The name of Abraham’s son is not mentioned in the description of the story about the sacrifice of his son pursuant to his dream, but we know from the Quran that Abraham was grateful to God Who had granted to him both Ismael and Isaac in his old age. Thus, there is controversy around us whether it was Ismael or Isaac. The Muslims claim that it was Ismael, while the Jews claim that it was Isaac. However, here are the verses from the Quran wherein both Ismail and Isaac are mentioned together as well as the story of Abraham about the sacrifice of his son pursuant to his dream are examined to know the name of Abraham’s son whether it was Ismael or it was Isaac to resolve this dispute.
- God had accepted Abraham’s prayer and gave him a son, and when his son grew up to work with him, he said to his son, “I see a dream that I am sacrificing you.” Then he had agreed with his father to be sacrificed for the sake of God. When both of them were about to do that, God called Abraham that he had fulfilled the vision, which was a clear test. Then He had ransomed his son with an animal sacrifice and left it for the later generations:
[37:100] My Lord, grant for me of the righteous.
[37:101] So, we had given him a good news of a forbearing child.
[37:102] Then when he had reached the working age with him, he said, “O my son, indeed, I see in the dream that I am sacrificing you. So look what you see?” He said, “O my father, do what you are commanded; you will find me, God willing, of the patient ones.”
[37:103] Then when both of them had submitted, and he put him down for the forehead.
[37:104] And we called him that O Abraham.
[37:105] Certainly, you have fulfilled the vision.” Indeed we, thus that we recompense the good-doers.
[37:106] Indeed, this was it surely the clear test.
[37:107] And we had ransomed him with a great sacrifice.
[37:108] And we had left for him in the later generations.
- Ismail has been mentioned 12 times by name and Isaac has been mentioned 17 times by name in the Quran, but both Ismail and Isaac have been mentioned together in 6 verses of 4 surahs in the Quran in the same pattern: Ismail’s name preceded by Isaac’s name followed by Abraham in reference to the forefathers of Jacob’s children and the patriarchs as well as Abraham’s praise to God granting to him in the old age being the Hearer of the prayer. Thus, this pattern indicates that Ismail was older than Isaac, and he reached the working age with Abraham, while Abraham praised to God for granting to him Ismail and Isaac in the old age being the Hearer of the prayer:
[2:133] Or had you been witnesses when the death had come to Jacob; when he said to his children, “What will you worship after of me?” They said, “We will worship your god; god of your forefathers: Abraham, and Ismail, and Isaac – One god. And to Him we are submitters.”
[2:136] Say, “We have believed in God, and what has been sent down to us, and what has been sent down to Abraham and Ismail and Isaac and Jacob and the Patriarchs; and what has been given to Moses and Jesus, and what has been given to the prophets from their Lord. We do not make distinction between anyone of them. And we are Submitters to Him.”
[2:140] Or do you say that Abraham, and Ismail, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Patriarchs had been Jews or Christians? Say, “Are you better knower or God?” And who is more unjust than whoever has concealed a testimony with him from God? And God is not unaware of what you do.”
[3:84] Say, “We have believed in God, and what has been sent down to us, and what has been sent down to Abraham, and Ismail, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Patriarchs, and what has been given to Moses, and Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We do not make distinction between anyone of them, and we are submitters to Him.”
[4:163] Indeed, we have inspired to you (Muhammad) as we had inspired to Noah, and the prophets after of him. And we had inspired to Abraham, and Ismail, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Patriarchs, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon. And we had given David Psalms.
[14:39] All praise to God Who has granted to me (Abraham) Ismail and Isaac in the old age; indeed, my Lord is surely Hearer of the prayer.
Mathematical confirmation
The description of the story about the sacrifice of Abraham’s son and the pattern in the Arabic text are found in 15 verses of 5 surahs in the Quran, and if the relevant surah and verse numbers are added, the sum is a multiple of 19 => 1691 (19X89) as shown in the table below:
This review makes it clear from the pattern that Ismail reached the working age with his father being older than Isaac, even both were granted to Abraham in the old age. When Ismail was told about the dream of sacrificing him, he agreed to do that in the cause of God. Thus, it was not Isaac but Ismail whom Abraham put his forehead down to sacrifice, while was substituted with an animal sacrifice making it a ritual of the animal sacrifice for the later generations. Now, there should not have any controversy, nor to have any debate whether it was Ismail or Isaac being it clarified from the Quran supported by an explicit proof from it, even no name is specified in the story of sacrificing own son.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (06/12/2026).