Related FAQs

Sarah was around 90 years old when she was told she would bear a son. It seemed impossible to believe, causing her to doubt the promise. However, she was left with the question: “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?”

The name Isaac means “he will laugh”. It comes from the Hebrew name Yitzhak. The name was given to the biblical figure Isaac because of the laughter of Sarah and Abraham when they were told they would have a child in old age.

Sarah wanted Ishmael and Hagar sent away because she saw Ishmael mocking the young Isaac. She demanded action from Abraham, saying, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” She feared that Ishmael, as Abraham’s firstborn son, would inherit part of the family wealth and land, thus jeopardizing the inheritance of her own son, Isaac, who was considered the true heir according to God’s promise; she wanted to ensure that Isaac would receive the full inheritance without competition from Ishmael.

When Sarah demanded that Abraham send Ishmael away, he was “greatly displeased” or distressed by her request, as Ishmael was still his son, and the thought of casting him out troubled him. However, God instructed Abraham to listen to Sarah, assuring him that Ishmael would also become a great nation. Ultimately, Abraham obeyed God and sent them away.

The Quran does not mention Hagar by name and names both Ishmael and Isaac as Abraham’s sons; although the sacrificial son is not identified in the text, the majority of hadiths and commentaries assert that it was Ishmael.