Muslim Christian Dialogue - Islamicbook.ws

Tluslin Cbrislian Qialogue55The name Ishmael was also chosen by Allah Himself (Genesisl6: I I ); "And the Angel of the Lord said unto her (Hagar), Behold,thou art with child, and shalt bear a son. and shalt call his nameIshmael, because the Lord hath heard thy affliction." Ishmaelmeans God hears. And where in the Bible is it unitten that Ishmaelwas an Illegitimate son?m. Nowhere in the Bible.M. Long before both Ishmael and Isaac were bom, Allah made acovenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:18): "...saying, Unto thy seedhave I given this land, from the river of Egypt rurto the great river,the Euphrates." Was not the greater part of Arabia lying betweenthe Nile and the Euphrates, where later all the descendants ofIshmael were settling?m. Do you mean that no land was promised to Isaac and hisdescendants?M. We Muslims never deny that Isaac was also blessed. SeeGenesis l7:8: "And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed (Isaac)after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land ofCanaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."Do you see also the difference that Abraham was mentioned "astranger" in Canaan but not in the land between the Nile and theEuphrates. As a Chaldean he was more an Arab than a Jew.m. But the Covenant was made with Isaac according to Genesis17:21: "But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarahshall bear rnto thee at this time in the next year."M. Does this exclude Ishmael? Where in the Bible does it say thatAllah would not make any covenant with Ishmael?m. Nowhere.