Volume 4, Book 55, Number 584:
Narrated Ibn Abbas:
When Abraham had differences with his wife), (because of her jealousy of Hajar, Ishmael’s moth –
er), 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 in –
crease 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. When the water had all been used up, she said
to herself, ‘I’d better go and look so that I may see somebody.’ She ascended the Safa mountain and
looked, hoping to see somebody, but in vain. When she came down to the valley, she ran till she
reached the Marwa mountain. She ran to and fro (between the two mountains) many times. They she
said to herself, ‘i’d 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 the Safa mountain and looked for a long while but
could not find anybody. Thus she completed seven rounds (of running) between Safa and Marwa.
Again she said (to herself), ‘I’d 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). Gabriel hit the earth with his heel like this (Ibn ‘Abbas hit the earth with his
heel to Illustrate it), and so the water gushed out. Ishmael’s mother was astonished and started dig –
ging. (Abu Al-Qasim) (i.e. the Prophet) said, “If she had left the water, (flow naturally without her in –
tervention), it would have been flowing on the surface of the earth.”) Ishmael’s mother started drink –
ing from the water and her milk increased for her child . Afterwards some people of the tribe of
Jurhum, while passing through the bottom of the valley, saw some birds, and that astonished them,
and 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)?’ (And thus
they stayed there.) 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 depend –
ents 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 he came, she told him the same whereupon Ishmael said to her, ‘You
are the threshold, so go to your family (i.e. you are divorced).’ Again Abraham thought of visiting his
dependents whom he had left (at Mecca), and he 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
asked, ‘What is your food and what is your drink?’ She replied, ‘Our food is meat and our drink is
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SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 4 > BOOK 55: PROPHETS
water.’ He said, ‘O Allah! Bless their meals and their drink.” Abu Al-Qa-sim (i.e. Prophet) said, “Be –
cause of Abraham’s invocation there are blessings (in Mecca).” Once more Abraham thought of visit –
ing his family he had left (at Mecca), so 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, both of them
rose and Abraham started building (the Ka’ba) while Ishmael went on handing him the stones, and
both of them were saying, “O our Lord ! Accept (this service) from us, Verily, You are the All-Hear –
ing, the All-Knowing.” (2.127). When the building became high and the old man (i.e. 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, ‘O our Lord! Accept (this
service) from us, Verily You are All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (2.127)