Abraham and Family

Michael AbellMarc Fuller

Michael Musgrove

Overview

General similarities and differences betweenJewish, Christian, and Islamic beliefs in

regards to Abraham and Family

Conflict between Isaac and IshmaelWho was sacrificed? Who is the “chosen” son?

Importance of the Circumcision and the Covenant

Abraham’s Name

Arabic: Ibrahim

Hebrew: Avraham / Avram

English: Originally Abram, changed to Abraham (Gen 17:3-5)

Importance

Judaism: Forefather of Jews through line of

Isaac

Christianity: Father of faith

Islam: Built the Ka’bah; prophet of God

History

Originally from city of Ur (ancient city in Mesopotamia)

1800 B.C.E. Abraham departs homeland for

Canaan at God’s command (Gen 11:1-6)

Lived to be 175 years old

Built Ka’bah

HagarJudaism

Sarah’s Egyptian maid servant (Gen 16: 1)

Told to sleep with Abraham by Sarah (Gen 16: 2)

Viewed negatively by Sarah (Gen 16: 4-5)

Just a concubine so that Abraham could have a

child Ishmael (Gen 16: 3)

Hagar left because of abuse (Gen 16: 6)

HagarChristianity

Slave woman (Gal 4: 22)

Son is born naturally (Gal 4: 23)

Corresponds to present Jerusalem (Gal 4: 25)

Represents slavery through her and her children (Gal 4: 25)

“Drive out the slave woman and her son! For the son of the slave woman shall not share the inheritance with the son (Isaac)” (Gal 4: 30)

Hagar

Islam

Hagar is not mentioned in the Qur’an

Only recognized in footnotes as “Mother of Ishmael” n. 160

Sarah

JudaismAbraham’s half-sister and wife (Gen 20: 1-

18)

Earlier in her life she could not bear children

God promises her a son (Gen 18: 9-16)

Has Isaac at age of 90 (Gen 21: 7)

SarahChristianity (Gal 4:21-

31)Freeborn woman

Son is born though a promise of God

Only through her son, Isaac, is the promise of

God preserved

Mother of children of the promise of God

Sarah

Islam

Sarah isn’t mentioned in the Qur’an

Isaac

JudaismBorn through Sarah as a promise of God (Gen 21: 6)

As a promise to the covenant Abraham circumcised Isaac

(Gen 21: 3-5)

Seven years later God tests Abraham by commandinghim to sacrifice Isaac

Angel stops him at last moment

IsaacChristianity

God blesses Sarah and gives her a son: Isaac

(Gen 17)

God establishes his covenant with Isaac (Gen 17)

God tests Abraham by commanding him to

sacrifice his promised son Isaac (Gen 22)

Abraham’s servant finds a wife for Isaac,

Rebekah. (Gen 24)

Isaac

IslamIssac is “a prophet, One of theRighteous” (Surah 37: 112)

The Qur’an refers to Isaac as if the

reader already knows about him

Yishm'e'l Judaism

Viewed as wicked through repentant in most Jewish traditions

Ishmael was born through Hagar and Abraham, Sarah’sBecomes jealous and claims that Hagar looking uponSarah with disdain. (Gen 16: 5)

Sarah abuses Hagar, until she flees, she has a child, andGod tells her to name him Yishm’e’l. (Gen 16: 6)

Yishm’e’l was 13 when he was circumcised.

God says Yishm’e’l shall become the father of 12chieftains. (Gen 17: 20)

IshmaelChristianitySince God had kept Sarah from havingchildren, she gives her maid servant, Hagar, to Abraham as a birth mother. (Gen 16:2)

Hagar gives birth to Ishmael; howeverSarah is displeased with Ishmael andforces Abraham to send them away.(Gen 21)

Hagar is sent away with Ishmael under thecommand of Sarah, however is given apromise by God that Ishmael will have agreat nation. (Gen 21)

Ismā'īl Islam

Muslims trace their connection to Abraham through

Ismā'īl

Built the Ka’bah with father: Abraham (2:127)

Most Muslims believe that Ismā'īl settled in Mecca

During the hajj each year Muslims reenact the time

Hagar lost her infant son Ismā'īl

SacrificeJudaism

God commands Abraham to sacrifice son in Moriah (Gen 22: 2)

Isaac wondered where the sacrificial animal was (Gen 22: 7)

Right before Abraham sacrifices son an angel stops him

(Gen 22: 11)

Abraham proved his devotion to God (Gen 22: 12)

SacrificeChristianity

Abraham is put to the test whenasked to sacrifice Isaac

Abraham thinks that even ifIsaac dies, God will be able toraise him from the dead.

Seen as a supreme act ofperfect faith in God (Heb 11: 17-19)

Sacrifice

ChristianityAlthough Abraham is very important to

Christianity, remember Jesus is still key figure to Christian faith.

Abraham is father of Christian faith, but Jesus is Son of God

“Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” -Jesus

John 8:58

SacrificeIslam

Eid ul-Adha: ceremony focused on Abraham’swillingness to sacrifice his promised son,

whichMuslims believe was Yishm'e'l.

God spared Yishm'e'l ‘s life and insteadAbraham sacrificed a sheep

This was considered Abraham’s test of faith. (Surah 37: 102-113)

Covenant

Judaism: God commanded Abraham to circumcise

himself,his offspring and his slaves as a sign of aneverlasting covenant.

Isaac was circumcised on the 8th day after his birth, by Abraham, like God commanded of him.

(Gen 21: 4)

Covenant

ChristianityThe First Church Council in Jerusalemdecided that circumcision was not arequirement (Acts 15)

Paul warned Gentile Christians against adopting Jewish practices. (Galatians 6: 12-16, Philippians 3:2-3)

Covenant

IslamCircumcision is not mentioned as a

requirement in the Qu’ran

However it is recommended in Sunni Islam(http://lexicorient.com/e.o/abraham.html)

Some quote the sayings of Muhammad in the Hadith, saying that circumcision is a requirement based on the covenant made with Abraham and Allah.

SummaryAbraham

Ju: Forefather of the JewsCh: “Father of Faith”Is: A prophet

HagarJu: DespisedCh: Mother of slavesIs: Mother of chosen child

SarahJu: Mother of IsaacCh: Mother of freemen Is: Not mentioned

IshmaelJu: Illegitimate childCh: “Shall not share the inheritance with the son (Isaac)” Gal 4: 28Is: Chosen son/ Father of 12 tribes

Summary

IsaacJu: Father of Jacob, Jacob father of 12 tribes of IsraelCh: Represents the freeborn, chosen son (Gal 4: 26)Is: Son of Abraham

CovenantJu: Promised land and kingdomCh: Moving on from traditional Jewish practicesIs: Ishmael promised a kingdom

SacrificeJu: Proof of Abraham’s devotion to GodCh: Highest form of sacrifice, and ultimate declaration of faithIs: Ishmael was the sacrificial son