Muslim Ishmael

[William H.]

Many "muslims" claim Ishmael was first Arab, a prophet, and ancestor of muhammad. Fact is Ishmael learned Arabic from a specific Arab tribe documented in Both Jewish Islamic and Jewish sources.
The Islamic sources are “Sahih" (authentic) Hadith. Collections within sahib hadiths indicate that the Arabs are not all descendants of Ishmael. In fact, Bukhari’s collection states that Ishmael was taught Arabic by Jurhum’s descendants. Same tribe Jewish sources say taught Ishmael Arabic.

Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 583: Narrated Ibn Abbas: “The first lady to use a girdle was the mother of Ishmael. She used a girdle so that she might hide her tracks from Sarah. Abraham brought her and her son Ishmael while she was suckling him, to a place near the Ka'ba under a tree on the spot of Zam-zam, at the highest place in the mosque. … they (i.e. the Jurhum people) were coming through the way of Kada'. They landed in the lower part of Mecca … The Prophet added, "Ishmael's mother was sitting near the water. They asked her, ‘Do you allow us to stay with you?’ She replied, ‘Yes, but you will have no right to possess the water.’ They agreed to that." The Prophet further said, "Ishmael's mother was pleased with the whole situation as she used to love to enjoy the company of the people. So, they settled there, and later on they sent for their families who came and settled with them so that some families became permanent residents there. The child (i.e. Ishmael) grew up and learnt Arabic from them and (his virtues) caused them to love and admire him as he grew up, and when he reached the age of puberty they made him marry a woman from amongst them.”

ANYWAY, All Semitic tribes carry the tradition that tribal identification is done through the fathers. Ishmael's father was Abram (a Hebrew) who gave offspring unto an Egyptian woman. His biblical name means El (A Hebrew title meaning G-d) hears. He was blessed of G-d but he was Never given the blessing Given unto Isaac (which included being an instrument used to bring forth G-d's Word) Ishmael was blessed that he should bring forth a nation of people and his character is described as a "wild man", "his hand against every man and every man's hand against him". Again how is it logical to use that type of character as a messenger unto the World?

In pre-Islamic times, there were three distinct groups of Arabs- the Ba'ida, Ariba, and Musta'riba. The Ba'ida were the "legendary Arabs of the past," while the Ariba were the "Southern Arabs." Ishmael's descendants became the Northern Arabs known as the Musta'riba or the "Arabized Arabs." The Musta'riba were described as Arabized since it is believed Ishmael learned Arabic when he moved to Mecca and married into the Arabic tribe of Jurhum.- Wikipedia/ [22] Bakhos, Carol (2006). Ishmael on the Border: Rabbinic Portrayals of the First Arab. Albany, NY: State University of NY Press. ISBN 9780791467602.

http://www.answering-islam.org/authors/cornelius/arabs.html