The story of Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail, for kids

The story of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail, alayhimas salaam, is a story of a father and son who both loved Allah more than anything, and of Allah’s mercy to them. It is the story Muslims remember every year at Eid al-Adha. Here it is retold from the Qur’an and authentic hadith for you to read aloud, with the lessons, questions to ask afterwards and where it is in the Qur’an.

Who were Ibrahim and Ismail?

Ibrahim, alayhis salaam, was one of the greatest Prophets, the one Allah took as a close friend (4:125). Ismail, alayhis salaam, was his son, born to his wife Hajar. Allah praises Ismail as true to his promise, a messenger and a Prophet, who told his family to pray (19:54-55). The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is one of Ismail’s descendants (Sahih Muslim 2276).

The story of Ibrahim and Ismail, to read aloud

The numbers in brackets are the surah and ayah, for you rather than for reading aloud. When you say their names, add “alayhimas salaam”: peace be upon them both.

A baby in the valley

Prophet Ibrahim, alayhis salaam, prayed: “My Lord, give me a child who will be one of the righteous” (37:100). And Allah gave him the good news of a gentle, patient boy (37:101): Ismail.

When Ismail was still a baby, Allah told Ibrahim to take him and his mother, Hajar, to a dry valley with no water and no plants, near Allah’s House in Makkah (14:37). Hajar asked, “Has Allah told you to do this?” “Yes,” said Ibrahim. “Then Allah will not let us be lost,” said Hajar.

When their water ran out, Hajar ran back and forth between two little hills, Safa and Marwah, looking for help. And Allah sent water, gushing up out of the ground near baby Ismail. That water is Zamzam, and it still flows today (Sahih al-Bukhari 3364).

The dream

Ismail grew into a boy, old enough to walk and work beside his father (37:102). Then Ibrahim had a dream. The dreams of Prophets are true messages from Allah, and in this dream Ibrahim saw that he was sacrificing his son.

Ibrahim told Ismail: “O my son, I have seen in a dream that I am sacrificing you. So what do you think?” (37:102)

And Ismail answered: “O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, one of the patient” (37:102).

So they both obeyed Allah, and Ibrahim laid his son down, ready to do what Allah had asked (37:103).

Then Allah called out to him: “O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream!” (37:104-105) It had been a test, a very great test (37:106), and they had both passed it. Allah kept Ismail safe. In his place, Allah gave a great sacrifice (37:107): a ram, as the scholars explain.

Allah blessed Ibrahim, and made people remember him with good forever. “Peace be upon Ibrahim,” says Allah (37:108-109).

Building the Kaaba

Years later, Ibrahim and Ismail built the Kaaba together, the House of Allah in Makkah. As they lifted the stones, they prayed: “Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing” (2:127).

What does the story of Ibrahim and Ismail teach children?

• Obey Allah, and trust Him. Hajar trusted that Allah would look after them, and He did. Ibrahim and Ismail obeyed, and Allah kept Ismail safe.
• Patience. Ismail said, “You will find me, if Allah wills, one of the patient.” He knew patience comes with Allah’s help.
• Parents and children talk together. Ibrahim asked his son, “What do you think?” and Ismail answered with respect: “O my father”.
• Allah rewards those who do good. Allah says that is how He rewards the doers of good (37:105).
• Ask Allah to accept our work. Even while building the Kaaba, they asked Allah to accept it from them.

What can I ask my child after the story?

1. What did Ibrahim ask Allah for, before Ismail was born?
2. What did Allah send for Hajar and baby Ismail in the valley?
3. What did Ismail say when his father told him about the dream?
4. What did Allah send in place of Ismail?
5. What did Ibrahim and Ismail say while they built the Kaaba? Can you say it too?

What age is this story for?

Young children can find this story upsetting if it is told carelessly. For ages four to six, tell it as the story of a father and son who loved Allah, of Allah keeping Ismail safe, and of the ram; there is no need to dwell on the moment Ibrahim laid his son down. Hajar and Zamzam, and building the Kaaba, are happy stories for any age. From about eight, read As-Saffat 37:99-111 together in a translation you trust.

How is this story connected to Eid al-Adha?

Every year at Eid al-Adha, Muslims remember Ibrahim’s obedience, and many families offer a sacrifice and share the meat. Allah tells us that neither the meat nor the blood reaches Him; what reaches Him is our taqwa, our care to please Him (22:37). For how to explain Eid and Qurbani to your child, see Explaining Eid al-Adha to kids.

Where is the story of Ibrahim and Ismail in the Qur’an?

• Ibrahim 14:37; Sahih al-Bukhari 3364: Hajar, baby Ismail and Zamzam
• As-Saffat 37:99-111: The dream, Ismail’s answer and the great sacrifice
• Al-Baqarah 2:125-129: Building the Kaaba
• Maryam 19:54-55: Ismail, true to his promise

Which ilmbee book tells this story?

Ismail and the Ram (Book 39) tells the story of the dream and the ram for children aged 4 to 11. It is narrated, like every book in Series 01: with Read to me, each word lights up as it is read; with Watch, the pages turn by themselves. The first three books of the series are free to read now. For more of Ibrahim’s stories, see the story of Prophet Ibrahim.

The books in this guide

From ilmbee Series 01, 100 illustrated books read in order. The first 3 are free to read.

• Book 39Ismail and the RamProphets & Quran Stories

Frequently asked questions

What did Ismail say to his father?

“O my father, do as you are commanded; you will find me, if Allah wills, one of the patient” (37:102).

Was it a ram that Allah sent in place of Ismail?

The Qur’an calls it “a great sacrifice” (37:107), and the scholars of tafsir explain that it was a ram, a male sheep.

How old was Ismail when this happened?

The Qur’an says he was old enough to walk and work alongside his father (37:102); it gives no exact age.

Who was Ismail’s mother?

Hajar. Ibrahim left her and baby Ismail in the valley of Makkah by Allah’s command, and Allah gave them the water of Zamzam (Sahih al-Bukhari 3364).

Did Ibrahim and Ismail build the Kaaba?

Yes. The Qur’an tells how Ibrahim and Ismail raised the foundations of the House, praying “Our Lord, accept this from us; You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing” (2:127).

Is this story too frightening for young children?

Told gently, no. Keep the focus on a father and son who loved Allah and on Allah keeping Ismail safe, and save the full verses for children of about eight and older.

Sources

Qur'an references are given as surah:ayah, with the meaning in plain English. Hadith are from the collections named.

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3364: Ibrahim leaves Hajar and baby Ismail in the valley of Makkah; Hajar runs between Safa and Marwah; the water of Zamzam.
• Qur’an 14:37 (Ibrahim): “I have settled some of my descendants in a valley without crops, by Your Sacred House”.
• Qur’an 37:99-111 (As-Saffat): “My Lord, grant me a righteous child”; a forbearing boy; the dream; “O my father, do as you are commanded; you will find me, if Allah wills, of the patient”; both submitted; “O Ibrahim, you have fulfilled the vision”; a clear trial; ransomed with a great sacrifice; peace upon Ibrahim.
• Qur’an 37:112 (As-Saffat): the good news of Ishaq, given after this.
• Qur’an 2:125-129 (Al-Baqarah): Ibrahim and Ismail purify and raise the House; “Our Lord, accept this from us; You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing” (2:127).
• Qur’an 19:54-55 (Maryam): Ismail was true to his promise, a messenger and a Prophet; he enjoined prayer on his family.
• Qur’an 22:37 (Al-Hajj): neither their meat nor their blood reaches Allah, but your taqwa reaches Him.
• Qur’an 4:125 (An-Nisa): Allah took Ibrahim as a close friend.
• Sahih Muslim 2276: Allah chose Kinanah from the descendants of Ismail, and from them the Prophet ﷺ.