Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 4093

It is narrated from Wahb bin Munabbih (may Allah have mercy on him) that, concerning the story of Ishaq (peace be upon him) when Allah commanded Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to sacrifice him, he said: Allah Almighty granted Ishaq to Ibrahim (peace be upon him) on the night the angels departed from him. When he was seven years old, Allah revealed to Ibrahim (peace be upon him) that he should sacrifice him and make him an offering. In those days an offering would be accepted and raised up (to the heavens). Ibrahim (peace be upon him) concealed this from Ishaq and from all the people, and confided it to a friend of his who was called al-Azar al-Siddiq, and he was the first person to believe in Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his message. This friend said to him: "Indeed, Allah does not test someone like you with such a thing (actually being sacrificed); rather, He wishes to try you and test you. So do not think ill of Allah at all, for Allah is going to make you a leader for the people." And there is no might and no power for Ibrahim and Ishaq (peace be upon them both) except through Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Then Wahb narrated a long hadith, until Wahb said: And it has reached me that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Ishaq outstripped people in a supplication in which no one before him had preceded him, and he will surely stand on the Day of Resurrection and intercede for the people of this supplication (that is, the believers in Allah's Oneness). And Allah Almighty turned to Ibrahim at that station and said: 'O Ibrahim, O most truthful of the truthful, listen to Me.' And He said to Ishaq: 'O most patient of the patient, listen to Me. Indeed, today I have tested you both with a great trial with which I have not tested anyone of My creation. O Ibrahim, I tested you with the fire, and you showed a patience the like of which no one in the worlds has shown; and I tested you with striving (jihad) in My path while you were alone and weak, and you proved true and showed a patience and truthfulness the like of which no one in the worlds has shown. And O Ishaq, I tested you with sacrifice, and you were not miserly with your life, nor did you consider it (the sacrifice) too great in obedience to your father, and you regarded it as very slight and small for the sake of Allah, because of the good reward you hoped for and the joy of meeting Him. And indeed, today I make a covenant with you both which I will never break. As for you, O Ibrahim, I have made intimate friendship (khullah) binding upon Myself for you. So you are My intimate friend (Khalil) from among the people of the earth, to the exclusion of the men of all the worlds, and this is a virtue which no one attained before you and which no one after you should attain.' So Ibrahim (peace be upon him) fell down in prostration upon hearing this saying of Allah, out of reverence for it and giving thanks to Allah. 'And as for you, O Ishaq, ask of Me whatever you wish; ask Me and make your judgement, and you will be given what you ask.' Ishaq (peace be upon him) said: 'O my God, I ask You to choose me for Yourself, and to make me an intercessor for Your servants who believe in Your Oneness. So whichever servant meets You in a state of not associating anything with You, protect him from the Fire.' His Lord said to him: 'I have made binding for you what you asked, and I have made your guardianship (wilayah) certain for you. What I have promised you both is a promise which I will never break, a covenant which I will not violate, and a pleasant gift which will not be withdrawn.'"