One day, Abraham woke up and asked his wife Hajar to get
her son and prepare for a long journey. In a few days Abraham started
out with his wife Hajar and their son Ishmael. The child was still
nursing and not yet weaned.
Abraham walked through cultivated land, desert, and
mountains until he reached the desert of the Arabian Peninsula and came
to an uncultivated valley having no fruit, no trees, no food, no water.
The valley had no sign of life. After Abraham had helped his wife and
child to dismount, he left them with a small amount of food and water
which was hardly enough for 2 days. He turned around and walked away.
He wife hurried after him asking: "Where are you going Abraham, leaving
us in this barren valley?"
Abraham did not answer her, but continued walking.
She repeated what she had said, but he remained silent. Finally she
understood that he was not acting on his own initiative. she realized
that Allah had commanded him to do this. She asked him : "Did Allah
command you to do so?" He replied: "Yes." Then his great wife said: "We
are not going to be lost, since Allah Who has commanded you is with
us."
Abraham invoked Almighty Allah thus: "O Our Lord! I
have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley with no
cultivation, by Your Sacred House (the Ka'ba at Mecca); in order, O our
Lord, that they may offer prayers perfectly (Iqamat as salat) so fill
some hearts among men with love towards them, and O Allah provide them
with fruits so that they may give thanks. O our Lord! Certainly, You
know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or in the
heavens is hidden from Allah." (Ch 14:37-38)
Ibn Abbas narrated: "The first lady to use a girdle was
the mother of Ishmael. she used a girdle so that she might hide her
tracks from Sarah (by dragging it). Abraham brought her and her son
Ishmael while she was suckling him to a place near the Kaba under a tree
on the spot of ZamZam at the highest place in the mosque. During those
days there was nobody in Mecca, nor was there any water so he made them
sit over there and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates
and a small water skin containing some water and set out homeward.
Ishmael's mother followed him saying: "O Abraham! Where are you going,
leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may
enjoy, nor is there anything to enjoy?" she repeated that to him many
times, but he did not look back at her. Then she asked him : "Has Allah
ordered you to do so?" He said: "Yes." She then said: "Then HE will
not neglect us," and returned while Abraham proceeded onwards. On
reaching the Thaniya where they could not see him, he faced the Kaba and
raising both hands, invoked Allah saying the following prayers: "O
our Lord! I have made some of my offspring dwell in a valley without
cultivation, by Your Sacred House (Kaba at Mecca) in order, O our Lord
that they may offer prayer perfectly. So fill some hearts among men
with love towards them, and O Allah provide them with fruits so that
they may give thanks." (Ch 14:37)
Ibn Abbas's narration continued; "Ishmael's mother went
on suckling Ishmael and drinking from the water (she had) When the water
in the water skin had been used up, she became thirsty and her child
also became thirsty, She started looking at him (Ishmael) tossing in
agony. She left him, for she could not endure looking at him, and found
that the mountain of As-Safa was the nearest mountain to her on that
land. she too on it and started looking at the valley keenly so that
she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody. Then she
descended for As Safa and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her
robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress and trouble till
she crossed the valley and reached the mountain of Al Marwa. There she
stood and started looking expecting to see somebody, but she could not
see anybody. she repeated that running between Safa And Marwa seven
times."
The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "This is the source
of the tradition of the Sa'y (rituals of the hajj, pilgrimage) the going
of people between them (As-Safa and Al-Marwa). When she reached Al
Marwa (for the last time) she heard a voice and she asked herself to be
quiet and listened attentively. She heard the voice again and said: "O
whoever you maybe! You have made me hear your voice; have you got
something to help me?" And behold! She saw an angel at the place of
Zam zam, digging the earth with his heel (or his wing) till water flowed
from that place. She started to make something like a basin around it,
using her hand in this way, and started filling her water skin with
water with her hands and the water was flowing out water she had scooped
some of it."
The Prophet (pbuh) added: "May Allah bestow mercy on
Ishmael's mother! Had she let the zam-zam flow without trying to
control it, or had she not scooped from that water to fill her water
skin, Zam zam would have been a stream flowing on the surface of the
earth."
The Prophet (pbuh) continued: "Then she drank water and
suckled her child. The angel said to her: "Don't be afraid of being
neglected, for this is the House of Allah which will be built by this
boy and his father, and Allah never neglects His people." The House
(Kaba) at that time was on a high place resembling a hillock, and when
torrents came, they flowed to its right and left.
"She lived in that way till some people from the tribe
of Jurhum or a family from Jurhum passed by her and her child as they
(the Jurhum people) were coming through the way of Kada. they landed in
the lower part of Mecca where they saw a bird that had the habit of
flying around water and not leaving it. they said: "this bird must be
flying around water, though we know that there is no water in this
valley." They sent one or two messengers who discovered the source of
water and returned to inform them of the water. SO they all came
towards the water. Ishmael's mother was sitting near the water. They
asked her: "Do you allow us to stay with you?" She replied: "Yes, but
you will have no right to possess the water." They agreed to that.
Ishmael's mother was pleased with the whole situation, as she used to
love to enjoy the company of the people, so they settled there, and
later on they sent for their families who came and settled with them so
that some families became permanent residents there. The child
(Ishmael) grew up and learned Arabic from them and (his virtues) caused
them to love and admire him as he grew up and when he reached the age of
puberty they made him marry a woman from amongst them."
The Prophet (pbuh) continued: "After Ishmael's mother
had died, Abraham came after Ishmael's marriage in order to see his
family that he had left before but he did not find Ishmael there. When
he asked Ishmael's wife about him, she replied: "He has gone in search
of livelihood." Then he asked her about their way of living and their
condition, and she replied, "We are living in misery; we are living in
hardship and destitution,' complaining to him. He said: "When your
husband returns, convey my salutations to him and tell him to change the
threshold of the gate (of his house).'
"When Ishmael came, he seemed to have felt something
unusual, so he asked his wife: 'Has anyone visited you?' she replied,
'Yes, an old man of such and such description came and asked me about
you and I informed him and he asked about our state of living and I told
him that we were living in a hardship and poverty.' On that Ishmael
said: 'Did he advise you anything?' She said: 'Yes he told me to convey
his salutation to you and to tell you to change the threshold of your
gate.' Ishmael said: 'It was my father and he has ordered me to divorce
you. Go back to your family.' so, Ishmael divorced her and married
another woman from among them (Jurhum).
"Then Abraham stayed away from them for a period as long
as Allah wished and called on them again but did not find Ishmael. So
he came to Ishmael's wife and asked her about Ishmael. She said: 'he
has gone in sof our livelihood.' Abraham asked her; 'how are you
getting on?' asking her about their sustenance and living. she replied:
'we are prosperous and well off (we have everything in abundance).'
then she thanked Allah. Abraham said: 'What kind of food do you eat?'
she said: 'meat.' he said: 'what do you drink?' she said: 'water.' he
said: 'O Allah! bless their meat and water.""
The Prophet (pbuh) added: "At that time they did not
have grain, and if they had grain he would have also invoked Allah to
bless it. If somebody has only these two things as his sustenance, his
health and disposition will be badly affected unless he lives in Mecca."
The Prophet (pbuh) continued: "Then Abraham said to
Ishmael's wife: 'When your husband comes give my regards to him and tell
him that he should keep firm the threshold of his gate.' When Ishmael
came back he asked his wife, 'did anyone call no you?' she replied:
'yes, a good looking old man came to me,' so she praised him and added:
'He asked about you and I informed him that we were in a good
condition.' Ishmael asked her:' did he give you any piece of advice?'
she said; 'yes, he told me to give his regards to you and ordered that
you should keep firm the threshold of your gate.' on that Ishmael said:
'It was my father, and you are the threshold of the gate. He has
ordered me to keep you with me.'
Then Abraham stayed away from them for a period as long
as Allah wished and called on them afterwards. He saw Ishmael under a
tree near Zam Zam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw Abraham, he rose
up to welcome him (and they greeted each other as a father does with his
son or a son does with his father). Abraham said: 'O Ishmael! Allah
has give me an order.' Ishmael said: 'Do what your Lord has ordered you
to do.' Abraham asked:'Will you help me?' Ishmael said: 'I will help
you.' Abraham said: 'Allah has ordered me to build a house here,'
pointing to a hillock higher than the land surrounding it.
"Then they raised the foundations of the House (the
Kaba). Ishmael brought the stones while Abraham built and when the
walls became high Ishmael brought this stone and put it for Abraham who
stood over it and carried on building. While Ishmael was handing him
the stones, and both of them were saying: "Our Lord! Accept this service from us, verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower." (Ch 2:127 Quran)
the Prophet (pbuh) added: "Then both of them went on building and going round the Kaba saying O our Lord! Accept this service from us, verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower."; (Sahih Bukhari).
Ibn Abbas narrated a slightly different version: "When
Abraham had differences with his wife (because of her jealousy of Hajar,
Ishmael's mother), he took Ishmael and his mother and went away. They
had a water skin with them containing some water. Ishmael's mother used
to drink water from the water skin so that her milk would increase for
her child. When Abraham reached Mecca, he made her sit under a tree and
afterwards returned home. Ishmael's mother followed him and when they
reached Kada, she called him from behind: 'O Abraham! To whom are you
leaving us?' He replied: '(I am leaving you) to Allah's care.' she
said: 'I am satisfied to be with Allah.' She returned to her place and
started drinking water from the water skin and her milk increased for
her child.
"When the water had all been used up, she said to
herself: 'I had better go and look so that I may see somebody.' she
ascended As-Safa mountain and looked hoping to see somebody but in vain.
When she came down to the valley, she ran till she reached Al Marwa
Mountain. She ran to and for (between the two mountains) many times.
Then she said to herself; 'I had better go and see the state of the
child.' she went and found it in a state of one on the point of dying.
She could not endure to watch it dying and said to herself: 'If I go
and look I may find somebody.' she went and ascended al-Safa mountain
and looked for a long while but could not find anybody. thus she
completed seven rounds of running between As-Safa and Al-Marwa. Again
she said to herself: 'I had better go back and see the state of the
child.' but suddenly she heard a voice, and she said to that strange
voice. 'help us if you can offer any help.' lo! it was Gabriel (who
had made the voice) Gabriel hit the earth with his heel like this (Ibn
Abbas hit the earth with his heel to illustrate it), and so the water
gushed out. Ishmael's mother was astonished and started digging."
Abu Al Qasim, the Prophet (pbuh) said: "If she had left
the water, (flow naturally, without her intervention, ) it would have
been flowing on the surface of the earth."
Ibn Abbas continued narrating: "Ishmael's mother
started drinking from the water, and her milk increased for her child.
Afterwards some people of the tribe of Hurhum saw some birds while
passing through the bottom of the valley and that astonished them. They
said: "birds can only be found at a place where there is water." They
sent a messenger who searched the place and found the water and returned
to inform them about it. Then they all went to her and said: "O
Ishmael's mother! Will you allow us to be with you (or dwell with
you)?" Then they stayed there.
"Later on her boy reached the age of puberty and
married a lady from them. Then an idea occurred to Abraham, which he
disclosed to his wife (sarah). 'I want to call on my dependants I left
at Mecca.' When he went there he greeted Ishmael's wife and said:
'where is Ishmael?' She replied: 'He has gone out hunting.' Abraham
said to her: 'When he comes, tell him to change the threshold of his
gate.' When Ishmael came she told him the same and whereupon Ishmael
said to her: 'you are the threshold so go to your family (you are
divorced).'
"Again Abraham thought of visiting his dependents whom
he had left at Mecca, and told his wife (Sarah) of his intentions.
Abraham came to Ishmael's house and asked: 'Where is Ishmael?'
Ishmael's wife replied: 'He has gone out hunting,' and added: 'will you
stay for some time and have something to eat and drink?' Abraham said:
'what is your food and what is your drink?' she replied: 'our food is
meat and our drink is water.' he replied: 'O Allah! Bless their meals
and their drink.'
Abu Al Qasim (the Prophet)(pbuh) said: "Because of Abraham's invocation there are blessings in Mecca."
Ibn Abbas continued: "Once more Abraham thought of
visiting his family he had left at Mecca and he told his wife (Sarah) of
his decision. HE went and found Ishmael behind the Zam-zam well,
mending his arrows. He said: 'O Ishmael, your Lord has ordered me to
build a house for Him.' Ishmael said: 'Obey the order of your Lord.'
Abraham said: 'Allah has also ordered me that you should help me
therein.' Ishmael said: 'Then I will do so.' So both of them were
saying: "O our Lord! Accept this service of us, verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower." (Ch 2:127)
When the building became high and the old man
(Abraham) could no longer lift the stones to such a high position, he
stood over the stone of Al Maqam and Ishmael carried on handing him the
stones and both of them were saying: "O our Lord! Accept this service of us, verily You are the All Hearer, the All Knower.""
Allah the Almighty told us of Abraham's affliction with his beloved son: And
he said after his rescue from the fire: "Verily! I am going to my
Lord. He will guide me! My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the
righteous." SO We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy. And
when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: "O my son! I
have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice
to Allah), so look what do you think!ý" "O my father! Do that which
you are commanded InshAllah (if Allah wills), you shall find me of the
patient."
Then when they had both submitted themselves to
the Will of Allah and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (or on
the side of his forehead for slaughtering); and We called out to him: "O
Abraham! You have fulfilled the dream (vision!" Verily! Thus do
Wereward those who perform good deeds, totally for Allah's sake only.
Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial and We ransomed him with a
great sacrifice (a ram;) and We left for him ( a goodly remembrance)
among generations (to come) in later times. "Salamun (peace) be upon
Abraham!" Thus indeed do We reward the Muhsineen (good doers). Verily,
he was one of Our believing slaves. (Ch 37:99-111 Quran)
Time passed. One day Abraham was sitting outside his
tent thinking of his son Ishmael and Allah's sacrifice. His heart was
filled with awe and love for Allah for His countless blessings. A big
tear dropped from his eyes and reminded him of Ishmael.
In the meantime, three angels descended to the earth;
Gabriel, Israphael, and Michael. they came in human shapes and saluted
Abraham. Abraham arose and welcomed them. He took them inside his tent
thinking they were strangers and guests. He seated them and made sure
that they were comfortable, then excused himself to go to his people.
His wife Sarah arose when he entered. She had become
old and white haired. Abraham said to her: "We have three strangers in
the house." "Who are they?" she asked. "I do not know any of them," he
answered. "What food have we got?" He asked. Half a sheep." she
replied, "Half a sheep! Slaughter a fat calf for them; they are
strangers and guests." he ordered while leaving.
The servants roasted and served a calf. Abraham
invited the angels to eat and he started eating so as to encourage them.
He continued, but when he glanced at his guests to assure they were
eating, he noticed that none of them had touched the food. He said to
the them: "Are you not going to eat?" He resumed eating, but when he
glanced at them again he found that they were still not eating. Their
hands did not reach out for the food. HE began to fear them.
Abraham's fears increased. The angels, however were
reading his inner thoughts and one of them said: "Do not fear." Abraham
raised his head and replied: "Indeed I am in fear. I have asked you to
eat food but you do not stretch out your hands to eat. DO you intend
me evil?"
One of the angels smiled and said: "We do not eat. We
are Allah's angels." One of them then turned towards his wife and
conveyed the glad tidings about Isaac (Ishaaq).
Almighty Allah revealed: Verily! There came Our
Messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said: "Salaam (greetings
or peace)!" he answered: "Salaam (greetings or peace)!" and he
hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf. But, when he saw their
hands went not towards it (the meal), he felt some mistrust of them, and
conceived a fear of them. They said: "Fear not, we have been sent
against the people of Lot." And his wife was standing there and she
laughed (either, because the Messengers did not eat their food or for
being glad for the destruction of the people of Lot). But We gave her
glad tidings of Isaac, and after him of Jacob.
She said (in astonishment): "Woe unto me! Shall
I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband an old
man? Verily! This is a strange thing!" They said: "Do you wonder at
the Decree of Allah? The Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be on you, O
the family (of Abraham). Surely, He (Allah) is All praiseworthy,
All-Glorious." (CH 11:69-73).
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