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Fatwa CenterThe command to sacrifice Isma‘eel is a vision from Allaah Almighty
Question
How could we refute the claim of those who say that the command to sacrifice Ismaa‘eel (Ishmael), May Allaah Exalt his mention, which was received through a vision, came from Satan, for Allaah Almighty never Enjoins immorality and evildoing? May Allaah Reward you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
This argument, i.e. that the command to sacrifice Ismaa‘eel 
came from Satan, is false and groundless, and even annulled. It is impermissible for anyone not only to believe it, but also to utter it. The falsehood of this argument seems clear from many perspectives:
First: how could it be believable that Ibraaheem (Abraham) was about to sacrifice his son simply depending on a dream from Satan ordering him to do so? How could he do so simply depending on a Satanic dream? This could not be done by anyone of the common people, let alone the Imaam of the monotheists . The same is true of Ismaa‘eel who accepted to be sacrificed.
Second: the righteous predecessors of this Ummah took evidence from this story that the vision of the Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, is a kind of Divine revelation. It was narrated on the authority of ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Umayr 
that he said, "The vision of the Prophets is revelation." Then he recited (what means): {…O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you…}[Quran 37:102] [Al-Bukhari]
This tradition, without the noble verse, was narrated by Al-Haakim in Al-Mustadrak, and At-Tabaraani in Al-Kabeer, on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas 
and its chain of narrators is good.
Third, and more important: Allaah Almighty Praised Ibraaheem for he hastened to respond to the Command of His Lord, and the same is true of Ismaa‘eel for his patience with that trial. Allaah Almighty Says (what means): {We Called to him, "O Ibraaheem, You have fulfilled the vision." Indeed, We thus Reward the doers of good.}[Quran 37:104-105]
If the one who gave that command had been Satan, then, how come Allaah Praised him for his fulfilling it (the dream that came from Satan)?
Fourth: in his comment on the following Statement of Allaah Almighty (which means): {Indeed, this was the clear trial.}[Quran 37:106] Al-Qurtubi said in his Tafseer:
The evident testing: he (Ibraaheem) was ordered to sacrifice his son (Ismaa‘eel), thereupon he hastened to do it, submitting to the Command of Allaah Almighty and complying with the obligations of his obedience to Him. In confirmation of that, He Says (what means): {And [of] Ibraaheem, who fulfilled [his obligations].}[Quran 53:37] That is so concerning the vision.
As for their saying that Allaah Almighty never Enjoins immorality and evildoing, it is a true argument whereby falsehood is intended. That is because Allaah Almighty Ordains and Decides whatever He Pleases, and there is no adjuster of His Decision, nor a repeller of His Decree, as confirmed by His Statement (which means): {And Allaah Decides; there is no adjuster of His decision. And He Is swift in account.}[Quran 13:41]
On the other hand, Allaah Almighty Made the repentance of the children of Israaeel perfect by killing themselves, as stated when He Says (what means): {And [recall] when Moosa (Moses) said to his people, "O my people, indeed you have wronged yourselves by your taking of the calf [for worship]. So repent to your Creator and kill yourselves. That is best for [all of] you in the Sight of your Creator." Then He Accepted your repentance; indeed, He Is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.}[Quran 2:54] Is it said here that Allaah Almighty Enjoined immorality and evildoing?
The truth of the matter, in which there is no doubt, is that the command to sacrifice Ismaa‘eel was a vision from Allaah, the Exalted.
Allaah Knows best.
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