Ishmael(PBUH) Birthright & the Covenant

The Question of the Birthright and the Covenant

There is a very, very ancient religious dispute between the Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him)ites and the Israelites about the questions concerning the Birthright and the Covenant. The readers of the Bible and the Qur'an are familiar with the story of the great Prophet Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and his two sons Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) (Isma'il) and Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) (Ishaq). The story of Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him)'s call from the Dr of the Chaldees, and that of his descendants until the death of his grandson Joseph in Egypt, is written in the Book of Genesis (chapters xi-I). In his genealogy as recorded in Genesis, Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is the twentieth from Adam, and a contemporary of Nimrod, who built the stupendous Tower of Babel.

The early story of Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in the Dr of Chaldea, though not mentioned in the Bible, is recorded by the famous Jewish historian Joseph Flavius in his Antiquities and is also confirmed by the Qur'an. But the Bible expressly tells us that the father of Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), Terah, was an idolater (Joshua xxiv:2,14). Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) manifested his love and zeal for God when he entered into the temple and destroyed all the idols and images therein, and thus he was a true prototype of his illustrious descendant Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), He came out unhurt and triumphantly from the burning furnace wherein he was cast by the order of Nimrod. He leaves his native land for Haran in the company of his father and his nephew Lot.

 He was seventy-five years old when his father died at Haran. In obedience and absolute resignation to the divine call, he leaves his country and starts on a long and varied journey to the land of Canaan, to Egypt and to Arabia. His wife Sarah is barren; yet God announces to him that he is destined to become the father of many nations, that all the territories he is to traverse shall be given as an inheritance to his descendants, and that, "by his Seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed"! This wonderful and unique promise in the history of religion was met with an unshaken faith on the part of Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), who had no issue, no son. When he was led out to look at the sky at night and told by Allah that his posterity would be as numerous as the stars, and as innumerable as the sand which is on the shores of the sea, Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) believed it. And it was this belief in God, that "was counted righteousness," as the Scripture says.

A virtuous poor Egyptian girl, Hagar by name, is a slave and a maid in the service of Sarah. At the bidding and consent of the mistress the maidservant is duly married by the Prophet, and from this union Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is born, as foretold by the Angel. When Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is thirteen years old, Allah again appears to Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) through His Angel and revelation; the same old promise is repeated to Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him); the rite of Circumcision is formally instituted and immediately executed. Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), at his ninetieth year of age, Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), and all the male servants, are circumcised; and the "Covenant" between God and Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) with his only begotten son is made and sealed, as if it were with the blood of circumcision. It is a kind of treaty concluded between Heaven and the Promised Land in the person of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as the only offspring of the nonagenarian Patriarch. Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) promises allegiance and fealty to his Creator, and God promises to be forever the Protector and God of the posterity of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Later on-that is to say, when Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was ninety-nine years old and Sarah ninety, we find that she also bears a son whom they name Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) according to the divine promise.

As no chronological order is observed in the Book of Genesis, we are told that after the birth of Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and his mother are turned out and sent away by Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in a most cruel manner, simply because Sarah so wished. Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and his mother disappear in the desert, a fountain bursts out when the youth is on the point of death from thirst; he drinks and is saved. Nothing more is heard of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in the Book of Genesis except that he married an Egyptian woman, and when Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) died he was present together with Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to bury their dead father.

Then the Book of Genesis continues the story of Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), his two sons, and the descent of Jacob (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) into Egypt, and ends with the death of Joseph.

The next important event in the history of Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as recorded in Genesis (xxii) is the offering of "his only son" a sacrifice to God, but he was ransomed with a ram which was presented by an angel. As the Qur'an says, "this was a manifest trial" for Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) (Qur'an, 37:106), but his love for God surpassed every other affection; and for this reason he is surnamed "the Friend of Allah" (Qur'an, 4:125).

Thus runs the brief account of Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in connection with our subject of the Birthright and the Covenant.

There are three distinct points which every true believer in God must accept as truths.

1)     The first point is that Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is the legitimate son of Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), his firstborn, and therefore his claim to birthright is quite just and legal.

2)    The second point is that the Covenant was made between God and Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as well as his only son Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) before Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was born. The Covenant and the institution of the Circumcision would have no value or signification unless the repeated promise contained in the divine words, "Throughout thee all the nations of the earth shall be blessed," and especially the expression, the Seed "that shall come out from the bowels, he will inherit thee" (Genesis xv:4). This promise was fulfilled when Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was born (Genesis xvi.), and Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had the consolation that his chief servant Eliezer would no longer be his heir. Consequently we must admit that Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was the real and legitimate heir of Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him)'s spiritual dignity and privileges. The prerogative that "by Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) all the generations of the earth shall be blessed, "so often repeated- though in different fonns-was the heritage by birthright, and was the patrimony of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The inheritance to which Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was entitled by birthright was not the tent in which Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) lived or a certain camel upon which he used to ride, but to subjugate and occupy forever all the territories extending from the Nile to the Euphrates, which were inhabited by some ten different nations (xvii: 18-21). These lands have never been subdued by the descendants of Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), but by those of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him). This is an actual and literal fulfilment of one of the conditions contained in the Covenant.

3)     The third point is that Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was also born miraculously and specially blessed by the Almighty, that for his people the land of Canaan was promised and actually occupied under Joshua. No Muslim does ever think of disparaging the sacred and prophetical position of Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and his son Jacob (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him); for to disparage or to lower a Prophet is an impiety. When we compare Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), we cannot but reverence and respect them both as holy servants of God. In fact, the people of Israel, with its Law and sacred Scriptures, have had a unique religious history in the Old World, They were indeed the Chosen People of God. Although that people have often rebelled against God, and fallen into idolatry, yet they have given to the world myriads of prophets and righteous men and women.

So far there could be no real point of controversy between the descendants of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the people of Israel. For if by "Blessing" and the "Birthright" it meant only some material possessions and power, the dispute would be settled as it has been settled by sword and the accomplished fact of the Arab occupation of the promised lands. Nay, there is a fundamental point of dispute between the two nations now existing for nearly four thousand years; and that point is the question of the Messiah and Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The Jews do not see the fulfilment of the so- called Messianic prophecies either in the person of Christ or in that of Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The Jews have always been jealous of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) because they know very well that in him the Covenant was made and with his circumcision it was concluded and sealed. and it is out of this rancour that their scribes or doctors of law have corrupted and interpolated many passages in their Scriptures. To efface the name "Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him)" from the second, sixth, and seventh verses of the twenty-second chapter of the Book of Genesis and to insert in its place "Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him)," and to leave the descriptive epithet "thy only begotten son" is to deny the existence of the former and to violate the Covenant made between God and Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him). It is expressly said in this chapter by God: "Because thou didst not spare thy only begotten son, I will increase and multiply thy posterity like the stars and the sands on the seashore," which word "multiply" was used by the Angel to Hagar in the wilderness: I will multiply thy offspring to an innumerable multitude, and that Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) "shall become a fruitful man" (Genesis xvi: 12). Now the Christians have translated the same Hebrew word, which means "fruitful" or "plentiful" from the verb para-identical with the Arabic we/era-in  their versions "a wild ass"! Is it not a shame and impiety to call Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) "a wild ass" whom God styles "Fruitful" or "Plentiful"?

It is very remarkable that Christ himself, as reported in the Gospel of St. Barnabas, reprimanded the Jews 'who said that the Great Messenger whom they call "Messiah" would come down from the lineage of King David, telling them plainly that he could not be the son of David, for David calls him "his Lord," and then went on to explain how their fathers had altered the Scriptures, and that the Covenant was made, not with Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), but with Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), who was taken to be offered a sacrifice to God, and that the expression "thy only begotten son" means Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), and not Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him). St. Paul, who pretends to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, uses some irreverent words about Hagar (Galatians vi:21- 31 and elsewhere) and Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), and openly contradicts his Master. This man has done all he could to pervert and mislead the Christians whom he used to persecute before his conversion; and I doubt very much that the Jesus of Paul may not be a certain Jesus, also son of Mary, who was hanged on a tree about a century or so before Christ, for his Messianic pretensions. In fact, the Epistles of St. Paul as they stand before us are full of doctrines entirely repugnant to the spirit of the Old Testament, as well as to that of the humble Prophet of Nazareth. St. Paul was a bigoted Pharisee and a lawyer. After his conversion to Christianity he seems to have become even more fanatical than ever. His hatred to Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and his claim to the birthright makes him forget or overlook the Law of Moses which forbids a man to marry his own sister under the pain of capital penalty. If Paul were inspired by God, he would have either denounced the Book of Genesis as full of forgeries when it says twice (xii: 1 0-20, xx:2-18) that Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was the husband of his own sister, or that he would have exposed the Prophet to be a liar! (God forbid.)

But he believes in the words of the book, and his conscience does not torment him in the least when he identifies Hagar with the barren desert of the Sinai, and qualifies Sarah as the Jerusalem above in heaven! (Galatians iv:25-26). Did ever St. Paul read this anathema of the Law:-

"Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people say: Amen"? (Deuteronomy xxvii:22).

Is there a human or divine law that would consider more legitimate one who is the son of his own uncle and aunt than he whose father is a Chaldean and his mother an Egyptian? Have you anything to say against the chastity and the piety of Hagar? Of course not, for she was the wife of a Prophet and the mother of a Prophet, and herself favoured with divine revelations.

The God who made the Covenant with Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) thus prescribes the law of inheritance, namely: If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other despised, and each one has a son, and if the son of the despised wife is the first-born, that son, and not the son of the beloved wife, is entitled to the birthright. Consequently the firstborn shall inherit twice that of his brother (Deuteronomy xxi: 15-17).1s not, then, this law explicit enough to put to silence all who dispute the just claim of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to birthright?

Now let us discuss this question of the birthright as briefly as we can. We know that Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was a nomad chief as well as an Apostle of God, and that he used to live in a tent and had large flocks of cattle and great wealth. Now the nomad tribesmen do not inherit lands and pastures, but the prince assigns to each of his sons certain clans or tribes as his subjects and dependents.

As a rule the youngest inherits the hearth or the tent of his parents, whereas the elder-unless unfit-succeeds him to his throne.

The great Mongol Conqueror Jenghiz Khan was succeeded by Oghtai, his eldest son, who reigned in Pekin as Khaqan, but his youngest son remained in his father's hearth at Qaraqorum in Mongolia. It was exactly the same with Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him)'s two sons.

Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), who was the younger of the two, inherited the tent of his father and became, like him, a nomad living in tents. But Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was sent to Hijaz to guard the House of Allah which he, together with Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), had built (Qur'an, 2:127). Here he settled, became Prophet and Prince among the Arab tribes who believed in him. It was at Mecca, or Becca, that the Ka'ba became the centre of the pilgrimage called aI-hajj. It was Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that founded the religion of one true Allah and instituted the Circumcision. His offspring soon increased and was multiplied like the stars of the sky. From the days of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to the advent of Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), the Arabs of Hijaz, Yemen and others have been independent and masters of their own countries. The Roman and Persian Empires were powerless to subdue the people of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Although idolatry was afterwards introduced, still the names of Allah, Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), and a few other Prophets were not forgotten by them.

Even Esau, the elder son of Isaac (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), left his father's hearth for his younger brother Jacob (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and dwelt in Edam, where he became the chief of his people and soon got mixed with the Arab tribes of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), who was both his uncle and father-in-law. The story of Esau's selling his birthright to Jacob (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) for a dish of pottage is foul trick invented to justify the ill- treatment ascribed to Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him). It is alleged that "God hated Esau and loved Jacob (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him)," while the twins were in their mother's womb; and that the "elder brother was to serve his younger one" (Genesis xxv, Romans ix:12-13). But, strange to say, another report, probably from another source, shows the case to be just the reverse of the above-mentioned prediction. For the thirty-third chapter of Genesis clearly admits that Jacob (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) served Esau, before whom he seven times prostrates in homage, addressing him "My Lord," and declaring himself as "your slave."

Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is reported to have several other sons from Qitura and "the concubines," to whom he gave presents or gifts and sent them towards the East. All these became large and strong tribes. Twelve sons of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) are mentioned by name and described, each one to be a prince with his towns and camps or armies (Genesis xxv). So are the children from Qitura, and others, as well as those descended from Esau mentioned by their names.

When we behold the number of the family of Jacob (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) when he went to Egypt, which hardly exceeded seventy heads, and when he was met by Esau with an escort of four hundred armed horsemen, and the mighty Arab tribes submitted to the twelve Emirs belonging to the family of Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), and then when the Last Messenger of Allah proclaims the religion of Islam, all the Arab tribes unitedly acclaim him and accept his religion, and subdue all the lands promised to the children of Abraham (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him), we must indeed be blind not to see that the Covenant was made with Ishmael (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the promise accomplished in the person of Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Before concluding this article I wish to draw the attention of the students of the Bible, especially that of the Higher Biblical Criticism, to the fact that the so-called Messianic Prophecies and Passages belong to a propaganda in favour of the Davidic Dynasty after the death of King Solomon when his kingdom was split into two. The two great Prophets Elias and Elisha, who flourished in the Kingdom of Samariah or Israel, do not even mention the name of David or Solomon. Jerusalem was not longer the centre of religion for the Ten Tribes, and the Davidic claims to a perpetual reign was rejected.

But Prophets like Ishaia and others who were attached to the Temple of Jerusalem and the House of David have foretold the coming of a great Prophet and Sovereign. There are certain manifest marks with which the coming Last Prophet will be known.