وَٱذْكُرْ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ صَادِقَ ٱلْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّا ٥٤
And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.
إِسْمَاعِيل
Ismail: meaning of the name
Boy Hebrew origin Ismāʿīl
ProphetIn the QuranName of the prophet Ismaʿil (Ishmael); in Hebrew, “God hears”
The word as it is recited in the Quran: Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary, Maryam 19:54.
Ismail in Islam
Eldest son of Ibrahim and Hajar, Ismaʿil raised the foundations of the Kaʿba with his father (2:127), and the Quran praises him: “He was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet” (19:54). Named 12 times, he is the ancestor of the Arabs of Quraysh: “Allah chose Kinana from the descendants of Ismaʿil…” (Muslim 2276). Al-Bukhari reports the story of Hajar, the child and the spring of Zamzam (al-Bukhari 3364).
Meaning of the name Ismail
Ismaʿil is the Arabic form of the Hebrew Yishmaʿel, “God hears”: according to the Bible, God had heard his mother’s distress. Al-Qurtubi reports that Ibrahim used to pray “Hear, O Il”, il meaning “God” in Syriac, and gave this name to the son he was granted. The Quran records Ibrahim’s praise: “Praise be to Allah who has given me, in my old age, Ismaʿil and Ishaq; my Lord is indeed the Hearer of prayer” (14:39).
- In Arabic
- إِسْمَاعِيل إسماعيل
- Transliteration
- Ismāʿīl
- Gender
- Boy
- Origin
- Hebrew
Is Ismail in the Quran?
Yes: Ismail is named in the Quran 12 times, in 8 surahs.
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ ٱلْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ١٢٧
And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى وَهَبَ لِى عَلَى ٱلْكِبَرِ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَسَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ ٣٩
Praise to Allāh, who has granted to me in old age Ishmael and Isaac. Indeed, my Lord is the Hearer of supplication.
وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ كُلٌّ مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ ٨٥
And [mention] Ishmael and Idrees and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient.
8 other verses
In the hadiths
Authentic
Sahih Muslim 2276
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Verily Allah granted eminence to Kinana from amongst the descendants of Isma'il, and he granted eminence to the Quraish amongst Kinana, and he granted eminence to Banu Hashim amonsgst the Quraish, and he granted me eminence from the tribe of Banu Hashim.
اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى كِنَانَةَ مِنْ وَلَدِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَاصْطَفَى قُرَيْشًا مِنْ كِنَانَةَ وَاصْطَفَى مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ وَاصْطَفَانِي مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ "
Authentic
Sahih al-Bukhari 3364
While the mother of Isma‘īl was breastfeeding her son Isma‘īl, Ibrahīm brought them to a place near the House; under a tree on the spot of Zamzam and the highest place in the Mosque. During those days there was nobody in Makkah nor was there any water
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “While the mother of Isma‘īl was breastfeeding her son Isma‘īl, Ibrahīm (peace be upon him) brought them to a place near the House (the Ka‘bah); under a tree on the spot of Zamzam and the highest place in the Mosque. During those days there was…
أَوَّلَ مَا اتَّخَذَ النِّسَاءُ الْمِنْطَقَ مِنْ قِبَلِ أُمِّ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، اتَّخَذَتْ مِنْطَقًا لَتُعَفِّيَ أَثَرَهَا عَلَى سَارَةَ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ بِهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ، وَبِابْنِهَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَهْىَ تُرْضِعُهُ حَتَّى…
Authentic
Sahih al-Bukhari 3373
The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by some persons of the tribe of Aslam practicing archery (i.e. the throwing of arrows) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O offspring of Ishmael! Practice archery (i.e. arrow throwing) as your father was a great archer (i.e. arrow-thrower). I am with (on the side of) the son of…
ارْمُوا بَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ، فَإِنَّ أَبَاكُمْ كَانَ رَامِيًا، وَأَنَا مَعَ بَنِي فُلاَنٍ ". قَالَ فَأَمْسَكَ أَحَدُ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا لَكُمْ لاَ…
Is this name permissible?
No text or scholarly opinion concerns the name Ismail in particular: the general rules of Islam apply.
Read the rules for choosing a name
This page is an aid to reflection, not a fatwa. For a personal case, ask a person of knowledge.
Writing Ismail in each language
- French
- Ismaël, Ismail, Ismaïl, Smaïl
- English
- Ismail, Ismael, Ismaeel
- Spanish
- Ismail, Ismael
- Turkish
- İsmail
- Arabic
- إِسْمَاعِيل
Similar names
See also
- Ibrahimإِبْرَاهِيم Name of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham); “father of a multitude” according to the Bible
- Hajarهَاجَر Name of Hajar (Hagar), mother of Ismaʿil; a name of uncertain meaning
- Ishaqإِسْحَاق Name of the prophet Ishaq (Isaac); in Hebrew, “he laughs”
- Idrisإِدْرِيس Name of the prophet Idris, of uncertain origin; often linked to Arabic dars, “study”
