ذات يوم استيقظ إبراهيم وطلب من زوجته هاجر أن تُحضر ابنها وتستعد لرحلة طويلة. وبعد أيام قليلة، خرج إبراهيم مع زوجته هاجر وابنهما إسماعيل. كان الطفل لا يزال يرضع ولم يُفطم بعد. سار إبراهيم عبر الأراضي المزروعة والصحراء والجبال حتى بلغ صحراء شبه الجزيرة العربية، ووصل إلى وادٍ غير مزروع لا ثمر فيه ولا شجر ولا طعام ولا ماء. لم يكن في الوادي أي أثر للحياة. وبعد أن ساعد إبراهيم زوجته وطفله على النزول، تركهما مع قليل من الطعام والماء لا يكفي إلا يومين تقريباً، ثم استدار ومضى. فأسرعت زوجته خلفه تسأله: "إلى أين تذهب يا إبراهيم، تاركاً إيانا في هذا الوادي القفر؟" فلم يجبها إبراهيم، بل واصل سيره. كررت ما قالته، لكنه ظل صامتاً. وأخيراً أدركت أنه لم يكن يتصرف من تلقاء نفسه، وعرفت أن الله قد أمره بذلك. فسألته: "هل أمرك الله بذلك؟" فأجابها: "نعم". فقالت زوجته العظيمة: "لن نضيع، فإن الله الذي أمرك معنا." ثم دعا إبراهيم الله تعالى قائلاً:

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 Abrahim, 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:

"رَبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ * رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِي وَمَا نُعْلِنُ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ"

"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)

عن ابن عباس قال: "أول من اتخذ المنطق أم إسماعيل، اتخذت منطقاً لتعفي أثرها على سارة". فجاء بها إبراهيم وبابنها إسماعيل وهي ترضعه، حتى وضعهما عند البيت، عند دوحة فوق زمزم في أعلى المسجد، وليس بمكة يومئذ أحد، وليس بها ماء، فوضعهما هناك، ووضع عندهما جراباً فيه تمر، وسقاءً فيه ماء، ثم قفى إبراهيم منطلقاً، فتبعته أم إسماعيل فقالت:

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:

"يا إبراهيم! إلى أين تذهب وتتركنا في هذا الوادي الذي ليس فيه إنسان نأنس به، ولا شيء نتمتع به؟" كررت ذلك عليه مرارًا، فلم يلتفت إليها. ثم سألته: "هل أمرك الله بهذا؟" قال:

"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:

قالت: «نَعَم». فقالت: «إذًا لا يُضيِّعُنا»، ثم رجعت، وانطلق إبراهيم، فلما بلغ الثَّنِيَّة حيث لا يرونه، استقبل الكعبة، ورفع يديه، فدعا الله بالدعوات التالية:

"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:

"رَبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ" [سورۃ إبراهیم: 37]

"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)

وتابع ابنُ عباسٍ الحديث: «فجعلتْ أمُّ إسماعيلَ تُرضِعُ إسماعيلَ وتشربُ من ذلك الماء، حتى إذا نفدَ ما في السِّقاء عطشتْ وعطِشَ ابنُها، فجعلتْ تنظرُ إليه يتلوَّى (أو قال: يتلبَّطُ)، فانطلقتْ كراهيةَ أن تنظرَ إليه، فوجدتِ الصفا أقربَ جبلٍ في الأرضِ يليها، فقامتْ عليه ثم استقبلتِ الوادي تنظرُ هل ترى أحدًا، فلم تُحِسَّ أحدًا، فهبطتْ من الصفا، حتى إذا بلغتِ الوادي رفعتْ طرفَ دِرعِها، ثم سعتْ سعيَ الإنسانِ المجهودِ حتى جاوزتِ الوادي، ثم أتتِ المروةَ فقامتْ عليها ونظرتْ هل ترى أحدًا، فلم تُحِسَّ أحدًا، ففعلتْ ذلك سبعَ مراتٍ».

قال النبي ﷺ: «هذا أصل السعي الذي يفعله الناس بين الصفا والمروة». فلما وصلت إلى المروة (للمرة الأخيرة) سمعت صوتًا، فطلبت من نفسها أن تسكت وأصغت بانتباه. ثم سمعت الصوت مرة أخرى فقالت: «يا من كنت! لقد أسمعتني صوتك، فهل عندك ما يغيثني؟» فإذا بها ترى ملَكًا عند موضع زمزم يحفر الأرض بعقبه (أو بجناحه) حتى تفجّر الماء من ذلك الموضع. فأخذت تجعل حوله شبه حوض، تعمل بيدها هكذا، وأخذت تملأ قربتها من الماء بيديها، والماء يفور بعد أن تغرف منه. وأضاف النبي ﷺ: «رحم الله أم إسماعيل! لو تركت زمزم تجري ولم تحاول ضبطها، أو لم تغترف من ذلك الماء لتملأ قربتها، لكانت زمزم عينًا جارية على وجه الأرض».

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."

قال النبي ﷺ: «ثم شربت الماء وأرضعت ولدها، فقال لها الملك: لا تخافي الضيعة، فإن ههنا بيت الله، يبني هذا الغلام وأبوه، وإن الله لا يضيع أهله». وكان البيت مرتفعًا من الأرض كالرابية، تأتيه السيول فتأخذ عن يمينه وشماله. فكانت كذلك حتى مرت بهم رفقة من جرهم، أو أهل بيت من جرهم، مقبلين من طريق كداء، فنزلوا في أسفل مكة، فرأوا طائرًا عائفًا، فقالوا: إن هذا الطائر لَيدور على الماء، لعهدنا بهذا الوادي وما فيه ماء. فأرسلوا جرينًا أو جريين، فإذا هم بالماء، فرجعوا فأخبروهم بالماء، فأقبلوا. قال: وأم إسماعيل عند الماء، فقالوا: أتأذنين لنا أن ننزل عندك؟ قالت: نعم، ولكن لا حق لكم في الماء. قالوا: نعم. قال ابن عباس: فألفى ذلك أم إسماعيل وهي تحب الأنس، فنزلوا وأرسلوا إلى أهليهم فنزلوا معهم، حتى إذا كان بها أهل أبيات منهم، وشب الغلام وتعلم العربية منهم، وأنفسهم وأعجبهم حين شب، فلما أدرك زوجوه امرأة منهم.

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."

قال النبي ﷺ: «بعدما ماتت أمُّ إسماعيل، جاء إبراهيم بعد زواج إسماعيل ليرى أهلَه الذين تركهم من قبل، فلم يجد إسماعيل هناك. فلما سأل زوجةَ إسماعيل عنه، أجابته: "خرج يبتغي الرزق." ثم سألها عن حالهم ومعيشتهم، فأجابت: "نحن في شقاء، نعيش في ضيق وفاقة"، تشكو إليه. فقال: "إذا عاد زوجُك فأبلغيه سلامي، وقولي له: غيِّرْ عتبةَ بابه." فلما جاء إسماعيل، أحسَّ كأن شيئًا غير معتاد قد حدث، فسألَ زوجتَه: "هل جاءكم أحد؟" فأجابت: "نعم، جاءنا شيخٌ على هيئة كذا وكذا، سأل عنك فأخبرتُه، وسأل عن حالنا ومعيشتنا فأخبرتُه أننا نعيش في ضيق وفقر." فقال إسماعيل: "هل أوصاكِ بشيء؟" قالت: "نعم، أمرني أن أبلغك سلامه، وأن تغيِّر عتبةَ بابك." فقال إسماعيل: "ذاك أبي، وقد أمرني أن أفارقك. الحقي بأهلك." فطلَّقها إسماعيل، وتزوج امرأةً أخرى من قومها، من جُرهم.

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).

ثم اعتزلهم إبراهيم مدةً أرادها الله، ثم عاد إليهم فلم يجد إسماعيل، فجاء إلى امرأة إسماعيل فسألها عنه، فقالت: «خرج يبتغي لنا من الرزق». فسألها إبراهيم: «كيف حالكم؟»، يسألها عن معيشتهم وعيشهم، فقالت: «نحن في خير وسعة (عندنا كل شيء بوفرة)». ثم حمدت الله. فقال إبراهيم: «ما طعامكم؟» فقالت:

"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:

قال: "اللحم". فقال: "ما شرابكم؟" قالت: "الماء". فقال: "اللهم بارك لهم في اللحم والماء". قال النبي ﷺ: "لم يكن لهم يومئذٍ حبٌّ، ولو كان لهم حبٌّ لدعا لهم فيه. ولا يَسْتَوْطِنُ أحدٌ مكةَ إلا اجتوته، أي لم توافقه صحته وطبعه، إلا أن يكون بغيرها". ثم قال النبي ﷺ: "فقال إبراهيم لامرأة إسماعيل: إذا جاء زوجُكِ فأقرئيه مني السلام، وقولي له: يُغيِّرْ عَتَبَةَ بابه. فلما جاء إسماعيل قال: هل أتاكم من أحد؟ قالت: نعم، أتانا شيخٌ حسنُ الهيئة، فأثنت عليه، فسألني عنك، فأخبرته أنا على خير. قال: فأوصاكِ بشيء؟ قالت: نعم، هو يُقرئك السلام، ويقول: غيِّرْ عتبةَ بابك. قال: ذاك أبي، وأنتِ العتبة، أمرني أن أمسككِ". ثم لبث عنهم إبراهيم ما شاء الله أن يلبث، ثم أتاهم بعد ذلك، فلم يجده، فدخل على امرأته فسألها عنه، فقالت: خرج يبتغي لنا. قال: كيف أنتم؟ وسألها عن عيشهم وهيئتهم، فقالت: نحن بخير وسَعةٍ. فأثنت على الله. فقال: ما طعامكم؟ قالت: اللحم. قال: فما شرابكم؟ قالت: الماء. قال: اللهم بارك لهم في اللحم والماء. ورآه إسماعيل تحت شجرة قريبًا من زمزم يُصلح نبلًا له، فلما رآه قام إليه، فصنعا كما يصنع الوالد بالولد والولد بالوالد، ثم قال: يا إسماعيل، إن الله أمرني بأمرٍ. قال: فاصنع ما أمرك ربك. قال: وتعينني؟ قال: وأعينك. قال:

'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:

عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما بروايةٍ مختلفةٍ قليلاً: «لما اختلف إبراهيم مع زوجته (بسبب غيرتها من هاجر، أم إسماعيل)، أخذ إسماعيل وأمه وذهب بهما، وكان معهما قربة فيها شيء من الماء، وكانت أم إسماعيل تشرب من القربة فيزداد لبنها لولدها. فلما وصل إبراهيم إلى مكة أجلسها تحت شجرة، ثم رجع إلى بيته. فتبعته أم إسماعيل، ولما بلغا كداءً نادته من خلفه: يا إبراهيم! إلى من تتركنا؟ فقال: (أترككم) إلى رعاية الله. قالت: رضيتُ بالله. فرجعت إلى مكانها وأخذت تشرب من القربة، فازداد لبنها لولدها».

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.

فَلَمَّا نَفِدَ الْمَاءُ قَالَتْ فِي نَفْسِهَا: «لَوْ أَذْهَبُ فَأَنْظُرَ لَعَلِّي أَرَى أَحَدًا». فَصَعِدَتِ الصَّفَا وَنَظَرَتْ رَاجِيَةً أَنْ تَرَى أَحَدًا، فَلَمْ تَرَ شَيْئًا.

"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.

فلمّا نزلت إلى الوادي، سعت حتى جاوزت جبل المروة. وسعت بين الجبلين مرارًا كثيرة. ثم قالت في نفسها: "لو ذهبتُ فنظرتُ حال الطفل!" فذهبت فوجدته في حال من يُشرف على الموت. ولم تطق أن تنظر إليه يموت، فقالت في نفسها: "إن ذهبتُ فنظرتُ لعلّي أجد أحدًا." فذهبت وصعدت جبل الصفا، ونظرت طويلًا فلم تجد أحدًا. وهكذا أتمّت سبعة أشواط من السعي بين الصفا والمروة. ثم قالت في نفسها مرة أخرى: "أرجع فأنظر حال الطفل." وفجأة سمعت صوتًا، فقالت لذلك الصوت الغريب: "أغِثْنا إن كان عندك غَوْثٌ." فإذا هو جبريل، وكان هو الذي أحدث الصوت.

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)

قال ابن عباس: "فجعلت أم إسماعيل تشرب من الماء، ويزيد لبنها على صبيها. ثم إن أناسًا من جرهم مروا بها، فرأوا طيرًا تحوم على الوادي، فقالوا: ما أرى هذا الطير إلا ليُعلم بالماء. فبعثوا رسولًا، فنظر، فإذا هو بالماء، فرجع فأخبرهم به، فأقبلوا إليها، فقالوا: يا أم إسماعيل، أتأذنين لنا أن ننزل معك؟ فنزلوا."

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.

ثم بلغ الغلام مبلغ الرجال، فتزوج امرأة منهم. ثم خطر لإبراهيم فكرة، فأفضى بها إلى زوجته (سارة): «أريد أن أزور أهلي الذين تركتهم في مكة». ولما ذهب إلى هناك، سلّم على زوجة إسماعيل وقال: «أين إسماعيل؟» فردت: «قد خرج يصطاد». فقال لها إبراهيم: «إذا جاء فقولي له أن يغيّر عتبة بابه». فلما جاء إسماعيل أخبرته بذلك، فقال لها إسماعيل: «أنتِ العتبة، فاذهبي إلى أهلك (أي طلّقتُكِ)». ثم فكّر إبراهيم مرة أخرى في زيارة أهله الذين تركهم في مكة، فأخبر زوجته (سارة) بما يريد. فجاء إبراهيم إلى بيت إسماعيل وسأل: «أين إسماعيل؟» فردت زوجة إسماعيل: «قد خرج يصطاد»، وأضافت: «أتمكث قليلاً فتأكل وتشرب شيئاً؟» فقال إبراهيم: «ما طعامكم وما شرابكم؟» فقالت: «طعامنا اللحم وشرابنا الماء». فقال: «اللهم بارك لهم في طعامهم وشرابهم». وقال أبو القاسم ﷺ: «بدعوة إبراهيم كانت البركة في مكة».

"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."

قال ابن عباس: "ثم فكّر إبراهيم مرة أخرى في زيارة أهله الذين تركهم في مكة، فأخبر زوجته (سارة) بعزمه. فذهب فوجد إسماعيل خلف بئر زمزم يصلح سهامه. فقال: 'يا إسماعيل، إن ربك قد أمرني أن أبني له بيتاً.' فقال إسماعيل: 'فأطع أمر ربك.' فقال إبراهيم: 'وقد أمرني الله أن تعينني على ذلك.' فقال إسماعيل: 'إذن سأفعل.' فأخذا يقولان:"

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:

﴿رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ﴾ (البقرة: 127)

"O our Lord! Accept this service of us, verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower." (Ch 2:127)

www.islambasics.com لَمَّا ارْتَفَعَ البِنَاءُ وَلَمْ يَعُدِ الشَّيْخُ (إِبْرَاهِيمُ) قَادِرًا عَلَى رَفْعِ الحِجَارَةِ إِلَى هذَا المَوْضِعِ العَالِي، وَقَفَ عَلَى حَجَرِ المَقَامِ، وَظَلَّ إِسْمَاعِيلُ يُنَاوِلُهُ الحِجَارَةَ، وَكَانَا كِلاَهُمَا يَقُولاَنِ:

www.islambasics.com 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:

{رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ}

"O our Lord! Accept this service of us, verily You are the All Hearer, the All Knower.""

قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مُخْبِرًا عَنْ ابْتِلَاءِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِابْنِهِ الْحَبِيبِ:

Allah the Almighty told us of Abraham's affliction with his beloved son:

وقال بعد نجاته من النار:

"And he said after his rescue from the fire:

﴿إِنِّي ذَاهِبٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ * رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ﴾ فَبَشَّرْنَاهُ بِغُلَامٍ حَلِيمٍ * فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ * فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ * وَنَادَيْنَاهُ أَن يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ * قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا ۚ إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ * إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ الْبَلَاءُ الْمُبِينُ * وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ * وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الْآخِرِينَ﴾

'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)

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الْآخِرِينَ * سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ * كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ * إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

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)

مرّ الوقت. وفي يومٍ من الأيام كان إبراهيم جالساً أمام خيمته يفكّر في ابنه إسماعيل وفي ذبح الله. امتلأ قلبه هيبةً ومحبةً لله على نعمه التي لا تُعدّ. وسقطت من عينيه دمعةٌ كبيرة ذكّرته بإسماعيل.

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.

في هذه الأثناء، نزل ثلاثة من الملائكة إلى الأرض: جبريل، وإسرافيل، وميكائيل. جاؤوا في صورة بشر وسلّموا على إبراهيم. فقام إبراهيم ورحّب بهم. أدخلهم إلى خيمته ظانًّا أنهم غرباء وأضياف. أجلسهم وحرص على أن يكونوا مرتاحين، ثم استأذن ليذهب إلى أهله.

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.

وقامت زوجته سارة حين دخل، وكانت قد صارت كبيرة السن بيضاء الشعر. فقال لها إبراهيم: «عندنا ثلاثة أضياف في البيت». قالت: «من هم؟» قال: «لا أعرف أحداً منهم». ثم سأل: «ماذا عندنا من طعام؟» قالت: «نصف خروف». فقال: «نصف خروف! اذبحي عجلاً سميناً لهم؛ فهم أضياف وضيوف». وأمر بذلك وهو خارج.

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.

فَأَخَذَ الْخَدَمُ عِجْلًا فَشَوَوْهُ وَقَدَّمُوهُ. دَعَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ لِيَأْكُلُوا، وَبَدَأَ هُوَ بِالْأَكْلِ لِيُشَجِّعَهُمْ. اسْتَمَرَّ فِي الْأَكْلِ، لَكِنَّهُ حِينَ نَظَرَ إِلَى ضُيُوفِهِ لِيَتَأَكَّدَ مِنْ أَنَّهُمْ يَأْكُلُونَ، لَاحَظَ أَنَّ أَيًّا مِنْهُمْ لَمْ يَمَسَّ الطَّعَامَ. فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ؟». ثُمَّ عَادَ إِلَى الْأَكْلِ، لَكِنَّهُ حِينَ نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى وَجَدَهُمْ مَا زَالُوا لَا يَأْكُلُونَ. لَمْ تَمْتَدَّ أَيْدِيهِمْ إِلَى الطَّعَامِ. فَبَدَأَ يَخَافُهُمْ.

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.

ازدادت مخاوف إبراهيم. وكانت الملائكة تقرأ ما في نفسه، فقال أحدهم: «لا تَخَفْ». فرفع إبراهيم رأسه وقال: «إني خائفٌ حقًّا؛ لقد دعوتكم إلى الطعام، ولكنكم لا تمدّون أيديكم لتأكلوا. أتريدون بي سوءًا؟» فابتسم أحد الملائكة وقال: «إنّا لا نأكل، فنحن ملائكة الله». ثم التفت أحدهم إلى زوجته، وبشّرها بإسحاق.

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).

قال الله تعالى:

Almighty Allah revealed:

إِنَّ رُسُلَنَا جَاءَتْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَىٰ ۖ قَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ ۖ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذٍ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَىٰ أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ ۚ وَامْرَأَتُهُ قَائِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَاهَا بِإِسْحَاقَ وَمِن وَرَاءِ إِسْحَاقَ يَعْقُوبَ

"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.

قَالَتْ يَا وَيْلَتَا أَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا عَجُوزٌ وَهَٰذَا بَعْلِي شَيْخًا ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَيْءٌ عَجِيبٌ ۝ قَالُوا أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ۖ رَحْمَتُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

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).