Prophet Isma'il (AS)

ISMA'IL AND HAJAR IN MECCA

    Prophet Ibrahim's wife, Sara, was barren; furthermore, she had reached the age which had made her lose hope of ever bearing children. She realised that her kind and loyal husband wanted to have a child and was constantly sad and upset. In order to relieve her husband's sorrow, Sara gave her personal maidservant, Hajar, to him. Hajar became pregnant and gave birth to a boy whom they called Isma'il (Peace Be Upon Him).

    The infant delighted Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and filled im with joy. Sara, however, was tormented by jealousy which saddened and disturbed her. She soon reached the point that she could no longer tolerate seeing Hajar and the child, so she asked her husband to send them to a place so remote that there would be no news of them.

    Prophet Ibrahim (P.B.UH), by the command of God, accepted Sara's request. He took Hajar and Isma'il (AS) with him and began journeying until, under the guidance of God, they entered the land of Mecca. He left them there and returned to Sara.

    Hajar, that helpless woman with her suckling baby, was left alone in that waterless and bare desert far from any city or town. But Hajar had learned the way of trust in and reliance on God from Ibrahim (AS), so with faith in God, she followed the path of patience and tolerance. She lived on the provisions that she had until they were used up and hunger and thirst overcame her. Her milk dried up, leaving her baby hungry and thirsty also.

    Hoping to find water to save her baby's life, Hajar began to search in the desert; but the more she searched, the less she found. Helplessly, she returned to Isma'il (P.B.UH) and found him crying restlessly. Seeing her baby in this condition broke her heart. She, too, began weeping; she didn't know what to do. Again, she ran this way and that way in that horrible desert, hoping to find water; until, completely disappointed and with tear-filled eyes, she returned to her baby.

    The baby was overcome with weakness; it seemed that he was passing the last moments of-life. Standing beside her baby, weeping and wailing, Hajar was watching that heartbreaking scene, when suddenly a clear spring gushed out from the ground and began to flow under Isma'il's feet. Hajar was delighted; she sat on the ground next to her baby, wet his lips and poured some of the water into his parched mouth, refreshing him. The danger to his life was over. Hajar also drank some water, recovered her strength, and praised God.

    Little by little, birds came to use the water of the spring. The tribe of Jorham, which dwelt in the area, discovered the spring because of the birds flying overhead and the tribe then settled beside it. Hajar became acquainted with them, and her fear and loneliness were removed. In this way, the prayer of Ibrahim (AS) was answered; when he left them in that desert, he had prayed to God, saying, "Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a barren valley near your Sacred House, so that they could be steadfast in prayer. Lord, fill the hearts of the people with love for them and produce fruits for their sustenance, so that they may give thanks." From time to time, Ibrahim (AS)Would go to see Hajar and his child. Visiting them made him happy and re-strengthened.

    When Isma'il (AS) had grown into a young man, Ibrahim (AS) dreamt that God ordered him to sacrifice Isma'il with his own hand.


ISMA'IL GETS READY TO FULFILL WHAT GOD HAD COMMANDED

    Ibrahim (AS) knew that the dream was, in fact, a revelation from God and not a satanic whisper; so, he prepared himself, with a heart overflowing with faith, to carry out the command of God. He went to see his son and told him, "I saw in a dream that I sacrificed you for the sake of God. Think about it and tell me your opinion of the matter."

    Isma'il, being from that noble family and the child of that pious father, replied without hesitation or anxiety, "O father, fulfil what God has commanded. By His will, you will find me among the patient."

    Ibrahim (AS), this man of God, who had faced many difficulties and hardships and had won over them all, he who had succeeded in these great, divine trials, also triumphed with glory in this trail. In the desert of Mena, the same place where pilgrims offer their sacrifices today, the cheek of Ibrahim's beloved son touched the ground. Ibrahim (AS) took a knife in his hand and, when he was prepared to offer his sacrifice, Isma'il (AS) said, "Dear father, tie my hands and feet tightly with a piece of rope so that I don't move them as I am dying, because I am afraid that I would lessen my reward. Keep your clothes away from me so that my blood doesn't splatter on you; if my mother sees that, she may not be able to tolerate it. Sharpen the knife well and sever my head at once so that I can tolerate it better, because dying is difficult."

    Ibrahim (AS) said, "Dear son, you are a good assistant in fulfilling the command of God." He put the knife on Isma'il's throat and, with all his strength, tried to cut; but, by God's Will, the knife didn't cut and didn't harm Isma'il (AS). Ibrahim (AS) received a revelation from God, the Exalted, "O Ibrahim, truly you have done your duty, fulfilled the meaning of your dream and shown your submissiveness and devotion."

    A sacrifice was then sent from God as Isma'il's ransom. Ibrahim (P.B.UH)sacrificed that sheep instead of his son. Ibrahim and his son returned from the alter; Isma'il (AS) went to his mother and Ibrahim (P.B.UH) returned to his wife, Sara. From that day, sacrifice in the land of Mena became a tradition. Later, when Islam was revealed, God prescribed, as a rite, that pilgrims offer a sacrifice of animals in that desert each year in commemoration of Isma'il's sacrifice.

    Isma'il (P.B.UH), who had become friendly with the Jorham tribe, married a chaste woman who was worthy in all aspects, and God gave them children from that pure woman.

    Isma'il's mother, Hajar, died in that same land after a few years. He was deeply affected by the death of his devoted mother and became very distressed and sad. Ibrahim (AS) continued to go there to visit him; and this consoled Isma'il somewhat.


IBRAHIM BUILDS KA'BA

    One time that Ibrahim (AS) went to Mecca, he told his son, "My dear son, God has commanded me to rebuild His Holy House, the Ka'ba." Ibrahim (P.B U.H.) immediately declared his readiness to help Ibrahim (P.B.UH) fulfil the Divine commandment. With reliance on the Divine Power, they hurried to the site of the Ka'ba with the necessary tools; and began the job with a firm intention.

    They called upon God, "Our Lord! Accept this service from us, for You are the All-Hearing, All-Knowing. Our Lord! Make us Muslims, bowing to Your Will; and make our progeny Muslims, bowing to Your Will. Show us our places for the celebration of due rites, and turn to us in mercy, for You are the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful."

    Isma'il (AS) gathered stones from the desert and Ibrahim (AS) rebuilt the Ka'ba; until the walls were raised. Jibra'il-God's esteemed angel, who was Ibrahim's guide in all situations-showed them the site of "Hajar-ol-Aswad", the black stone. They dug the stone out of the ground, and Ibrahim (AS)placed it in the spot where it remains today. He made two doors for the Ka'ba; one toward the East, the other toward the West.

    When the construction of the Ka'ba was completed, Ibrahim (AS) and Isma'il (AS)performed the pilgrimage (Hajj) rites. Then Ibrahim (AS) raised his hands in supplication, saying, "My Lord, make this a city of peace and feed with fruits those of its people who believe in God and the Last Day."