101 Preface فَبَشَّرناهُ بِغُلامٍ حَليمٍAli Quli QaraiSo We gave him the good news of a forbearing son.1 That is, Ishmael, who was Abraham’s first born. That it was Ishmael to whom the following episode of the sacrifice pertains is also supported by the fact that verses pertaining to the birth of Isaac follow the account of Ishmael’s sacrifice.