Who was Ishmael?

The story of Ishmael

Ishmael was the first son of Abraham and his wife Sarah's maidservant, Hagar. According to the book of Genesis in the Bible, he was born when Abraham was 86 years old. He is considered a significant figure in both Judaism and Islam. Ishmael is best known for his relationship with his half-brother, Isaac, who was born to Abraham and Sarah when they were both elderly. In the biblical narrative, God promised Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation, and that through Isaac, his wife Sarah's son, this promise would be fulfilled. This caused tension between the two half-brothers and eventually led to Hagar and Ishmael being cast out of Abraham's household. Despite this, Ishmael went on to become the father of twelve sons, who are considered the ancestors of the Arab people. According to Islamic tradition, he is also the father of Prophet Muhammad. The place of Ishmael's birth is not specified in the Bible, but it is believed to be in Mesopotamia, in what is now modern-day Iraq. The exact location of his death is also not recorded, but it is believed to have taken place in the wilderness of Paran.