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by Mohamed Jamaludin

Al-Hajj an annual pilgrimage to the Holy House of God in Makkah is an obligatory duty incumbent on Muslims. This great event, no doubt being religious in nature, draws much of its spiritual and moral strength from the life of Abraham (PUH) the progenitor of the Arabs and the Jews. Abraham with the help of his first born son Ishmael (Peace be on them) raised the foundation of the Holy House Ka'ba and prayed for the security and the sanctity of the Holy House and his progeny to be fruitful. (Holy Qur'an)

It is therefore of paramount importance to pursue an elaborate study of the lives of Abraham himself, his wife Hajar and his first born son Ishmael (peace be on them all) to comprehend the true holiness of this event which draws mass of humanity from all the four corners of the earth each year.

Since this study is scripture based, let me begin quoting the Jewish Scripture, commonly called "Old Testament" of the Bible. The Book of Genesis, first of the Pentatuche, contains sufficient references to throw light on the subject in hand. I am afraid I might tax the patience of the readers with quotations drawn from the scripture, but I earnestly request them to bear with me, considering the sanctity of this great event.

Book of Genesis in the Bible reads as follows:

"Gen. (16:3); And Sarai Abraham's wife (first) took Hajar her maid the Egyptian (Princess... please see Jer. 8:8) RSV... and gave her to her husband Abraham as a "wife..." (4) when she conceived, Sarai was despised in her eyes... (6) And when Sarai dealt hardly with her she fled from her face... (10) And the Angel of the Lord said unto her; behold thou art with a child, and bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord hath heard thy afflictions, (sama = hear; El - God); (15) And Hajar bare Abraham a son and Abraham called his son's name which Hajar bare "Ishmael"; (16) and Abraham was four score and six when Hajar bare Ishmael to Abraham (Peace be on them).

Gen. (17:20) God said, and as for Ishmael, I have heard thee; Behold I have blessed him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall be beget; and I will make them a great nation... (24) And Abraham was ninety years old and nine when he was circumcised in the flesh of the foreskin, (Circumcision the Sign of the Covenant)

(25) and his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circucised in the flash of the foreskin ... (Isaac the second son was not yet born) Gen. (21:10), Wherefore Sara said unto Abraham "Cast out this bondwoman" (Princess) and her son Ishmael. (11) And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of the son; (12), And God said; Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of the bondwoman (Princess); (13) And also for Ishmael I will make a nation because he is thy "Seed". (14) And Abraham rose up early in the morning and took bread and a bottle of water and gave it unto Hajar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away; and she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beth-Sheba (Paran) ... (15) the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.."

These scriptural verses indeed reflect an act of cruelty; casting a young woman, be she of any race, and an infant child in the wilderness, tantamount to human sacrifice. but Divine Providence hidden in the form of mercy and compassion is part of the grand plan of God, to be unfolded in the later days giving way to spiritual succession, to the Ishmaelites. Abraham lived about five thousand years ago; he being a man of God, considered this cruel act as a trial imposed on him by God to test his faith. It was so impeccable, Allah says in the Holy Qur'an (2:124) "And when we hath tried Abraham with Commands and he fulfilled them, He said Lo! I had appointed thee, a leader of mankind" (Imam).

From where the Jewish version of the story of Abraham, his wife Hajara and his first born son Ishmael ends, Al-Qur'an takes over. Literally it is an infusion into the Islamic Scripture.

After Abraham leaving his wife and son Ishmael, Abraham prays to God; Al-Qur'an records thus "Q. (1437) Our Lord! I have settled some of my posterity in an uncultivable valley, near unto thy Holy House (Makkah) Our Lord! that they may establish proper worship; so incline some hearts of men that they may yearn toward them; and provide Thou them with fruits (spitirual) in order that they may be thankful".

Abraham was well aware of the danger awaits the young mother and the infant child, yet for all, he does not mention about their safety, but prays for spiritual uplift through worship and prayer. His faith in Allah was unshakable, protection of the wife and child was assured, and no harm would come unto them.

Such was the faith of Abraham. Abraham until he died at the age of 175, did have spiritual contact with Ishmael. Ishmael and Isaac were present at the burial of their father Abraham. Please see Gen. (25:7-11)

Ka'ba, the first House of God

Q (2:127)" And when Abraham and Ishmael were raising the foundation of the House, (Abraham prayed); Our Lord! accept from us (this duty) Lo Thou!only Thou art the Hearer, the Knower. Al-Qur'an further records Q (3:96)" Lo! the first Sanctuary appointed for mankind was that at Becca, a blessed place, a guidance to the people". Becca is another name for Meca; which is refereed to in the Jewish scriptures as Psm (84:6)" Who passing through the valley of Becca make it a Well"; it appears that Zamzam spring that sprouts in Makkah was refereed in the old Scripture, along with Becca.

The above verse in the Bible, has confirmed the existence of the valley of Makkah and the water spring sprouting unlimited water for the last five thousand years. Once again the Qur'an tells us (2:125) "And when we made the House (at Mecca) a resort for mankind, and a Sanctuary (saying) Take as your place of worship, the place where Abraham stood (to pray). And we imposed a duty upon Abraham and Ishmael, (saying); purify My House for those who go around and those who meditate, therein and those who bow down and prostrate themselves (in worship)."

Prayer for spiritual inclinations is the corner stone of Abraham's wish for his seed for generations to come;Qur'an further says" (2:128) "Our Lord!And make us submissive unto Thee and of our seed a Nation submissive unto Thee, and show us our ways of worship, and relent toward us, Lo Thou! only art the relenting, the Merciful."

Prayer for a Messenger and a Revelation

Abraham's prayer included an appearance of a Messenger amongst his seed and a Revelation. Q. (2:129) "Our Lord! And raise up in their midst Messenger from among them who will recite unto them Thy Revelation and shall instruct them in the Scripture and in wisdom and shall make them grow. Lo! Thou only. Thou art the Mighty Wise. "Abraham never wished wealth, land nor any other worldly material for his generation, but he earnestly wished and prayed for the spiritual upliftment of his seed. The above prayer had also been fulfilled as quoted in the Qur'an. Before entering into that subject, may I remind the readers one of many prophecies relevant to the above prayer, found in the Jewish scripture. Deuteronomy (18: 18) says, God telling Moses" I shall raise them up a Prophet from among their brotheren, like unto thee" This promise is an answer to the prayer of Abraham; there is no doubt, nor any argument over this prophecy. I do not want to go into detail since it is another subject of its own

Al-Qur'an also in the following words confirms the fulfilment of this prophecy". Q(3:164) Allah has verily shown grace to the believers by sending unto them a Messenger of their own who reciteth unto them His Revelations, and causeth them to grow, and teach them the scripture and wisdom, although before (he came to them) they were in flagrant error."

Makkah a safe sanctuary and an inviolable place

Abraham not only prayed for spiritual attainment for his seed, but also prayed that this Holy Region Makkah a safe and Inviolable place on earth. Qur'an mentions more than many places with regard to safety and protection of this region and Allah' House of worship. Q. (2:126)" And when Abraham prayed; My Lord! make this a region of Security (Baladan Aaminan)"

Q. (14:35) And when Abraham said; My Lord! "Make safe this territory, (Baladan Aaminan)"

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