So
Ibrahim (alayhis salam) followed Allah’s instructions. He took
Hajira and his son Isma'il out of Palestine, travelling for several days.
When they arrived at the valley of Bacca (Makkah), Ibrahim left Hajira
and Isma'il, where nothing grew or lived.
He knew that Allah would take care of them.
Allah instructed Prophet Ibrahim (alayhis salam) to leave them there and he
did so, with some food and drink. But it was not long before their water ran
out.
Isma'il began to get very weak, and hungry, and started to cry. He began kicking
his feet into the ground, 'kick, kick', 'kick, kick'
Hajira was desperate to find some help. There were two hills, Safa and Marwah,
one on either side of the valley.
Hajira climbed first one, then the other, looking in all directions to find
water. She saw nothing. Desperate, she ran from hill to hill seven times, searching
in case she had missed any sign of help in the distance.
Hajira went up and down the two hills seven times, each time, returning to
her son Isma'il, seeing how he was doing.
Sadly she returned to her son, and began to pray to Allah for help
[surah Baqarah, 2: 158]
Hajira looked at Isma'il, and saw something strange.
Bubbling and sparkling
in the sun, there was a small spring of water rising out of the ground
near her son’s
feet! She was delighted, and relieved. They were saved.
All that kicking by Isma'il (alayhis salam) into the ground, caused a water-spring
to gush from the earth.
They drank, and thanked Allah. The water was sweet and cool.
Hajira and Isma'il settled by this spring, which came to be called The Well
of Zam-Zam, and is still visited by Muslims on pilgrimage today.
With their water supply secure, Hajira and Isma'il (alayhis salam) were able
to trade with wandering nomads for food and other supplies.
From time to time Ibrahim (alayhis salam) would visit his second wife and
their son in their new home, and he was amazed to see them owning such a profitable
well.
[Surah Ali' Imran, 3: 96]
Isma'il (alayhis salam) grew into a fine man, and later helped his father
Ibrahim in building the Ka'bah there in Makkah
[Surah Baqarah, 2: 125].
Isma'il (alayhis salam) is seen as the founder of the Arab nation, Ishaq of
the Jewish nation. The three religions which have grown from those people are
Judaism, Christianity and Islam.