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!" "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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