Nabi Ismail

On Allah's orders, Ibrahim placed Hajar and her baby, Ismail, in the uncultivated valley of Mecca, near the location of Baitullah. When the provisions ran out, Hajar ran between the hills of Shafa and Marwah seven times looking for water - sa'i which is now immortalized in the ritual of the Hajj. Then Zamzam water gushes near Ismail's feet with Allah's permission, and the dead valley begins to be inhabited by humans.

When told by his father about the dream of slaughter, Ismail - whom the Koran calls ghulam halim, a very patient child - answered, "O my father, do what you are commanded." Both surrendered until Allah redeemed them with a large sacrifice. Ismail passed the test which made him an example of submission for an entire generation.

Ismail helped his father raise the foundations of the Baitullah, and both of them prayed that Allah would accept this charity and raise up from their descendants a people who surrendered. Ismail then settled in Mecca, married a Jurhum resident, and became the ancestor of the Musta'ribah Arab nation - from this line the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born.

Allah praised him in particular: "Tell the story of Ismail in the Book; indeed, he was a true man of his word, an apostle and a prophet. He ordered his family to pray and give zakat, and he was a man who was pleased with his Lord."

Ismail teaches perfect devotion to parents in obedience to Allah, patience in facing trials from infancy to adulthood, and persistence in keeping promises. The traces of his family — zamzam, sa'i, sacrifice, Kaaba — are brought to life by Muslims every year.