Abraham (-1996 to -1821)

God's promise regarding Abraham was to give a multitude of children or offspring. God's promise of impurity can be seen in Genesis 15: 5 “He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

While living in Canaan, there was a dispute between the shepherds who worked for Abram and those who worked for Lot. This is because both parties have abundant wealth and livestock, so the place is not enough for both of them. Abram suggested to Lot that they separate, and allowed his nephew to choose first. Lot chose fertile land east of the Jordan and camped near Sodom, while Abram, having received another promise from God, went to Mamre, near Hebron, and built another altar to the Lord. Some interpretations of the Bible state that Lot tends to prioritize personal gain, because he chose to stay near Sodom only because of the fertility of his place, ignoring the evil nature of its inhabitants.

After several years, countries in the Jordan valley region and its surroundings revolted against Elam's rule. Elam's ruler at that time, King Chedorlaomer, then mobilized troops to attack the cities in the Jordan valley and took many people prisoner. Lot and his family were among those who were taken prisoners. This incident was known as the Battle of Siddim. Knowing the fate of his nephew, Abram gathered 318 trained slaves and chased Elam's army, won victory in the area north of Damascus called Hoba, and then managed to free Lot. 

Believing that she could not conceive, Sarai then gave Hagar as Abram's concubine or wife. However, after becoming pregnant, Hagar felt more noble than Sarai, so Sarai bullied Hagar. Hagar then fled, but an angel came to her, telling her to return and explaining that God would multiply her descendants incalculable, also telling her to name her son Ishmael because God heard of Hagar's oppression. Ishmael was born when Abram was 86 years old.

God then changed Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah. God promised Abraham to be the father of a large nation, to bestow many children and grandchildren, and to emerge kings from his descendants. God also promised Abraham and his descendants to give the land of Canaan. This covenant was fulfilled through Isaac, even though God promised that Ishmael would be a great nation too. As a sign of the covenant, God commanded all males in Abraham's family and household to be circumcised. The circumcision covenant (unlike other promises) had two sides and was conditional: if Abraham and his descendants fulfilled their promise, God would be their Lord and give them the land. Abraham, Ishmael, and all the males in Abraham's household were then circumcised. This circumcision covenant was made when Abraham was 99 years old.

In the Bible it says that while Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent in the heat of the day, three foreign guests came, and Abraham bowed to them as a form of respect. Abraham then served the calf, bread, and milk, and the guests ate it. Afterward, they announced that next year, Abraham and Sarah would have a son. Sarah laughed at the news, then God asked why Sarah was laughing, even though nothing was impossible for Him. Sarah then denied that she had laughed out of fear.

Approximately, in 2066 BC, the birth of Isaac had been delivered by God Himself when he came to Abraham and Sarah's tent about a year earlier. Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah 91 years old.

During Isaac's weaning party, Sara saw Ishmael playing with Isaac and she didn't like it. Sarah said to Abraham, “Get rid of the slave girl and her child, because this servant's son will not be heir together with my son Isaac.” Even though Abraham was annoyed with Sarah's words, God told Abraham to listen to Sarah's words. Abraham then asked to leave, and Hagar carried the provisions and Ishmael on his shoulder into the wilderness. After running out of water, Hagar threw her child in the bush, crying because she could not bear to see Ishmael die. When he saw the well, Hagar immediately filled the container with water and drank it to Ishmael. Referring to the verses in the Book of Genesis, it is estimated that Ishmael was about sixteen years old at the time of the incident, considering that he was fourteen years older than Isaac.

Abraham died at the age of 175 and he was buried by Ishmael and Isaac in the same place as Sarah. The tombs of Abraham and Sarah became part of the caliphate power in 637 AD.