Prophet Ismā'īl ﷺ was the firstborn son of Ibrāhīm ﷺ through his wife Hājar. As an infant, he was left with his mother in the barren valley of Makkah. When Hājar ran frantically between the hills of Ṣafā and Marwah seeking water, Allah caused the blessed Zamzam spring to gush from the earth beneath baby Ismā'īl's feet.
When Ismā'īl grew older, Ibrāhīm ﷺ was commanded in a dream to sacrifice him. In an act of supreme faith, both father and son submitted to Allah's will. Allah then replaced him with a ram — showing His mercy — and this sacrifice is commemorated every Eid al-Adha.
He helped his father build the Ka'bah and settled in Makkah among the Arab tribe of Jurhum. He is the forefather of the Adnāni Arabs and the direct ancestor of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.