DOCUMENTARY: THE STORY OF HAJAR, THE MOTHER OF ISMAEEL

The story of Hajar - the woman of faith and trust.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:

يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ أُمَّ إِسْمَاعِيلَ
May Allah have mercy on the mother of Ismaeel. (Bukhari, 3364)

In this documentary, you discover the story of Hajar, from Sahih Bukhari (3364, 3365).

Ibrahim, peace be upon him, the friend of the Compassionate, leaves Hajar and Ismaeel in Mecca, upon the command of God. As he is leaving, Hajar asks Ibrahim if Allah had ordered him with this and upon hearing a yes expresses her trust in Him.

Out of their view, Abraham makes a heartfelt prayer. Calling upon Allah with hands raised, he says:

رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ
"Our Lord, indeed I have settled some of my progeny in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make the passionate hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful." (Al Qur'an, Surah Ibrahim, 14:37)

The water Hajar has with her eventually runs out, and the child begins to feel disturbed, so Hajar sets out seeking help. She makes circuits between the mounts Safa and Marwah, trying to find any help. Muslims to this day continue this tradition of walking and running between Safa and Mawah.

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
Indeed, as-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah . So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs 'umrah - there is no blame upon him that they make circuits between them. And whoever volunteers a good act- then indeed, Allah is Appreciative, Knowing. (Al Qur'an, Surah Al Baqarah, 2:158)

She hears a voice and sees an angel of God who strikes the ground with his heel or wing, and water emerges. This is the source of the blessed zamzam water and the well of zamzam that millions of pilgrims drink from every year.

Later people settle in Mecca and the baby boy grows up and he and his father builds the Kaaba, the house of God which Muslims face in prayer.

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
And [mention] when Ibrahim was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ismael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing. (Al Qur'an, 2:127)

وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ
إِنَّ فِي هَٰذَا لَبَلَاغًا لِّقَوْمٍ عَابِدِينَ

"And indeed We have already written in the Zabur after the remembrance that the earth is inherited by My righteous slaves. Indeed, in this is surely a communication for a worshipping people." (Surah Al Anbiya, 21:105-106)