The Origins of Islam

Special relationship between Islam, Judaism and Christianity

The origins of Islam are where Jews and Christians would least expect them - in their own Bible.  These monotheistic religions spring from Abraham, the common ancestor of their prophets.  So Islam is not like Hinduism or Buddhism, but because of Abraham, there is a special relationship with Judaism and Christianity.

The first blessing given to Hagar and Ishmael

Remember the story of Abraham, Sara and Hagar in the Bible, in the Book of Genesis?

The childless Sara gave Hagar to Abraham to take as wife so he could have a child, but when Hagar got pregnant, Sara's jealousy led her to attack Hagar.   Hagar ran away, and God sent an angel to her telling her to go back with a great blessing - I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count. (Genesis 16:9-11)

16:9 The angel of Yahweh said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.” 16:10 The angel of Yahweh said to her, “I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be numbered for multitude.” 16:11 The angel of Yahweh said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction.

She is one of the only two women in all creation to whom God specially sent an angel with the tidings of a blessed son.  Of course, you know the other woman, Mary, mother of Jesus.

Ishmael is a blessed name, for the name was given to him by God, and it means "God has heard".

The second blessing given to Hagar and Ishmael

After Ishmael was born, Sara's extreme  jealousy led her to ask Abraham to abandon Hagar and Ishmael in the desert.   Abraham went along with her jealous demand, knowing it to be part of God's greater plan. 

In the desert, after her water ran out, Hagar left baby Ishmael and ran between two hills looking for water.  God sent an angel to her, with a great blessing that He would make Ishmael a great nation, and the angel opened up a spring of water. (Genesis 21:18-20)

World English Bible translation:  Book of Genesis

21:17 God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 21:18 Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him in your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”

21:19 God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy drink. 21:20 God was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and became, as he grew up, an archer. 21:21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.

Hagar and Ishmael settled in that place, known as Becca, now Mecca.   The Bible story does not identify the place accurately, which is an error in the Bible.

If repeatedly being sent angels and given blessings is any indication, Hagar is the third most blessed woman in creation, after Mary, mother of Jesus, and the wife of the Pharaoh at the time of Moses.    And it says about Ishmael that God was with him as he grew up, what sort of a man would he be then, if not a saintly and pious person?

The third blessing given to Abraham and Ishmael

Thirteen years later, Abraham was given tidings of a son Isaac by Sara, he asked God for a blessing for Ishmael. God blessed Ishmael with the promise to make him a great nation, while the covenant was to be with Isaac. (Genesis 17:20-21)

World English Bible translation:  Book of Genesis

17:20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 17:21 But my covenant I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”

Abraham later came to Ishmael in the desert and they built the place of pilgrimage, the Kaaba in Mecca, for all mankind who believe in the God of Abraham.   People have performed the pilgrimage at the Kaaba in Mecca since the time of Abraham.   Becca, the old name for Mecca, is mentioned in one of the Psalms of David, Psalm 84, as Baca, indicating that perhaps David had performed the pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Becca/Mecca.

 

God's fulfillment of His promises to bless Ishmael?

Did God ever fulfill His promises to Hagar and Abraham, the great blessings? If so, when and how?   Was it through the Prophet Muhammad, for he is the only descendant of Ishmael who appears to fulfill the promises made by God in the Bible?