After a long, tiring journey, Prophet Abraham and Lady Sarah reached Egypt and it was
there they decided to make their home. During their time in Egypt, Haggar, one of the
noble ladies-in-waiting in the court of Pharaoh, came to live in Abraham's household as
a companion to Sarah. Haggar was a sweet natured lady, she loved Lady Sarah dearly
and a very special friendship bonded them together. Idolatry was also commonplace in
Egypt especially in the court of Pharaoh but when Haggar heard Abraham speak about
Allah she was quick to recognize the truth and accepted it. In those days it was common
place for a man to have more than one wife and Prophet Abraham and Lady Sarah, who
were now elderly remained childless. Lady Sarah had given up hope of ever bearing a
child so she suggested to Abraham that he might like to take Haggar to be her co-wife.
Both Abraham and Haggar accepted her suggestion and shortly after Haggar became
his lawful second wife. The family's wish was fulfilled when Lady Haggar conceived and
gave birth to a fine son whom they named Ishmael. Lady Sarah was delighted and
happy that Abraham had at long last been blessed with a son -- little did she know at
that time that she too would be blessed in later years for her patience with a son of her
own, Isaac.
DECEIT
Throughout the centuries nationalistic Jews and Orientalists have sort to distort the truth
about Prophet Abraham’s legal marriage to Lady Haggar and the very close relationship
between Ladies Sarah and Haggar. Their object has been and still is to undermine the
great event which had been promised and recorded in the original, unadulterated Holy
Scriptures that announced the coming of Islam with its protected revelation, the Holy
Koran and the seal of all the prophets, Prophet Muhammad (sa).
PROPHETS OF ALLAH
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Both the sons of Abraham were legitimate and destined to become prophets of Allah.
Ishmael was sent as a prophet to the Arabs and Isaac as a prophet to the Hebrews, later
on to be called the children of Israel and then Jews, peace be upon all the prophets. It is
from the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac that two great nations evolved each having
Prophet Abraham as their common ancestor. However, neither Jew nor Christian can
claim he was a follower of their religion as both prophets Moses and Jesus were sent
many centuries after the death of Prophet Abraham.
Before Ishmael completed his weaning, Prophet Abraham saw a vision in which he was
instructed to take Lady Haggar and their son to a place called Becca, in the peninsular of
Arabia, known today as Mecca, and leave them there. Mecca lies in a valley surrounded
by mountains and hills with three passes. One to the north, another to the south and the
other to the west. The valley had long been one of the most traveled caravan routes in
Arabia, however, it remained uninhabited largely because it lacked water. Upon reaching
Becca, Prophet Abraham settled Lady Haggar and Ishmael under the shade of a large
tree and gave his wife a large bag of dates and a water-skin full of water, then, turned
away and started to leave them. Lady Haggar followed after him and asked, "Abraham,
where are you going, are you leaving us in an uninhabited provisionless wilderness?"
She asked the same question several times, but Abraham did not reply. Then, searching
for a reason and knowing her husband would never do anything to earn the displeasure
of Allah she inquired, "Has Allah commanded you to do this?" whereupon he replied,
"Yes". So she comforted them both saying, "Then He will not let us perish," and returned
to her infant
ABRAHAM SUPPLICATES FOR LADY HAGGAR, ISHMAEL & FUTURE
GENERATIONS OF MUSLIMS
At a place called Thania, Abraham stopped and turned his face in the direction of the
ruins of Ka'ba -- the first House of Allah to be built on earth -- which lay buried in the
sand. He raised his hands and supplicated,
"Our Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a barren valley near Your Holy House;
our Lord, in order that they establish the prayer. Make the hearts of people yearn
towards them, and provide them with fruits, in order that they are thankful." Koran,
Chapter 14 verse 37.
Allah had promised Abraham that from his offspring would arise great nations, that is
why Abraham referred to having settled "some of his offspring" near Ka'ba. This
promised was fulfilled as it was from the descendants of Prophet Ishmael that Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon all the prophets, was born. Lady Haggar suckled her infant
son and gave him water from the skin until none remained. It wasn't long until both were
very thirsty but she was more concerned for Ishmael. Lady Haggar could not bear to
have her son go without water so she searched frantically for some but could find none.
In desperation she climbed a nearby hill, the hill of Safwa, and stood at its top and
looked around in all directions to see if there was anyone in sight to help her -- but
there was no one. She ran back down the hill and in her anxiety ran across the valley
and climbed to the top of the neighboring hill of Marwah, but again to no avail. She ran
between the two hills seven times, but could find neither caravaners nor water.
ALLAH HEARS THE CRY OF LADY HAGGAR
Upon the seventh time she reached the hill of Marwah Haggar heard a voice. She
calmed herself and listened attentively, and called out, "I have heard Your voice, would
that my supplication might reach You." And there, standing near the place we know
today as Zamzam stood Angel Gabriel. Gabriel struck the ground with either his heel or
wings, and water gushed forth. Hastily, she dug a hole in the ground into which the water
flowed and filled her water-skin to the top as the water gushed forth with still greater
force. Quickly, she drank a handful of water and raced back to her son to give him some.
Then, Gabriel spoke saying, "Do not be afraid of perishing here, because it is here that
your son and his father will build a House for Allah. Allah will not let those around it
perish."