What Abraham refused: The Ishmaels of the modern world

Millions of Muslims around the world are preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha. Once again, the story of Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael is remembered as a narrative about faith, submission, and ultimately the refusal to sacrifice a child. At the heart of this story lies a profound moral turning point: a child was not meant to be sacrificed. Yet today, across different parts of the world, millions of children continue to die in wars, under occupation, and within the violent structures of global political conflict. In Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, and many other places, children are no longer treated merely as unintended victims of war. They are becoming bodies abandoned to death before the silence of the international system. The […]