Al-Quran, Chapter 14 Ibrahim, Verse 37-38
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks. "O our Lord! truly Thou dost know what we conceal and what we reveal: for nothing whatever is hidden from Allah, whether on earth or in heaven.

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Hajar and Ishmael - Narrated by Ibn Abbas

Ibn Abbas narrated: "The first lady to use a girdle was the mother of Ishmael^(pbuh). she used a girdle so that she might hide her tracks from Sarah (by dragging it). Abraham^(pbuh) brought her and her son Ishmael^(pbuh) while she was suckling him to a place near the Kaba under a tree on the spot of Zam Zam at the highest place in the mosque. During those days there was nobody in Makka, 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^(pbuh) mother followed him saying:

"O Abraham^(pbuh)! 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^(pbuh) 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:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 14 Ibrahim, Verse 37
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks.

Ibn Abbas's narration continued; "Ishmael's^(pbuh) mother went on suckling Ishmael^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh)) 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."

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Hajar sees Zam-zam

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^(pbuh) 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."

Makka is Settled

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 Makka 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^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh)) 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."

Ishmael's Wives

The Prophet^(pbuh) continued: "After Ishmael's^(pbuh) mother had died, Abraham^(pbuh) came after Ishmael's^(pbuh) marriage in order to see his family that he had left before but he did not find Ishmael^(pbuh) there. When he asked Ishmael's^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh) said: 'It was my father and he has ordered me to divorce you. Go back to your family.' so, Ishmael^(pbuh) divorced her and married another woman from among them (Jurhum).

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The Kaba is Built

"Then Abraham^(pbuh) stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them again but did not find Ishmael^(pbuh). So he came to Ishmael's^(pbuh) wife and asked her about Ishmael^(pbuh). She said: 'he has gone in search of 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^(pbuh) 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 Makka."

The Prophet^(pbuh) continued: "Then Abraham^(pbuh) said to Ishmael's^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh) said: 'It was my father, and you are the threshold of the gate. He has ordered me to keep you with me.'

Then Abraham^(pbuh) stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them afterwards. He saw Ishmael^(pbuh) under a tree near Zam Zam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw Abraham^(pbuh), 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^(pbuh) said: 'O Ishmael^(pbuh)! Allah has give me an order.'
Ishmael^(pbuh) said: 'Do what your Lord has ordered you to do.'
Abraham^(pbuh) asked:'Will you help me?'
Ishmael^(pbuh) said: 'I will help you.'
Abraham^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh) brought the stones while Abraham^(pbuh) built and when the walls became high Ishmael^(pbuh) brought this stone and put it for Abraham^(pbuh) who stood over it and carried on building. While Ishmael was handing him the stones, and both of them were saying:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 2 Al-baqara, Verse 127
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful And remember Abraham and Isma'il raised the foundations of the House (With this prayer): "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-knowing.

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).

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Abraham^(pbuh) and Ishmael^(pbuh) - The Sacrifice

Allah the Almighty told us of Abraham's^(pbuh) affliction with his beloved son:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 37 As-Saffat, Verse 99-111
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful He said: "I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me! "O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!" So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear. Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills one practicing Patience and Constancy!" So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), We called out to him "O Abraham! "Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" - thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial- And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: "Peace and salutation to Abraham!" Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For he was one of our believing Servants.

Time passed. One day Abraham^(pbuh) was sitting outside his tent thinking of his son Ishmael^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh).

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Tidings of Issac^(pbuh)

In the meantime, three angels descended to the earth; Gabriel, Israphael, and Michael. They came in human shapes and saluted Abraham^(pbuh). 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^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh) 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^(pbuh) 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).

Tidings Of Isaac - Quranic

Almighty Allah revealed:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 11 Hud, Verse 69-73
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful There came Our Messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said "Peace!" He answered "Peace!" and hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf. But when he saw their hands went not towards 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 Lut." And his wife was standing (there) and she laughed: but We gave her glad tidings of Isaac and after him of Jacob. She said: "Alas for me! Shall I bear a child seeing I am an old woman and my husband here is an old man? That would indeed be a wonderful thing!" They said: "Dost thou wonder at Allah's decree? The grace of Allah and His blessings on you O ye people of the house! for He is indeed worthy of all praise full of all glory!"

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