Establishment of Mecca, Building of Ka’bah
It was around the 22nd-20th centuries BC. Prophet Ibrahim, who lived in the Palestinian lands, took his wife Hajar and their infant Ismael by the order Allah (swt) and set off for a journey. They were heading towards Mecca. Prophet Ibrahim left his wife and baby son near somewhere where Ka’bah would be built later. Nobody lived in this arid zone where water was not available in those days. Prophet Ibrahim entrusted his family, whom he had placed in a barren valley, to Allah (swt) and prayed Him to make this place safe also asked Him to provide their livelihood and (Baqarah, 2/126; Ibrahim, 14/35-37) left them. Hajar who was left with some water, a few dates and a baby son in her arms, in an isolated desert shouted to her husband repeatedly: “O Ibrahim! Where are you going by leaving us behind at this valley where not a thing nor human exist?” Prophet Ibrahim did not answer. Finally, Hajar asked him: “Is it the order of Allah (swt) to you?” When he replied “Yes,” she consented to Allah’s order by thinking “Allah (swt) will not let us disappear.”
Prophet Ibrahim had gone, and, Hajar ran out of water after a while. Hajar started to run between the Safa and Marwa hills in the hope of finding water for her son. She was climbing the Safa hill to see someone but she couldn't see anyone. She was going down to the valley hurriedly and walk to the Marwa Hill, staring around and still she couldn't see anyone. Hajar shuttled between the two hills a total of seven times. She heard a voice as she was desperately suffering. She tented to the voice and said: “You made us hear your voice, please help us!” It was an angel, digging the ground with its heel. Finally, some water appeared. That was zamzam. On the one hand she was making Ismael drink water, and on the other hand she was encircling the water to not waste it. At that moment, the angel said to Hajar: “Do not be afraid of disappearing. That place is the house of Allah (swt). This child and his father will build it. Allah (swt) would not let Ibrahim’s family to disappear.”
The water gave life to the place it comes out. After some time, a group of people from Jurhum tribe came settled down around Mecca. Prophet Ismael married a girl from this tribe. After many years, Prophet Ibrahim came to Mecca again. He informed his son, Ismael, about the order of Allah (swt) to build Ka’bah. (Bukhari, Anbiya, 9)
The father and son set to work immediately. They prayed together while raising the foundations of the Ka’bah on the place shown to them: “Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.” (Baqarah, 2/127)
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