Ishmael is not Islam (Genesis 16)

When we read the story of Hagar and Ishmael, it’s easy for people to mix things up — especially because “Ishmael” and “Islam” sound like cousins. But once you look closely at the story and history, you discover they’re not cousins at all. They’re not even neighbours.

Let me explain.

When Hagar had Ishmael, what was born was a people group, not a religion. These were real human beings — families, clans, tribes — the kind of people who share food, land, jokes, and family drama. And God looked at this child, Ishmael, and did something very important: He blessed him. He promised to make him a great nation and He kept His word.


These descendants of Ishmael are not “bad people” or “wrong people.” They are simply people — and they are included in God’s kindness and mercy. You’ll find kind, honest, warm-hearted people among them just as you will among any other group. Think of it as a child born out of wedlock, rape or unplanned pregnancy. God doesn't look at the child as a mistake or a bad kid. It's just another child who will be blessed.


Now here’s where we need to draw a very clear line: Ishmael’s people came from Abraham’s household - Islam came from Muhammad in the 7th century AD. Those two things are not the same — not even close.


Islam did not show up in Genesis.

Islam did not start with Ishmael.

Islam was not delivered by an angel.



Islam appears much, much later — around 610–650 AD — when Muhammad introduced a new religious system. And that system often takes positions that disagree with the Bible, which is why Christians view the religion of Islam very differently from the people who descended from Ishmael. Christians pray for their salvation and pursue them for the same.


So we can say it like this, with a smile:

Ishmael → a nation of people God blessed.

Islam → a later religion Muhammad cooked up long after Ishmael.

Not the same recipe. Not the same kitchen.


This helps us keep two truths straight:

1. The people descended from Ishmael are loved by God.

They are part of Abraham’s extended family.

God blessed them.

God cared for them.

God protected them.

And many beautiful cultures came from them.

2. The religion of Islam is separate, later, and not part of God’s covenant story in Genesis.

It is a different posture, a different system, and a different message — one that does not continue the promises God made through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

So we honour the people,

we respect their dignity,

and we stay clear and honest about the difference between a God-blessed people group and a later religious structure that does not follow the biblical foundation.

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