Summary: In the Old Testament Abraham cannot have a child with his wife, Sarah. So, she gives him her handmaiden Hagar. With Hagar Abraham has a child, a son, Ishmael. Eventually, though, in her old age Sarah conceives of a child with divine help. That child is Isaac. After the birth of her son, Sarah forces Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away from their home. Although, in the Qurrsquo;an, it is Allah who tells Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael into the desert. While some Jews and Christians believe they are descendents of Isaac, Muslims believe they are the inheritors of Ishmaelrsquo;s legacy - that they, along with Jews and Christians, are the ldquo;children of Abrahamrdquo;. And they believe it was Ishmael, not Isaac, Abraham almost sacrificed to God. The sparing of Ishmaelrsquo;s life is celebrated with the festival Eid ul-Adha. When God spared Ishmael, the boy was replaced with a ram ndash; it is because of this Muslims make animal sacrifices during the festival. Ishmael is highly regarded in Islam for his goodness and wisdom. After wandering in the desert with his mother ndash; Hagarrsquo;s search for water is reenacted during the Hajj each year ndash; they settled in Mecca. There it is believed Ishmael built the Karsquo;aba with Abraham.
