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Ishmael or Isaac?
Muslims believe that it was Ishmael, in contrast to the Taurat's record
that it was Isaac. However, this was not a unanimous opinion. Those early
Muslim commentators who believe that it was Ishmael include al-Zamkhshari,
al-Baidhawi, al-Tabari and Ibn al-Athir. This tradition was often used:
"Umar b. Abd-Al-Aizi asked a Jew converted to Islam about the difference
of opinion and he answered: "The 'dhabhi' is Ismail; the Jews know this
also, but they are jealous of you, they say it was Ishak." (Shorter
Encyclopaedia of Islam, p.175) . On the other hand, Al-Tha`labi expressly
emphasises the Ashab (companions) and Tabi`un (successors of the companions),
from `Umar Al-Khattab to Ka`b Al-Ahbar, believe that the person sacrificed
was Isaac. (ibid, p.175)
A scholarly investigation into the issue is
Reuven Firestone
Journeys in Holy Lands:
The Evolution of the Abraham-Ismael Legends in Islamic Exegesis
State University of New York Press, 1990, 265p, $24.95,
ISBN 0-7914-0332-7
and in the appendix all the Islamic witnesses are listed, those who say
Isaac and those who say Ishmael. It is pretty even in the outcome.
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