Hajar, Mother of Isma'il

A Model of Trust in Allah

One of the most prominent distinguishing features of the Muslim woman is her deep faith in Allah Subhana Ta'ala and her sincere conviction that whatever happens in this universe, and whatever fate befalls human beings, only happens through the will and decree of Allah. Whatever befalls a person could not have been avoided, and whatever does not happen to a person could not have been made to happen. A person has no choice in this life but to strive towards the right path and to do good deeds, by whatever means one can, putting all his trust in Allah, submitting to His will, and believing that he is always in need of Allah's help and support.

The story of Hajar (RA) offers the Muslim woman the most marvelous example of deep faith in Allah and sincere trust in Him. Her example of sacrifice took place when she and her baby were left in the valley of Makkah, which was then a vast and barren desert.

Left in the Valley

As per Allah Subhana Ta'ala's command, Ibrahim (AS) had to leave his beloved wife and long-awaited baby, Isma'il (AS), in the middle of nowhere, at the place of the Ka'bah and Zamzam, at a time when there were no people and no water. He left nothing with her but a bag of dates and a skin filled with water. Then he turned on his heel and walked away into the far-reaching distance.

Hajar (RA) knew the responsibility that her husband held as a prophet, but what worried her was the place she was being left in. She followed after Ibrahim (AS) in a desperate attempt for answers, calling after him, "O Ibrahim! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is there anything else?” She asked him many times, but he did not look back at her.

Subhan Allah. She then returned to the spot where Ibrahim (AS) had left her.

Ibrahim (AS) proceeded, and on reaching a place where they could not see him, he faced the Ka'bah, raised both hands, and made du'a to Allah:

These were extremely distressing circumstances. Hajar was left in the middle of nowhere with a young baby whom she would soon be unable to feed due to her complete lack of resources. Were it not for the deep faith and trust in Allah that filled her heart, she would not have been able to cope; she would have collapsed straight away. Instead, she trusted Allah Subhana Ta'ala completely.

🌿 Between Safa and Marwa

Hajar went on nursing Isma'il and drinking from the water she had. For a while the dates and water were sufficient, but eventually they ran out, and both mother and child were overcome by thirst and hunger. She could not bear to watch her baby tossing in agony, so she left him and went to Mount Safa, the nearest mountain, hoping to see someone who could relieve her distress. She stood on top and looked keenly across the valley, but she could not see anybody.

She descended from Safa, and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her robe and ran like a person in distress until she crossed the valley and reached Mount Marwa. There she stood and looked, hoping to see somebody, but again she could see no one. With an ever-growing sense of desperation, she continued running between Safa and Marwa a total of seven times. The Prophet ﷺ said, “This is the source of the tradition of the walking of people between them.”

The Well of Zamzam

When she reached Marwa for the last time, she heard a voice. She told herself to be quiet and listened attentively. She heard it again and called out, "Oh, whoever you may be! You have made me hear your voice. Do you have something to help me?” And behold, she saw an angel (who was later revealed to be Jibreel) at the place of Zamzam, digging the earth with his heel, until water gushed forth. She began to make a basin around it with her hands to hold the water back and filled her water-skin, and the water kept flowing after she had scooped it.

Subhan Allah. As Hajar had rightly proclaimed, Allah Subhana Ta'ala had not abandoned her.

The Arrival of Jurhum

At that time the Ka'bah stood on a high place resembling a hillock, and when torrents came, they flowed to its right and left. Hajar lived in this way until a family from the tribe of Jurhum passed by, coming by the way of Kada'. They settled in the lower part of Makkah, where they saw a bird flying in circles. “This bird must be circling water,” they said, “though we know there is no water in this valley.” They sent one or two messengers, who found the spring and returned to tell the others. So they all came towards the water.

Hajar 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. The Prophet ﷺ added that Hajar was pleased with this, as she loved the company of people. They settled there and sent for their families, and Makkah became a place of permanent residents. Isma'il grew up among them and learned Arabic from them; they loved and admired him, and when he reached the age of puberty, they married him to a woman from among them.

A Legacy That Lives On

Today we are bearing the fruits of this mother's struggle and sacrifice. Many of us drink and have drunk from the well of Zamzam. And those of us who have made Hajj run between Safa and Marwa in a much more comfortable way than Hajar ever did.

Her commitment to her son, her sense of urgency, and her unshakable faith in Allah Subhana Ta'ala in such harsh circumstances are examples not only of what an excellent mother she was but also of what a strong, unshakable believer she was.

Allah Subhana Ta'ala has honored Hajar so much that, until the end of time, all Muslims who perform Hajj and Umrah run between Safa and Marwa in memory of this great woman, and every time they drink Zamzam, her name is remembered.

Narrated Ibn Abbas (Bukhari). Adapted from the writing of Dr. Muhammad Ali Al-Hashimi.