Islam is Beautiful
chapter twelve: the prophet ishmael
The story of the birth of Prophet Ishmael here becomes the first story worth listening to. It is said that Prophet Abraham, with his wife Sarah, had not yet had a child. Abraham continued to pray to Allah, to be given a godly and obedient child to Him. One time, Sarah also knew what was expected by her husband. But she was unable to realize her husband's wishes because she had a barren uterus.
Then, Sarah gets a plan to bring Ibrahim closer with her slave named Hajar to get married. Sarah also hoped, with the marriage, Prophet Abraham could get a godly child from his marriage with Hajar. Then at one time, Sarah revealed the plan to her husband. Then Prophet Ibrahim said, “We must ask Hajar first, whether he agrees or not.”
Then Sarah and Abraham asked Hajar directly, and Hajar agreed. The Prophet Abraham and Hajar were married, and Hajar was finally able to conceive a child from her husband. Then, after 9 months of pregnancy, Hajar gave birth to a child called Ishmael. It is said that the birth of the Prophet Ishmael is the answer to the prayer that Prophet Abraham always offered to Allah.
Not without reason, it turns out that the wife of Prophet Ibrahim has a barren womb condition so that she can not bear a child. The story of the first Prophet Ishmael is the birth story of the Prophet Ishmael.
Sometime after the birth of Ishmael, Allah ordered Abraham to go and bring Hajar and his son to Makkah. Not thinking for long, Prophet Abraham fulfilled the command of Allah by taking Hajar and Ishmael away through the desert and stopped near where the Ka’bah building currently stands.
Not long after arriving there, Prophet Ibrahim then left Hajar and Ishmael in that place to return to Sham. Hajar immediately took Ibrahim's shirt and said, “O Ibrahim, where are you going? Are you going to leave us in a valley where there is no one or anything here?” Hajar continued to repeat his question, but not a single word came out of Ibrahim's mouth.
Even Ibrahim did not turn his head in the slightest to respond to his wife's words. And finally Hajar said, “Did Allah command you over all this?” Then immediately Ibrahim replied “Ya.” And Hajar could accept it by saying, “Then God will not abandon us.”
The story of Abraham and Hajar continues. Since getting the answer, Hajar immediately returned to his original place with Ismail, while Ibrahim again continued the journey to Sham. On his way, Ibrahim then faced Ka’bah and raised his hands and prayed to Allah.
“Our Lord, I have placed some of my descendants in a valley that has no crops near the house of Thou (Baitullah) that is honored. O our Lord (that is) that they may establish prayer, so make the hearts of some men inclined towards them and give them sustenance from fruits, may they be grateful.” (QS Abraham :37)
On the other hand, Hajar went back to see Ishmael and began to suckle him. For several days Hajar lived with the drinking supplies he had brought. But arriving one day, the water supply was running out. She was thirsty, and so was her baby. Little Ishmael could only cry when he was thirsty. Hajar could only look at her with pity. Unable to bear it, Hajar then left Ishmael to seek help.
There was Hajar on the hill of Shafa, a mountain not far from its original existence with Ishmael. Hajar stood on the hill and faced the valley to look for signs of other humans who could help him. However, he did not see a single person who was there. Then Hajar decided to go to the valley until he reached the hill of Marwah. He tried to stand up and seek help, but still no other human was seen there. Even Hajar traveled from Shafa to Marwah up to seven times, but still nil.
It turned out to be the voice of the angel Gabriel who was near the source of the zam-zam water. Then Gabriel took water with his wings until the water came out. Finally Hajar can drink and can return to breastfeed her baby.
Then the angel Gabriel said, “Do not fear abandonment, for here is the house of Allah, which this child and his father will build and indeed Allah will not waste His servant
The story of the Prophet Ishmael and his mother, Hajar who lived in Makkah is still going on. Until came a group of Jurhum Tribe who came from the hill Kadaa’. From the bottom of Makkah, they saw a group of birds circling in a region. They hope the swirling bird is a sign of a water source. Then they sent two men to visit the location of the bird, and it was true that the birds surrounded the water source. Then two men from the tribe of Jurhum returned quickly to inform the group.
After that, they came together to the water source. At that time, Hajar was sitting near a water source, then one of the Jurhum tribes said, “Did you allow us to stop by to join you in this place?” Then Hajar replied, “Ya, may. But you are not entitled to have water.” Then they agreed to it.
Hajar was also happy with the existence of the Jurhum family. He did not feel lonely anymore, and they lived together in harmony. Even Ismail began to learn Arabic from the Jurhum family. Ishmael also grew up to be a smart and noble child as his mother taught him. As the days passed, Ishmael grew into an adult. This is when he will meet his father, Prophet Abraham.
The story of Prophet Ibrahim who had grown up with his mother, then met his father Ibrahim who came to meet to relieve longing. Prophet Ibrahim could then spend the day with his beloved son. Then one day, Abraham dreamed that he had slaughtered his son, Ishmael. After he woke up, he realized that the dream was a guide from God.
Then, Ibrahim one day came to his son and conveyed the dream he had. And Abraham said to Ishmael, “O my son, I saw in my dream that I slaughtered you. Think about what you think!” Ishmael answered, “O my father, do as you are told; insha Allah you will find me including those who are patient.” (QS As Shaafaat: 102)
Then Abraham took Ishmael to Mina. After he got there, Ibrahim tied a cloth over his son's face so that he could not see the look on the child's face, which could make him touched. They both set themselves apart and surrendered themselves to God. After that, Abraham heard the cry of Allah, “O Abraham, verily you have justified the dream. Verily, We recompense those who do good. Truly this is a real test.”
Not long after that, the angel Gabriel brought a large goat and put it in place of Ishmael to be slaughtered. From this incident then came the command of Allah for all Muslims to fulfill the duty of sacrifice.
