Story of Prophet Ismail (AS)

Story of Prophet Ismail (AS)

1. How Zam Zam originated ?

           As per the command of Allah SWT, Ibrahim (AS) took Hajar and Ismail (AS) (The child was still nursing and not yet weaned)  to 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. He left them with a small amount of food and water. He turned around and walked away.

          Hajar went on suckling Ismail (AS)  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  Ismail (AS) 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."

           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 Ismail (AS) '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."

2. How people settled in Makkah at first ?

           Hajar drank water and suckled her child. 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.

            Ismail (AS)'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.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.

3. Who build the Kaaba first and how ?

            As commanded by Allah SWT Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) built the Kaaba. When the building became high and the  Ibrahim (AS) stood over the stone of Al Maqam and Ismail (AS)carried on handing him the stones.

4. What was the greatest test for Ibrahim (AS) from Allah SWT ?

            One night Ibrahim (AS)  dreamt Allah SWT  told him to sacrifice Ismail(AS). Ibrahim(AS) knew that Allah SWT would only ask him to do such a thing if he had good reason. Even though he loved his son dearly, he was prepared to do this difficult thing for Allah SWT. When they reached Mount Arafat, Ibrahim(AS) told Ismail (AS) what Allah SWT wanted him to do. Ismail(AS) as young boy  listened and accepted what was to happen. He then took the knife and did what Allah SWT  had told him to do. When he took the blindfold from his eyes he looked down, not at his son but at a dead ram. He thought he had disobeyed but then he heard a voice telling him not to worry. Allah SWT looks after his followers. Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) had passed a difficult test.

5. Who gave the glad tidings about Ishaaq (AS) to Ibrahim (AS) and Sarah ?

            Three angels descended to the earth; Jibril, Mika'il and Israfil. They came in human shapes and saluted Ibrahim (AS ). He arose and welcomed them. He took them inside his tent thinking they were strangers and guests. The servants roasted and served a calf. Ibrahim (AS ) invited the angels to eat, and he started eating so as to encourage them. But  they didn't eat food. He began to fear them. One of them said: "Do not fear." Ibrahim (AS ) 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  Ishaaq (AS) and after him of yaqub (AS). Angels also said they have been send for the destruction of the people of Lot.