Prophet Isma'il (Ishmael)
Abraham Leaves Hajar and Ishmael in the Desert
One day Abraham woke up and asked his wife Hajar to gather their son and prepare for a long journey. A few days later he set out with Hajar and their son Ishmael, who was still an infant, still nursing and not yet weaned. Abraham travelled through cultivated land, desert, and mountains until he reached the Arabian Peninsula and arrived at a barren, uncultivated valley, with no fruit, no trees, no food, and no water. There was no sign of life anywhere in it.
After helping his wife and child down, Abraham left them with only a small amount of food and water, barely enough for two days, then turned and began walking away. Hajar hurried after him, asking why he was leaving them in such a barren place. He did not answer. She repeated the question, and again he stayed silent. Eventually she understood that he was not acting on his own will, that Allah had commanded this of him. She asked him directly whether Allah had ordered this, and he said yes. She then told him that they would not be lost, since the same Allah who had commanded him was with them too.
As Abraham walked away, he prayed to Allah, asking Him to accept that he had settled some of his offspring in this uncultivated valley near His Sacred House, so that they might establish proper prayer, and asking that Allah fill the hearts of some people with love for them, and provide them with fruits so they might give thanks, since Allah knows everything hidden and revealed (14:37-38).
Hajar's Search for Water
Ibn Abbas narrated that Hajar, Ishmael's mother, was the first woman to use a girdle, using it to try to hide her tracks from Sarah. Abraham had brought her and her nursing son to a spot near the Ka'bah, under a tree at what would become the site of Zamzam, at the highest point of what is now the mosque. At that time, Mecca had no residents and no water at all. Abraham left them there with a leather bag of dates and a small water skin, then set off for home.
Hajar followed him, asking again and again why he was leaving them in a valley with no one to keep them company and nothing to sustain them. He did not turn back. Eventually she asked whether Allah had commanded this, and when he confirmed it, she said simply that Allah would not neglect them, and turned back while Abraham continued on. Once he reached a point called Thaniya where he could no longer be seen, he faced the direction of the Ka'bah, raised his hands, and made the same prayer recorded in the Qur'an, asking Allah to fill people's hearts with love for his offspring settled in this barren valley by His Sacred House, and to provide for them so they might be grateful (14:37).
Hajar continued nursing Ishmael and drinking from the water they had. When the water skin ran completely dry, both she and her son grew thirsty, and she watched him writhing in distress. Unable to bear watching him suffer, she left his side and climbed the nearest hill, Mount Safa, searching the valley for any sign of another person. Seeing no one, she came down and ran across the valley toward Mount Marwa, moving quickly like someone in genuine distress, and searched again from there, still finding no one. She repeated this back and forth run between Safa and Marwa seven times in total.
The Spring of Zamzam
The Prophet Muhammad explained that this is the origin of the ritual of sa'y, the walking between Safa and Marwa performed during hajj. When Hajar reached Marwa for the final time, she heard a voice and told herself to be still and listen. Hearing it again, she called out, asking whether whoever it was could offer her any help. It was the angel Gabriel. He struck the ground with his heel, or his wing, and water began to flow from that spot. Hajar quickly began shaping a basin around it by hand and scooping water into her water skin, and the spring kept flowing even as she drew from it.
The Prophet added that Allah showed mercy to Ishmael's mother in this, noting that had she left the water to flow naturally without trying to contain it, Zamzam would have become a flowing stream across the surface of the earth rather than a well.
Mecca Is Settled
The Prophet continued the account: after Hajar drank and nursed her son, the angel told her not to fear being neglected, since this was the House of Allah, which would one day be built by this boy and his father, and Allah never neglects His people. At that time, the Ka'bah's location was simply a raised mound of earth, with floodwater passing around it on either side.
Some time later, a group from the tribe of Jurhum, travelling through the area, noticed birds circling persistently around one spot, a behaviour typical of birds near water. Surprised, since they knew there was no water in that valley, they sent scouts who confirmed the discovery and returned with the news. The whole group then approached, finding Hajar sitting near the spring. They asked her permission to settle nearby. She agreed, on the condition that they would have no ownership claim over the water itself, and they accepted. Hajar, who valued having people around her, welcomed the arrangement. Over time, families joined them and settled permanently in the area. Ishmael grew up among them, learned Arabic from them, and as he reached maturity, his admirable qualities earned their affection, and they arranged his marriage to a woman from their tribe.
Ishmael's First Wife
After Hajar's death, Abraham, now with a family of his own left behind elsewhere, returned to check on Ishmael, who by then had married. He didn't find Ishmael at home, so he asked his wife where he was. She told him Ishmael had gone out looking for provisions. When Abraham asked about their living conditions, she complained openly, describing lives of hardship, poverty, and difficulty. Before leaving, Abraham told her to pass along his greetings to her husband and to tell him to change the threshold of his gate.
When Ishmael returned, he sensed something had happened and asked his wife whether anyone had visited. She described the old man who had come, asked about him, and heard about their hardship. Ishmael asked if the visitor had left any advice, and she repeated the message about changing the threshold. Ishmael understood immediately that this had been his father, and that the message meant he should divorce her. He did, and later married another woman from the same tribe.
The Second Wife and the Building of the Ka'bah
Abraham stayed away for as long as Allah willed before visiting again, and once more did not find Ishmael at home. He asked this new wife about Ishmael, and she told him he had gone out seeking provisions. When Abraham asked how they were faring, she answered that they were prosperous and had everything in abundance, thanking Allah for it. He asked what they ate, and she said meat. He asked what they drank, and she said water. Abraham prayed that Allah bless their meat and their water.
The Prophet Muhammad noted that at that time they had no grain, otherwise Abraham would have prayed for a blessing on that too, adding that a diet consisting only of meat and water would normally harm a person's health, except in Mecca specifically.
Before leaving, Abraham told this wife to pass along his greetings to Ishmael and to tell him to keep the threshold of his gate firm. When Ishmael returned and heard the description of the visitor and the message, he understood immediately that it had been his father, and that the message meant he should keep his wife, since she was the threshold being referred to.
Abraham stayed away once more for as long as Allah willed, then visited again. This time he found Ishmael sitting beneath a tree near Zamzam, sharpening his arrows. Ishmael rose to greet him warmly, as a son greets his father. Abraham told him that Allah had given him a command. Ishmael answered that he should do whatever his Lord commanded. Abraham asked if Ishmael would help him, and Ishmael agreed. Abraham then explained that Allah had ordered him to build a house on a nearby raised mound of land.
Together they raised the foundations of the Ka'bah. Ishmael carried the stones while Abraham built, and as the walls grew taller, Ishmael brought a stone for Abraham to stand on so he could continue building. As they worked, both of them repeated the prayer recorded in the Qur'an, asking Allah to accept this service from them, since He is the All Hearing, All Knowing (2:127).
A Second Account of These Events, From Ibn Abbas
Ibn Abbas gave a slightly different version of these same events. He said that after some tension arose between Abraham and Sarah over her jealousy of Hajar, Abraham took Hajar and Ishmael away, carrying with them a water skin. Hajar drank from it periodically to help increase her milk for her nursing child. Once they reached Mecca, Abraham settled them under a tree and turned to leave.
Hajar followed him, and when they reached a place called Kada, she called out asking to whose care he was leaving them. He answered that he was leaving them in Allah's care. She replied that she was satisfied with that, and returned to her spot, continuing to drink from the water skin to keep her milk flowing.
Once the water ran out, she decided to search for anyone nearby, climbing Mount Safa and looking out, but seeing no one. She descended and ran to Mount Marwa, repeating this back and forth run several times. At one point she paused to check on her child and found him in a state so severe she feared he was dying, and unable to bear watching, she resumed her search, climbing Safa again and looking for a long while without success. In total she completed seven rounds between the two hills. Deciding to check on her child once more, she instead heard a voice and called out for help if any could be given. It was Gabriel, who struck the earth with his heel, causing water to gush out. Astonished, Hajar began digging around it to contain the flow.
The Prophet Muhammad, referred to here by his kunya Abu al-Qasim, added that had she left the water alone to flow naturally, it would have become a stream running across the surface of the earth.
Mecca Is Settled, According to Ibn Abbas
Ibn Abbas continued that Hajar drank from the water and her milk increased. Later, travellers from the tribe of Jurhum passing through the valley noticed birds circling, which struck them as unusual, since birds only gather where there is water. They sent someone to investigate, who found the spring and reported back, and the whole group came to settle nearby, having first asked Hajar's permission to stay with her.
Ishmael's Marriages, According to Ibn Abbas
Once Ishmael reached maturity, he married a woman from the tribe. Sometime later, Abraham told his wife Sarah that he wished to visit the family he had left in Mecca. When he arrived, he greeted Ishmael's wife and asked where her husband was. She told him he had gone out hunting. Abraham told her to pass along the message that Ishmael should change the threshold of his gate. When Ishmael returned and heard the message, he understood it meant he should divorce her, and told her to return to her family.
Abraham later decided to visit again, telling Sarah of his plans. Arriving at Ishmael's home, he asked for him and was told again that he had gone hunting. This time the wife offered Abraham food and drink. When he asked what they had, she said meat and water. Abraham prayed for Allah to bless their food and drink, and the Prophet Muhammad noted that Mecca's blessings trace back to this very prayer.
The Building of the Ka'bah, According to Ibn Abbas
Once more Abraham decided to visit his family in Mecca and told Sarah of his intention. This time he found Ishmael behind the Zamzam well, repairing his arrows. Abraham told him that his Lord had commanded him to build a house in His honour. Ishmael told him to obey his Lord's command. Abraham added that Allah had also ordered that Ishmael help him in this task, and Ishmael agreed.
Together they repeated the same prayer, asking Allah to accept their service, since He is the All Hearing, All Knowing (2:127). As the building grew too tall for Abraham to reach on his own, he stood on the stone now known as Maqam Ibrahim while Ishmael continued handing him stones, both of them still repeating the same prayer of acceptance.
The Command to Sacrifice Ishmael
The Qur'an describes a further trial Abraham faced regarding his beloved son. After his rescue from the fire, Abraham had prayed to Allah, saying he was going toward his Lord, who would guide him, and asking to be granted righteous offspring. Allah gave him the good news of a gentle, forbearing son. When that son grew old enough to walk alongside him, Abraham told him he had seen in a dream that he was sacrificing him, and asked what he thought about it. His son answered that he should do as he had been commanded, and that, Allah willing, Abraham would find him patient and steadfast.
When both father and son had submitted themselves fully to Allah's will, and Abraham had laid him down to carry out the sacrifice, Allah called out to him that he had already fulfilled the vision, since this is how Allah rewards those who do good purely for His sake. This was a clear test, and Allah ransomed the boy with a great sacrifice, a ram, leaving Abraham's obedience remembered by generations to come, sending peace upon him, since this is how Allah rewards those who do good. Abraham was counted among Allah's believing servants (37:99-111).
Time passed. One day, sitting outside his tent thinking of Ishmael and everything Allah had asked of him, Abraham's heart filled with awe and love for Allah's countless blessings, and a tear fell as he thought once more of his son.
The Angels Bring News of Isaac
Sometime later, three angels descended to earth, Gabriel, Israfil, and Michael, appearing in human form and greeting Abraham. He rose to welcome them, believing them to be ordinary travellers and guests, and brought them into his tent, making sure they were comfortable before stepping away to see his household.
His wife Sarah, now elderly with white hair, rose when he entered. He told her they had three strangers staying with them. She asked who they were, and he admitted he didn't know. He asked what food they had, and she told him half a sheep remained. Abraham told her to slaughter a fat calf instead, since these were guests deserving proper hospitality, and left again.
The servants roasted the calf and served it. Abraham invited his guests to eat and began eating himself to encourage them, but noticed, glancing over, that none of them had touched the food. He resumed eating and glanced again, still finding their hands untouched by the meal, and began to grow afraid. Sensing his unease, one of the angels told him not to be afraid. Abraham admitted openly that he was indeed afraid, since he had offered them food and they had not reached for it, and asked whether they intended him harm. One of the angels smiled and explained that they did not eat, since they were Allah's angels. One of them then turned to Sarah and delivered the good news of Isaac's birth.
The Qur'an describes this moment: Allah's messengers came to Abraham with glad tidings, greeting him with peace, and he returned the greeting and hurried to serve them a roasted calf. When he noticed their hands did not move toward it, he felt a flicker of mistrust and fear. They told him not to fear, explaining they had been sent against the people of Lot. Sarah, standing nearby, laughed, whether in surprise at their not eating or in relief at the coming destruction of Lot's people, and Allah gave her the good news of Isaac, and after him, Jacob. Astonished, she wondered aloud how she could possibly bear a child at her age, with her husband also elderly, calling it a strange thing indeed. The angels answered by asking whether she was surprised at Allah's decree, extending Allah's mercy and blessings upon Abraham's household, since He is worthy of all praise and glory (11:69-73).