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The birth of Ismail
ولادة إسماعيل
Ismail (عليه السلام) is the first son of Ibrahim (عليه السلام), born of Hajar, the Egyptian servant whom Sarah had offered to Ibrahim (عليه السلام). His birth was the fulfillment of the promise of Allah to Ibrahim (عليه السلام), who was asking for a pious offspring.
When Sarah saw that she could not have a child, she suggested to Ibrahim (عليه السلام) that he marry Hajar so that he could have the offspring that Allah had promised him. From this union was born Ismail (عليه السلام), bringing great joy to Ibrahim (عليه السلام).
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous."
Surah As-Saffat, verse 100
Authentic Sources
Quran: Surah As-Saffat 37:100-101
The settlement in Mecca and the spring of Zamzam
الاستقرار في مكة وبئر زمزم
When Ismail (عليه السلام) was still a child, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) ordered Ibrahim (عليه السلام) to take Hajar and Ismail (عليه السلام) to an arid and desolate valley: the one where Mecca stands today. Ibrahim (عليه السلام) obeyed the divine order and left them there with a few provisions.
When the water and the food ran out, Hajar ran desperately between the hills of As-Safa and Al-Marwa, looking for water for her child who was crying from thirst. She made this journey seven times, imploring Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) to rescue them.
Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) answered her prayers: the angel Jibril (Gabriel) (عليه السلام) struck the ground with his wing near the feet of Ismail (عليه السلام), and the blessed spring of Zamzam gushed forth miraculously. This spring continues to flow today and is a blessing for all the pilgrims who visit Mecca.
رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ
Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House
Surah Ibrahim, verse 37
Authentic Sources
Quran: Surah Ibrahim 14:37
The childhood of Ismail and the learning
طفولة إسماعيل والتعلم
Ismail (عليه السلام) grew up in the valley of Mecca, learning Arabic from the tribe of Jurhum, which had settled there attracted by the spring of Zamzam. He quickly became a master of this language and distinguished himself by his intelligence and his piety.
Ibrahim (عليه السلام) regularly visited his son and Hajar, thus fulfilling his paternal duty while obeying the commandments of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). These visits were for Ismail (عليه السلام) the opportunity to learn the teachings of his father's pure monotheism.
Ismail (عليه السلام) developed a noble character, patient and submissive to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). He was generous, brave and possessed all the qualities that would make him a trustworthy prophet. His personality perfectly reflected the prophetic education he was receiving.
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّا
And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.
Surah Maryam, verse 54
Authentic Sources
Quran: Surah Maryam 19:54
The trial of the sacrifice
امتحان الذبحه
When Ismail (عليه السلام) reached the age of thirteen, Ibrahim (عليه السلام) received in a dream the order from Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) to sacrifice his beloved son. The dreams of the prophets are a revelation, and Ibrahim (عليه السلام) knew that he had to obey, despite the difficulty of this trial.
Ibrahim (عليه السلام) spoke to Ismail (عليه السلام) about what he had seen in the dream. The answer of Ismail (عليه السلام) showed his wisdom and his perfect submission: "O my father, do what you are ordered. You will find me, if Allah wills, among the steadfast."
This supreme trial tested the absolute faith and submission of the father and the son toward Allah.
يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ
O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.
Surah As-Saffat, verse 102
Authentic Sources
Quran: Surah As-Saffat 37:99-107
The construction of the Kaaba with Ibrahim (عليه السلام)
بناء الكعبة مع إبراهيم (عليه السلام)
After the trial of the sacrifice, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) ordered Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and Ismail (عليه السلام) to build His Sacred House, the Kaaba. This construction was an act of worship and submission to Allah.
Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and Ismail (عليه السلام) erected the foundations of the Kaaba stone by stone, praying to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) to accept their work. They established this place as a center of pilgrimage for humanity, where people would come from everywhere to worship Allah (سبحانه وتعالى).
During the construction, they invoked Allah: "Our Lord, accept this from us! You are the One who hears everything, the Omniscient. Our Lord, make us submissive to You, and of our descendants a community submissive to You."
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.
Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 127
Authentic Sources
Quran: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:125-129
The marriages of Ismail (عليه السلام) and the visits of Ibrahim (عليه السلام)
زواج إسماعيل وزيارات إبراهيم
Ismail (عليه السلام) married a woman from the Jurhum tribe, some say from the Al-Amaliq tribe - الله أعلم (Allah knows best). Among his characteristics, he kept his word; if he promised something to anyone, he kept his word, no matter what happened.
One day, his old father, Ibrahim (عليه السلام) came by to see him. He knocked on the door, and he found a woman. He asked her: "Where is Ismail? Who are you?" "I am his wife" answered the woman. Then Ibrahim (عليه السلام) asked "Where is your husband?" He has gone to work for us, that is to say, gone to look for food, to work. The woman did not know who this man in front of her was.
Ibrahim (عليه السلام) asked her: How is your life? The woman answered: By God! We are in a life of misery. Our life is hard and she began to speak against her husband. Ibrahim (عليه السلام) asked her what state she was in, her news, and when she finished answering; Ibrahim (عليه السلام) said to her: When your husband comes back, give him my greeting and tell him: change the threshold of your door.
She did not understand what Ibrahim (عليه السلام) meant, then Ibrahim (عليه السلام), the friend of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), went back home to Palestine. When Ismail (عليه السلام) came home, his wife told him that a man came to ask for news of you and me. How was he? asked Ismail (عليه السلام). After the woman described him, Ismail (عليه السلام) knew that it was his father.
She told him that he sends him the greeting, Ismail (عليه السلام) returned the greeting then she said the man asks you to change the threshold of your door. Then Ismail (عليه السلام) understood that his father was ordering him to divorce this woman because she is not a pious woman. Ismail (عليه السلام) divorced and after a time, he married another.
Another day, Ibrahim (عليه السلام) came by to see his son in Mecca. Ibrahim (عليه السلام) greeted the woman, he asked her: "Who are you?" I am his wife, answered the woman. Where is he? asked Ibrahim (عليه السلام). He has gone to work, answered the woman. Ibrahim (عليه السلام) asked: and how is your life? She answered: We are well, praise be to God! We live well. Even though they had only few goods and food, she was thankful for the blessings of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) upon them.
Ibrahim (عليه السلام) inquired about her, and he knew that she is a pious woman and he said to her: When your husband comes back, tell him that Fulan Ibn Fulan sends him the greeting, and tell him also to keep well the threshold of his house. The wife did not know the meaning of the term "the threshold", then Ibrahim (عليه السلام), the friend of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), went away.
When Ismail (عليه السلام) came back, his wife told him that a man named Fulan came asking for news of you. It is my father, said Ismail (عليه السلام). He sends you the greeting, said the woman. Ismail (عليه السلام) returned the greeting. He tells you to keep well the threshold of your door, said the woman. Ismail (عليه السلام) then said: He wants me to stay with you and you to stay with me.
Ismail (عليه السلام) lived in Mecca, he was an Arab prophet and those who came after him learned Arabic from him. He is the ancestor of our prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and he commanded his family the prayer and the Zakat; and he was approved in the sight of his Lord. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) spoke of Ismail (عليه السلام) in the Quran and described his virtues; Ismail (عليه السلام) died in Mecca and he was buried there.
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّا
And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.
Surah Maryam, verse 54
Authentic Sources
Quran: Surah Maryam 19:54