The story of Prophet Ibrahim’s Test (as)

Prophet Ibrahim (as) left his family 

Prophet Ibrahim (as) was once in a desolate desert with his wife and son when
Allah told him to leave them (swt). A meager supply of food and water that
would only last two days was all he had left for them.

He left while saying a prayer that decent people would find them. To feed her
son, Hajar (ra) drank the water that the prophet had left. Very quickly, the
water ran out, and they both developed severe thirst. After a while, the
infant began to cry because it was thirsty. She hurried to a nearby hill known
as Al Marwah in the hopes of running into someone.

She waited there in vain, hoping to see someone! In an effort to locate
someone from that area, she then ran to the following mountain, Al Safa. But
she also failed to track out anyone from that region! Seven times, she
continued to sprint between these mountains. She was really exhausted when she
made her final ascent of Al Marwah.

She sat next to her infant since she was so exhausted. At that moment, she
heard a voice. She remained still while she waited to hear the voice once
more, and when she did, she said, “Ho!, whatever you may be, you have made me
hear your voice!” Do you have anything that can assist me?

She then noticed an angel preparing the ground. The angel persisted in digging
until water began to pour from it! A miracle occurred! She rushed for the
water as soon as she spotted it and began to create a basin around it. She
sipped from the water after scooping it up with her hands. She ran toward her
child after filling the water bag.

The Discovery of Water Zam Zam.

Zam Zam is the name of the location where the water rose. Some folks were
passing through Mecca after a few days. They noticed the birds soaring about
Al Marwah and assumed they were doing so over the water. They set off to make
their way to Al Marwah. They were shocked to see a mother with a baby sitting
by the river when they got there!

Do you mind if we stay here and use this water? They questioned her. They
drank water from the Zam Zam after Hajar(ra) replied “yes”. Many more
individuals followed in their footsteps and eventually made Al Marwah their
home. Now that the valley was alive, she and her child were no longer by
themselves. Ismail (as) grew raised there and studied Arabic with the locals
who had made Al Marwah their home. He was a good boy, and everyone admired him
for his virtues and qualities. He continued to consider his father and was
confident that he would return one day.

Ismael Got married to Sarah. 

Ismail (as) afterwards wed a local woman and led a peaceful existence. Prophet
Ibrahim (as) was grieving because he had not seen his son for a very long
time. He made the decision to meet his wife and son in Mecca one day. He
traveled for several days before arriving in Al Marwah. However, it was quite
late. People informed him that Hajar(ra) had passed away before he came, which
made him very sad after learning this, the locals informed the prophet that
his son, Ismail (as), was still alive. The prophet expressed his gratitude to
Allah (swt) after learning this. Ismail(as) raced to his father and gave him a
bear embrace as soon as he spotted him. His eyes were so unbelievable to him!
After a very long period, he was overjoyed to see his father.

Prophet Ibrahim Return To His Son.

It was a very happy time for both of them, but one day, Allah decided to test
Ibrahim(as). One night when the prophet was sleeping, he saw a dream! In his
dream the prophet saw himself killing his son as a sacrifice to Allah (swt).
The prophet woke up, and ignored it as it was just a dream, but the next
night, he saw the same dream again! This time he realized that this was not
just a dream, and that Allah(swt) was asking him to sacrifice his own son! The
prophet went to his son, and told him about the dream. Ismail (as) realized
that it was an order from Allah(swt) “Do what Allah(swt) has asked you to. He
told his father. 

Prophet Ibrahim’s Fulfillment of His Dream.

The next day, the prophet took a rope and a knife, and set out for mount
Arafat, along with his son. Upon reaching the top of the mountain, Ismail (as)
asked his father to tie his hand and legs, so that he may not struggle during
the sacrifice. The prophet obliged, and tied his hands and legs. Then he
blindfolded himself so that he wont have to watch his son suffer. The prophet
raised his knife, but then suddenly, he heard the voice from the sky. He took
off his blindfold, and saw a sheep being sent from heaven.

Allah(swt) had sent the sheep to be sacrificed instead of Ismail(as). The
prophet was really happy, because his son was going to be alive! The prophet
and his son had just passed a difficult test from Allah (swt) Ibrahim (as)
slaughtered the sheep, and they had a big celebration. The prophet and his son
kept calling people to worship Allah(swt). They didn’t have any place to
worship Allah(swt).

The Building of Ka’abah. 

So one day, Allah(swt) ordered the prophet to build a house!! Allah(swt) has
ordered me to build a Ka’abah, the prophet said to his son. And Ismail(as)
replied, Do what your God has ordered you to do. The prophet then asked his
son if he will help him build the kabbah, and Ismail (as) agreed. They started
building the foundation of the kabbah. Ismail (as) brought the stones, while
Ibrahim (as) built the house. When the walls got tall, Ismail(as) brought a
large stone for the prophet to work by standing on it. This stone was called
Maqam-e-Ibrahim.

When they completed the foundation, and built the corners, Ibrahim(as) asked
Ismail(as) to find the stone to fill the corner. I feel tired, Ismail (as)
said to his father. But when the Ibrahim(as) insisted, Ismail(as) went
searching for the stone. While he was gone, an angel got the prophet a stone.
The angel told him that this stone was brought to earth by Adam (as) from
Paradise! The stone was originally white, however its color gradually turned
into black because of the sins commited by people on earth.

Ismail(as) returned after sometime, and when he saw the stone. he was
surprised and asked his father where it came from. It was brought by someone
who never gets tired, replied Ibrahim(as) And they finally completed building
the Kabbah They prayed to Allah (swt) to accept their work, Allah(swt) was
very happy with the prophet and his son for spreading his message. And
proclaimed the pilgrimage among men, they will come to thee on foot, and on
every kind of camel, lean an account of journeys through deep and distant
mountain highways.

Ismael and His Family at Old Age. 

The prophet grew old, and so did his wife Sarah. One day when he was sitting
outside his house, he saw three men coming towards his house. The three men
were actually angels sent by Allah (swt). The prophet welcome them inside to
have food. The strangers went in and sat down for food. The Prophet served
them a roasted calf! But the strangers did not touch the food at all.

The prophet started to fear. Then the angels comforted the prophet and asked
him not to fear at all. They told him that they were actually the angels sent
by Allah (swt). They informed him that they came to his house to deliver a
good news. They said that Allah (swt) was going to give them a son, and that
he should name him Ishaaq.

They also told him that his son would be a prophet. Sarah could not believe
her ears! How could that be true, she wondered. I am so old, then the angels
said, all things are possible with Allah (swt). And after a few months, Sarah
got pregnant and gave birth to a child! The prophet named him Ishaaq(as), as
the angels told him. After a few years, Prophet Ibrahim missed his son Ismail
(as) badly, so he went to see him. But when the prophet reached the house of
Ismail (as), he was not at home. His wife came out, and when the prophet asked
her about Ismail(as), she replied, He has gone in search of livelihood. He
then asked her how was their living conditions, to which she started
complaining about everything! She complained that they were living in misery
and hardship, and many other things. She was not at all grateful to the
blessings of Allah (swt).

The prophet realized that she was not at all a suitable wife for his son, so
left her a message that his son would understand. When your husband returns
convey my salutations to him, he said and also tell him to change the
threshold of the gate. The prophet then went back to his home.

When Ismail(as) returned home in the evening, he felt something unusual. Did
anyone visit us today? he asked her. She replied yes, and passed on the
message. When Ismail(as) heard the message, he realized that it was his father
who visited him that day, and he understood the message that he gave her. It
was my father, and he has advised me to divorce you.

You can go back to your family, he told her. His wife went back to her house,
and Ismail (as) married another woman.

After a long time, Prophet Ibrahim (as) again missed his son badly, so he
visited his new house once again. When he arrived, it was his new wife who
answered the door. The prophet asked the same questions he had asked his
former wife. But this time when she answered, the prophet realized that she
was a very grateful and kind woman. She kept thanking Allah(swt) for the
wonderful things going on around, and the prophet was very happy. When your
husband comes home, give him my regards, the prophet told Ismail’s wife. He
also added, and also tell him that he should keep the threshold of this gate
firm. He left after asking her to deliver this secret message.

In the evening, when Ismail (as) came back, he asked his wife if anyone had
come to visit him. When his wife told him about the prophet and the message,
Ismail (as) was very happy. It was my father, said Ismail and you are the
threshold of the gate. He asked me to keep you with me forever said the
prophet happily!!

The Age of Prophet Ibrahim (as) 

Prophet Ibrahim (as) lived for One hundred and seventy five years! (170
years). He lived a life full of trials but he had a strong faith in Allah
(swt)!!

Moral Lesson from the story

The life of Prophet Ibrahim (as) teaches us to love Allah (swt)
unconditionally. Even though there are more than 25 prophets mentioned in the
Quran, Allah mentions only two prophets ideal for whole humanity, and they
were: Prophet Muhammed (as), and Prophet Ibrahim (as) Mashallah!

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