (Gen 222), was still being awaited
  at the time of writing of the Taurat by Moses.
  This lamb also did not appear even though
  countless animals were sacrificed later at the
  temple of Solomon which was built on the same
  spot Mount Moriah. " Solomon began to build the
  house of Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah." (2
  Chron 31)

44
The Command to sacrifice !
45
Abrahams belief in Gods power over Life
Death !
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimrod_(king)

• Even though the Quran did not identified the one
  who disputed with Abraham, Tafsir Ibn Kathir
  identified him as Nimrod. In this conversation,
  Nimrod had claimed to be god when he said that
  I give lifyuhyee and death.
• However, it appears that Ibn Kathir may be wrong
  in identifying the idolatrous person as Nimrod.
  in the Bible, both men never met because they
  were about 7 generations apart. Nimrod was Noahs
  great grandson (Gen 10,11)

46
Abrahams belief in Gods power over Life
Death !
The king who disputed with Ibrahim was King
Nimrod, son of Canaan, son of Kush, son of Sam,
son of Noah, as Mujahid stated. It was also said
that he was Nimrod, son of Falikh, son of Abir,
son of Shalikh, son of Arfakhshand, son of Sam,
son of Noah. Mujahid said, "The kings who ruled
the eastern and western parts of the world are
four, two believers and two disbelievers. As for
the two believing kings, they were Sulayman bin
Dawud and Dhul-Qarnayn. As for the two
disbelieving kings, they were Nimrod and
Nebuchadnezzar.'' Allah knows best. Allah said,
(Have you not looked) meaning, "With your heart,
O Muhammad!'' (at him who disputed with Ibrahim
about his Lord) meaning, about the existence of
Allah. Nimrod denied the existence of a god other
than himself, as he claimed, just as Firawn said
later to his people, (I know not that you have a
god other than me) ?2838?. What made Nimrod
commit this transgression, utter disbelief and
arrant rebellion was his tyranny and the fact
that he ruled for a long time. This is why the
Ayah continued, (Because Allah had given him the
kingdom. ) It appears that Nimrod asked Ibrahim
to produce proof that Allah exists. Ibrahim
replied, (My Lord is He Who gives life and causes
death) meaning, "The proof of Allah's existence
is the creations that exist after they were
nothing and perish after they had existed. This
only proves the existence of the Creator, Who
does what He wills, for these things could not
have occurred on their own without a Creator who
created them, and He is the Lord that I call to
for worship, Alone without a partner.'' This is
when Nimrod said, (I give life and cause death.)
Qatadah, Muhammad bin Ishaq and As-Suddi said
that he meant, "Two men who deserved execution
were to be brought before me, and I would command
that one of them be killed, and he would be
killed. I would command that the second man be
pardoned, and he would be pardoned. This is how I
bring life and death.'' However, it appears that
since Nimrod did not deny the existence of a
Creator, his statement did not mean what Qatadah
said it meant. This explanation does not provide
an answer to what Ibrahim said. Nimrod arrogantly
and defiantly claimed that he was the creator and
pretended that it was he who brings life and
death. Later on, Firawn imitated him and
announced, (I know not that you have a god other
than me) ?28 38 Tafsir Ibn Kathir
47
Uzayr Resurrection of Donkey after 100 years
1 The Quran did not identify the man in Surah
2259. Tafsir Ibn Kathir identified him as Uzayr
who was contemplating the destruction of
Jerusalem by Nebuchanezer and as to whether God
could resurrect Jerusalem from its ruin. God
then caused Uzayr to die for 100 years and then
raised him alive again to witness the
resurrection of Jerusalem as a city !
Apparently , The Jews call 'Uzair a son of
Allah Qur'an 930 2 But Uzayr thought that he
was dead for a day or part of a day. The next
miracle is the resurrection of the dead donkey
the bones of the dead donkey coming together
forming a live donkey again. Apparently, this
passage is reminiscent of Ezekiels vision of the
valley of dry bones Ezekiel 371-14
48
Ezekiel 37 The Valley of Dry Bones  1 The hand
of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by
the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle
of a valley it was full of bones. 2 He led me
back and forth among them, and I saw a great many
bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were
very dry. 3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these
bones live?"       I said, "O Sovereign LORD,
you alone know."  4 Then he said to me,
"Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry
bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what
the Sovereign LORD says to these bones I will
make breath a enter you, and you will come to
life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make
flesh come upon you and cover you with skin I
will put breath in you, and you will come to
life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I
was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling
sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.
8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on
them and skin covered them, but there was no
breath in them.  9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy
to the breath prophesy, son of man, and say to
it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says Come
from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into
these slain, that they may live.' " 10 So I
prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered
them they came to life and stood up on their
feeta vast army.  11 Then he said to me "Son
of man, these bones are the whole house of
Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our
hope is gone we are cut off.' 12 Therefore
prophesy and say to them 'This is what the
Sovereign LORD says O my people, I am going to
open your graves and bring you up from them I
will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13
Then you, my people, will know that I am the
LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up
from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you
will live, and I will settle you in your own
land. Then you will know that I the LORD have
spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.
49
Uzayrs story on Resurrection of Donkey
reinforced Abrahams firm belief in the
resurrection of the dead !
(Look at the bones, how We Nunshizuha) meaning,
collect them and put them back together. In his
Mustadrak, Al-Hakim, recorded that Kharijah bin
Zayd bin Thabit said that his father said that
the Messenger of Allah read this Ayah, (how We
Nunshizuha.) Al-Hakim said "Its chain is Sahih
and they (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) did not record
it.'' The Ayah was also read, "Nunshiruha''
meaning, bring them back to life, as Mujahid
stated. (And clothe them with flesh. ) As-Suddi
said, " Uzayr observed the bones of his donkey,
which were scattered all around him to his right
and left, and Allah sent a wind that collected
the bones from all over the area. Allah then
brought every bone to its place, until they
formed a full donkey made of fleshless bones.
Allah then covered these bones with flesh,
nerves, veins and skin. Allah sent an angel who
blew life in the donkeys' nostrils, and the
donkey started to bray by Allah's leave.'' All
this occurred while Uzayr was watching, and this
is when he proclaimed, (He said, "I know (now)
that Allah is able to do all things,'') meaning,
"I know that, and I did witness it with my own
eyes. Therefore, I am the most knowledgeable in
this matter among the people of my time.'' (260.
And (remember) when Ibrahim said, "My Lord! Show
me how You give life to the dead.'' He (Allah)
said "Do you not believe'' He (Ibrahim) said
"Yes (I believe), but to be stronger in faith.''
He said "Take four birds, then cause them to
incline towards you (then slaughter them, cut
them into pieces), and then put a portion of them
on every hill, and call them, they will come to
you in haste. And know that Allah is All-Mighty,
All-Wise.'') Tafsir Ibn Kathir
50
But Abraham expressed doubt and uncertainty in
the Resurrection of the Dead Surah 2260 !

• In Surah 2260, Abraham was in a state of doubt
  and turmoil deep in his heartqalb. He was not
  asking for more faith ! His faith was shaken
  deep in his qalb ! The word Yeanam was
  interpolated into Surah 2260 it is not the
  Arabic Text ! He was not in a pensive or
  philosophical mood. He was emphatic ! He needed
  the answer urgently ! He used the imperative
  command verb ari , when he asked God to
  demonstrate His power over life and death before
  him. This is a dangerous expression because no
  one can command God to do anything no
  consistent with the Tawheed !
• Yusuf Ali had wrongly translated the word sur
  as Tame. The sur means twist or turn
  something in Hanna Kassi Concordance. Tafsir
  Ibn Kathir said that cause them to incline
  towards you) means, cut them to pieces.
  However, even if sur means Tame because
  the ability to tame birds cannot be appropriate
  to prove Gods power over life and death, which
  is the preoccupation of this verse.

51
Abraham expressed doubt and uncertainty in the
Resurrection of the Dead !
The scholars said that there are reasons behind
this request by Ibrahim. For instance, when
Ibrahim said to Nimrod, (My Lord (Allah) is He
Who gives life and causes death,) he wanted to
solidify his knowledge about resurrection by
actually witnessing it with his eyes. Prophet
Ibrahim said, ("My Lord! Show me how You give
life to the dead.'' He (Allah) said "Do you not
believe'' He (Ibrahim) said "Yes (I believe),
but to be stronger in faith.'') Al-Bukhari
recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the
Messenger of Allah said, (We are more liable to
be in doubt than Ibrahim when he said, "My Lord!
Show me how You give life to the dead.'' Allah
said, "Don't you believe'' Ibrahim said, "Yes (I
believe), but (I ask) in order to be stronger in
faith.'') The Prophet's statement in the Hadith
means, "We are more liable to seek certainty.'
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
52
Abraham expressed doubt and uncertainty in the
Resurrection of the Dead !
Allah said, (He said "Take four birds, then
cause them to incline towards you.'') Scholars
of Tafsir disagreed over the type of birds
mentioned here, although this matter in not
relevant due to the fact that the Qur'an did not
mention it. Allah's statement, (cause them to
incline towards you) means, cut them to pieces.
This is the explanation of Ibn Abbas, Ikrimah,
Said bin Jubayr, Abu Malik, Abu Al-Aswad
Ad-Dili, Wahb bin Munabbih, Al-Hasan and
As-Suddi. Therefore, Ibrahim caught four birds,
slaughtered them, removed the feathers, tore the
birds to pieces and mixed the pieces together. He
then placed parts of these mixed pieces on four
or seven hills. Ibn Abbas said, "Ibrahim kept
the heads of these birds in his hand. Next, Allah
commanded Ibrahim to call the birds to him, and
he did as Allah commanded him. Ibrahim witnessed
the feathers, blood and flesh of these birds fly
to each other, and the parts flew each to their
bodies, until every bird came back to life and
came walking at a fast pace towards Ibrahim, so
that the example that Ibrahim was witnessing
would become more impressive. Each bird came to
collect its head from Ibrahim's hand, and if he
gave the bird another head the bird refused to
accept it. When Ibrahim gave each bird its own
head, the head was placed on its body by Allah's
leave and power. '' Tafsir Ibn Kathir
53
Abraham expressed doubt and uncertainty in the
Resurrection of the Dead !
This is why Allah said, (And know that Allah is
All-Mighty, All-Wise) and no one can overwhelm or
resist Him. Whatever Allah wills, occurs without
hindrance, because He is the All-Mighty, Supreme
above all things, and He is Wise in His
statements, actions, legislation and decrees.
Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Mamar said that
Ayyub said that Ibn Abbas commented on what
Ibrahim said, (but to be stronger in Faith), "To
me, there is no Ayah in the Qur'an that brings
more hope than this Ayah.'' Ibn Abi Hatim
recorded that Muhammad bin Al-Munkadir said that
Abdullah bin Abbas met Abdullah bin Amr bin
Al-As and said to him, "Which Ayah in the Qur'an
carries more hope for you'' Ibn Amr said, (Say
"O Ibadi (My servants) who have transgressed
against themselves (by committing evil deeds and
sins)! Despair not.) ?3953?. Ibn Abbas said,
"But I say that it is Allah's statement, (And
(remember) when Ibrahim said, "My Lord! Show me
how You give life to the dead.'' He (Allah) said
"Do you not believe'' He (Ibrahim) said "Yes (I
believe)...) Allah accepted Ibrahim's
affirmation when he merely said, Yes.' This Ayah
refers to the doubts that attack the heart and
the thoughts that Shaytan inspires.'' Al-Hakim
also recorded this in Al-Mustadrak and said "Its
chain is Sahih but they did not record it.''
(261. The parable of those who spend their
wealth in the way of Allah, is that of a grain
(of corn) it grows seven ears, and each ear has
a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase
to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for
His creatures' needs, All-Knower.) Tafsir Ibn
Kathir
54
A demo on the resurrection of dead birds for
Abraham Behold Abraham said My Lord ! Show
me how Thou givest life to the dead. He said,
Dost thou not believe ? He said Yea but to
satisfy my own understanding. He said Take 4
birds Tame them to turn to thee Put a portion
of them on every hill, and call to them They
will come to thee (flying) with speed. Surah
2260 Note The killing of birds is not
mentioned in the Quran. But they are in classical
Muslim commentators
55
Abraham believed in the Resurrection of the
Dead According to Tafseer e Usmani Vol 1 pg
150 annotation 426 Hadrat Ibrahim according to
the Divine Order brought 4 birds peacock, a
cock, a crow and a pigeon. When they were tamed
to his call he killed them. On one hill he put
their heads, on the second he put their feathers,
on the third hill he put their trunks and the
legs on the fourth hill. Then standing at a
distance in front of them he called one of the
birds. His head rose above in the air, then the
body joined with the head, then feathers and legs
joined with the body and the came to him
running. Similarly the other birds came to him
running.
56
Blessing of Ibrahims descendants a line of
prophets !
Why did God bless the descendants of Abraham who
are faddala ala al alameenpreferred above all
worlds ? What he did do or did not do ? What is
the significant about Abraham ? Was it because he
had a covenant with God ? What is this Covenant ?
57
Blessing of Ibrahims descendants a line of
prophets !
Noah
min qabl- Before (Abrahim)
Dhurriiyah - offspring
Surah 684
David
Solomon
Job
Joseph
Moses
Aaron
Zakariya
John
Jesus
Elias
Surah 685
Ismail
Elisha
Jonas
Lot
Surah 686
FaddalaPreferred alaabove the worldsal
alameen
Dhurriiyah - offspring
Surah 687
Abraham
Surah 683,84
Abnaasons
Isaacson
Jacobgrandson
58
Sacrifice of Ibrahim
59
Sacrifice of Ibrahim(contd)
60
Why the Need for Blood Sacrifice during the Hajj ?
No adequate explanation for the sacrifice of
animals on the 10 Dhul Hijjah in
Surah 1082 ? Why the need for blood sacrifice ?
The blood does not reaches God. It is not their
meat nor their blood that reaches Allah It is
their peity that reaches Him Surah 2237 If
piety alone, why not give vegetarian food ? Why
the blood which is of no use ? To demonstrate
our piety, we need not go round killing animals.
If we need to feed the poor, vegetarian food will
suffice. How could our peity reach God when our
prayers cannot reach God if we did not clean
ourselves every time we pray ? There is a need to
return to the OT concept of sacrifice and the
meaning of the sacrifice of Abraham.
61
MightyAzim Sacrifice dhibh !
MubeenClear BalaaTesting Israelites !
HasananGoodr BalaaTesting Muhammad
Muslims at Battle of Badr !
62
AzimTremendous-mighty BalaaTesting
Moses Israelites !
63
Al-Halîm The All-Forbearing The Forbearing and
Clement. He is not troubled by the disobedience
of rebels, has not precipitateness, doesn't
hasten to punish - for He has appointed
everything to a term to which it must finally
come. Al-Halim is one of the Ninety-Nine Names.
"Allah knows what is in your hearts. Allah is
All-Knowing, All-Forbearing." (3351) "Allah
keeps a firm hold on the heavens and earth,
preventing them from vanishing away. And if they
vanished no one could then keep hold of them.
Certainly He is Most Forbearing, Ever-Forgiving."
(3541) http//ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages
/ABewley/names.html
Al-Haleem The Forebearing, The Clement, The One
who delays the punishment for those who deserve
it and then He might forgive them.
http//www.jannah.org/articles/names.html
Al Halim All-clement 11 times 2225,,235,263
3155 412 5101 1744 2259 3351 3541
6417
Note This unnamed son of Ibraham to be born
will bear the Name Haleem Forbearing which is
associated with the 32th Name of Allah al
Haleem. This person will also bear the 99th Name
of Allah al Sabir or As Sabur in Surah 57103.
If the person is of such a great stature, the
ransom given must be really a great one !
64
As-Sabûr The Patient 99th Name of Allah The One
who does not hasten to punish, but forgives. He
constrains Himself to be patient and endure the
misdoings of His creation. As-Sabur is one of
the Ninety-Nine Names. The Prophet said, "None
is more patient than Allah in face of the harmful
words He hears from people they claim that he
has a child and yet He grants them well-being and
provides for them." (Abu Musa al-AshÔari,
al-Bukhari) http//ourworld.compuserve.com/homepag
es/ABewley/names.html
http//islamtomorrow.com/allah/sabur.htm
Note This son of Ibraham who survived the
sacrifice will also bear the 99th Name of Allah
as Sabur or al Sabir. This appears to be a
shirk !
65
Tafsir Ibn Kathir on Surah 37107 And We
ransomed him with a great sacrifice). It was
reported that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased
with him, said, "A ram which had grazed in
Paradise for forty years.'' Imam Ahmad recorded
that Safiyyah bint Shaybah said, "A woman from
Bani Sulaym, who was the midwife of most of the
people in our household, told me that the
Messenger of Allah sent for Uthman bin Talhah,
may Allah be pleased with him.'' On one occasion
she said, "I asked Uthman, Why did the Prophet
call you' He said, The Messenger of Allah said
to me, (I saw the horns of the ram when I
entered the House ?i.e., the Kabah?, and I
forgot to tell you to cover them up cover them
up, for there should not be anything in the House
which could distract the worshipper.)''' Sufyan
said, "The horns of the ram remained hanging in
the House until it was burned, and they were
burned too.'' This offers independent evidence
that the one who was to be sacrificed was
Ismail, peace be upon him. The Quraysh had
inherited the horns of the ram that Ibrahim
sacrificed, and they had been passed down from
generation to generation, until the Messenger of
Allah was sent. And Allah knows best.
66
God had abrogated the sacrifice of Ibrahims son
for a Ransom !
(And whosoever has Taqwa of Allah, He will make a
way for him to get out (from every difficulty).
And He will provide him from (sources) he never
could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in
Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah
will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set
a measure for all things.) (652-3). On the
basis of this Ayah and this story, some of the
scholars of Usul have stated that it is valid for
a ruling to be abrogated before anyone is able to
act upon it -- unlike some of the Mutazilah. The
evidence for this is obvious, because Allah
commanded Ibrahim, peace be upon him, to
sacrifice his son, then He abrogated that and
pointed out the ransom. The purpose of His
command had been primarily to reward His close
Friend for his patience and resolve in
sacrificing his son. Allah says (Verily, that
indeed was a manifest trial.) meaning, it was
clearly a test when he was commanded to sacrifice
his son, so, he hastened to do it, in submission
to the command of Allah and in obedience to Him.
Allah said (And of Ibrahim who fulfilled all
that.) (5337),
67
What Sacrifice is AzimMighty) to God ?
A pilgrim should give a sacrifice of a goat or
sheep one animal for one person is necessary. If
a bull or camel is sacrificed, seven persons can