By Dr. NuruDeen Mohammed
Video evidence Watch Pastor Mensa Otabil’s statements on YouTube
Direct URL https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dGUm614Csq8&pp=ygUZTWVtc2FoIG90YWJpbCBvbiBQb2x5Z2FteQ%3D%3D
The statement under review
In a publicly available video titled Ps Mensa Otabil Addresses God’s Position on Polygamy, Pastor Mensa Otabil states that Abraham “committed fornication or adultery” with Hagar. He further asks whether Abraham’s actions had consequences and answers, “Gaza.”
The relevant discussion about Abraham, Hagar, adultery and Gaza begins in approximately 4 minutes and 14 seconds.
These statements requires a firm theological response. Describing Abraham as a fornicator or adulterer and then associating Hagar and her descendants with the suffering in Gaza is scripturally unsupported, historically misleading and deeply offensive to Muslims who revere Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael.
The Bible identifies Hagar as Abraham’s wife
Pastor Otabil argues that Abraham did not marry Hagar. However, Genesis 16:3 states:
Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian … and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
The biblical text expressly uses the term “wife.” Therefore, the claim that Abraham merely engaged in fornication or adultery with Hagar cannot be presented as an uncontested biblical fact.
Hagar’s status may be discussed within the ancient social context of wives, secondary wives and concubines. Nevertheless, Genesis does not describe the relationship as prostitution, casual sexual misconduct or an adulterous affair conducted behind Sarah’s back. Sarah initiated the arrangement and gave Hagar to Abraham as a wife.
It is therefore theologically irresponsible to ignore the wording of Genesis 16:3 and categorically label Abraham an adulterer or fornicator.
Ishmael was not a rejected or illegitimate child
The Bible does not present Ishmael as an accursed or illegitimate child. God heard Hagar’s suffering, protected her and made promises concerning her son.
In Genesis 17:20, God declares:
As for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him.
God promised to make Ishmael fruitful, multiply his descendants and make him the father of twelve princes and a great nation. Genesis 21:13 also affirms that Ishmael would become a nation because he was Abraham’s offspring.
These passages do not support the suggestion that Ishmael and his descendants were condemned because of an adulterous relationship. On the contrary, the biblical account repeatedly records God’s protection and blessing upon Ishmael.
The Islamic understanding of Abraham Hagar and Ishmael
In Islam, Abraham – Prophet Ibrahim – is one of God’s greatest prophets. Muslims reject any attempt to portray him as an immoral man who engaged in fornication or adultery.
Hagar – Hajar – is honoured in Islamic tradition as the mother of Ishmael. Her search for water between the hills of Safa and Marwah is commemorated by millions of Muslims during Hajj and Umrah. The well of Zamzam is also inseparably connected to her faith, endurance and trust in God.
Ishmael – Prophet Ismail – is recognised in the Qur’an as a truthful messenger and prophet. Qur’an 19:54-55 praises his faithfulness and his commitment to prayer and charity. Qur’an 2:127 records Abraham and Ishmael raising the foundations of the Kaaba together.
Muslims therefore regard Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael as members of a divinely guided and honoured family – not as participants in an adulterous scandal.
Gaza is not a divine punishment for Abraham’s relationship with Hagar
Pastor Otabil’s remark – “Were there consequences? Gaza” – has no clear foundation in either the Bible or the Qur’an.
No biblical passage teaches that the people suffering in Gaza are being punished because Abraham had a child with Hagar. No Qur’anic passage teaches such a doctrine. Connecting the deaths, displacement and suffering of people in Gaza to Hagar and Ishmael is a personal inference, not divine revelation.
The people of Gaza cannot simply be reduced to a symbolic extension of an alleged ancient family mistake. They are human beings, including Muslims and Christians, whose present suffering should be approached with compassion, justice and moral seriousness.
A preacher should not interpret contemporary human suffering as God’s punishment without clear scriptural authority. Doing so risks misrepresenting God while placing collective blame upon people who had no involvement in the ancient events being discussed.
The biblical treatment of polygamy is more complex
Pastor Otabil is entitled to advocate monogamy as his preferred Christian model of marriage. However, he should distinguish between a denominational interpretation and an unqualified declaration about everything contained in the Bible.
The Old Testament records numerous plural marriages. It also contains laws regulating households in which a man had more than one wife. Exodus 21:10 and Deuteronomy 21:15-17 address responsibilities arising from plural marriages.
These laws do not necessarily command polygamy, but they demonstrate that the matter is more complex than claiming that polygamy had no biblical recognition whatsoever.
The New Testament contains instructions that an overseer or church leader should be “the husband of one wife” in 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6. Christians interpret these passages in different ways. Nevertheless, a theological preference for monogamy does not justify rewriting Genesis or accusing Abraham of fornication and adultery contrary to the wording of Genesis 16:3.
Islam does not command every man to practise polygamy. Qur’an 4:3 permits a limited number of wives under strict conditions of justice. The same verse warns that if a man fears he cannot deal justly, he should marry only one. Islamic law therefore regulates the practice and attaches serious responsibilities to it.
Personal opinion must not be presented as divine judgment
Pastor Otabil’s interpretation appears to be based upon his personal theological reasoning rather than an explicit declaration from Scripture. Human beings can only reason according to the limits of their knowledge, education and understanding. No preacher’s personal inference should automatically be treated as the judgment of God.
Religious authority carries responsibility. Statements concerning prophets, sacred history and an entire religious community must be supported by evidence and expressed with care.
Calling Abraham an adulterer or fornicator, denying Hagar the marital status expressly attributed to her in Genesis 16:3 and connecting Gaza’s suffering to Hagar’s descendants are not minor errors. Together, these claims create a derogatory narrative that Muslims may reasonably understand as an attack upon their sacred history and religious identity.
A call for correction and apology
Pastor Mensa Otabil should publicly reconsider these statements. He should acknowledge that Genesis describes Hagar as Abraham’s wife, that the Bible records God’s blessing upon Ishmael and that Scripture does not identify Gaza’s suffering as punishment for Abraham’s relationship with Hagar.
He should retract the suggestion that Abraham committed fornication or adultery with Hagar and withdraw the claim connecting Hagar or Ishmael to the tragedy in Gaza.
A public clarification and sincere apology to Muslims would not diminish Pastor Otabil’s standing. It would demonstrate humility, intellectual honesty and respect for interfaith relations.
Theological disagreement is legitimate. Misrepresenting another faith’s revered prophets and linking innocent people’s suffering to an unsupported theory of ancestral wrongdoing is not.
Religious leaders should build understanding, speak responsibly and promote peace. The dignity of Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael – and the humanity of the people of Gaza – deserve nothing less.
Video reference
Mensa Otabil. Ps Mensa Otabil Addresses God’s Position on Polygamy. YouTube video, approximately 14 minutes.
Direct link https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dGUm614Csq8&pp=ygUZTWVtc2FoIG90YWJpbCBvbiBQb2x5Z2FteQ%3D%3D
Scriptural references
Genesis 16:3; Genesis 17:20; Genesis 21:13; Exodus 21:10; Deuteronomy 21:15-17; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6; Qur’an 2:127; Qur’an 4:3; Qur’an 19:54-55.
