Where the story is told
This story is told in Surah as-Saffat (Quran 37:99-113), right after the passage about Ibrahim and the fire. After leaving his people, Ibrahim said that he was going to his Lord, who would guide him (37:99). He then asked his Lord for a child from among the righteous (37:100).
Allah gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy (37:101). The Quran does not name this boy in the verses that follow.
The dream and the answer
When the boy reached the age of striving along with his father, Ibrahim said to him, in the meaning of the verse: «فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعْىَ قَالَ يَٰبُنَىَّ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ فِى ٱلْمَنَامِ أَنِّىٓ أَذْبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ قَالَ يَٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ» (37:102).
Scholars explain that the dream of a prophet is a form of revelation, which is why Ibrahim treated it as a command. Notice how he spoke to his son. He did not simply act, but told him and asked what he thought. The son answered with calm faith: do what you are commanded, and you will find me, if Allah wills, among the steadfast. He placed his patience under the will of Allah.
The verse says the boy had reached the age of striving with his father, which means he was old enough to walk and work with him. The Quran does not give his age as a number. Ibrahim had asked for this child in his own prayer (37:100), so the boy was very dear to him, and that is what made the test so heavy.
Both submit, and Allah ransoms the boy
The Quran says that when both of them had submitted, and Ibrahim had laid his son down on his forehead, Allah called to him: 'O Ibrahim, you have fulfilled the vision' (37:103-105). Allah says that this is how He rewards the doers of good, and that this was the clear trial (37:105-106).
Then, in the words of the verse: «وَفَدَيْنَٰهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍۢ» (37:107). So the aim was never the loss of the boy. The test showed the full submission of the father and the son, and Allah removed the hardship with a ransom.
The word for 'submitted' in the verse comes from the same root as Islam. So the story shows the meaning of Islam in action: giving oneself to the command of Allah with trust that His wisdom is greater than what we can see.
Allah left for Ibrahim a good mention among later generations, 'Peace upon Ibrahim', and counted him among His believing servants (37:108-111).
Which son was it?
In this passage the Quran does not say whether the son was Ismail or Ishaq. After the story, Allah gives Ibrahim good tidings of Ishaq, a prophet from among the righteous (37:112). Scholars have differed on this point since early times.
Many scholars, including Ibn Kathir, held that it was Ismail. Their reasons include that the good tidings of Ishaq come after the story, as a separate gift, and that when Ishaq's birth was announced, the news also mentioned Yaqub who would come after him (11:71), which they say does not fit with a command to sacrifice Ishaq as a boy. Other scholars, some reported from early generations, held that it was Ishaq. Both views honour Ibrahim and his family, and the lesson of the story does not depend on the name.
Eid al-Adha and what is not told
Muslims remember Ibrahim's submission during the days of Eid al-Adha and the Hajj season. The Quran teaches that for every community Allah appointed a rite of sacrifice in which His name is mentioned (22:34), and that what reaches Allah is not the meat or the blood but the piety of the person (22:37). The Prophet ﷺ also offered a sacrifice, and Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that he sacrificed two horned rams (Sahih al-Bukhari 5564).
The Quran does not tell the age of the son, the place, the animal that came as the ransom, or the exact words spoken at that moment. Some commentators say it was a ram, but the verse says only 'a great sacrifice'. Further scenes in popular retellings are not part of the Quran or of authentic hadith.
Lessons from this story
- Real submission means trusting that what Allah commands is good, even when the heart finds it heavy.
- Ibrahim consulted his son gently, and the son answered with patience and respect. Faith grows well in a home where this happens.
- The test ended in mercy. Allah does not delight in the pain of His servants, and He replaces what is given up for His sake.
- Allah says that He rewards the doers of good (37:110). A good mention for Ibrahim has remained to this day.
- Eid al-Adha is about piety and sharing, not only the act of sacrifice (22:37).
General information for learning, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.