Are Muslims Descendants of Abraham? Few questions in interfaith discussions surface as often—or as confidently—as the claim that “Muslims trace their lineage back to Abraham through Ishmael.” It is said with the tone of something long settled, a statement woven into public imagination simply because it sounds plausible. Yet familiarity does not guarantee accuracy. When we look closely at Scripture, history, and theological development, a more nuanced—and far more interesting—

Did the Nations of Arabia Descend from Ishmael? A persistent belief in religious tradition is that the Arab peoples all descend from Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. It is a claim repeated in sermons, commentaries, and even political rhetoric. Muslims often embrace it as part of their heritage, while some Christians use it to connect Ishmael’s story in Genesis to modern Middle Eastern politics. But is this actually true?

Ishmael: The Son of Abraham and the God Who Hears. Ishmael’s story is inseparably tied to the tension between human attempts to fulfill God’s promises and God’s sovereign plan. The son of Abraham and Hagar, Ishmael was born outside of God’s covenant plan for Isaac, yet his life was not outside of God’s care. Scripture tells us that God heard his cries, promised to bless him, and made him the father of a great nation.

Hagar: The God Who Sees and the Mother of Ishmael. Hagar’s story weaves through Abraham and Sarah’s narrative as one of the most striking accounts of God’s concern for the marginalized. An Egyptian servant in Sarah’s household, Hagar found herself caught in the tension between God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah’s barrenness. Though she was cast aside and mistreated, God sought her out, spoke to her directly, and gave her promises for her son.