Taken from: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 226❖ The Age of Prophet Ismāʿīl (عليه السلام) at the Time of Sacrifice
✿ Qur'ānic Evidence:
The Qur’ān states:
"فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ..." (the verse continues)
This indicates that when Ismāʿīl (عليه السلام) reached an age where he could accompany his father and assist him, the command for sacrifice was revealed.
✿ Opinions of the Mufassirīn:
➤ Imām Jalāl ad-Dīn al-Maḥallī
➤ Shaykh Abū Bakr al-Jazāʾirī
Both scholars mention that at the time of sacrifice, Prophet Ismāʿīl (عليه السلام) was either seven years old or thirteen years old.
Original Quotation:
"أي أن يسعى معه أي يعينه، قيل بلغ سبع سنين وقيل ثلاثة عشر سنة"
(p. 377)
❖ The Age of Prophet Ismāʿīl (عليه السلام) at the Time of the Construction of the Kaʿbah
➤ According to Sūrat aṣ-Ṣāffāt and historical sources regarding the construction or renovation of the Kaʿbah, the age of Prophet Ismāʿīl (عليه السلام) was approximately 20 years.
(Tārīkh Bayt Allāh, p. 88; Akhbār Makkah)
➤ According to Tafsīr Rūḥ al-Maʿānī:
The sacrifice of Prophet Ismāʿīl (عليه السلام) took place seven years before the construction of the Kaʿbah.
According to Jalāl al-Maḥallī and Maḥmūd Ālūsī, this event occurred thirteen years before the construction.
✿ Summary:
It is evident from the above that Prophet Ismāʿīl (عليه السلام) was bestowed with the honour of sacrifice prior to the construction of the Kaʿbah.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
