Ishmael (Hebrew: יִשְׁמָעֵאל, Standard Yišmaʿel Tiberian Yišmāʿêl; Arabic: إسماعيل, Ismā'īl) was Abraham's eldest son, born by his wife's handmaiden Hagar. Though born of Hagar, according to Mesopotamian law, Ishmael was credited as Sarah's son (Gn. 16:2) According to the Genesis account, he died at the age of 137 (Gn. 25:17).
Judaism has generally viewed Ishmael as wicked though repentant. Judaism maintains that Isaac, Abraham's son by Sarah and the father of the Jewish people, rather than Ishmael was the true heir of Abraham. The New Testament contains few references to Ishmael. Biblically, Ishmael is used to symbolize the older - now rejected - Judaic tradition; Isaac symbolizes the new tradition of Christianity. Islamic tradition, however, has a very positive view of Ishmael, giving him a larger and more significant role. The Qur'an views him as a prophet. According to the interpretation of certain early Islamic theologians whose view prevailed later, Ishmael was the actual son that Abraham was called on to sacrifice, as opposed to Isaac.
Both Jewish and Islamic traditions consider Ishmael as the ancestor of Arab people.