The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 99
III - Makkah, the Ka ‘ bah & the Quraish 99 descendant of Ishmael as and that the Holy Prophet sa is the descendant of a slave-girl. For both these statements are completely in contradiction to one another. However, since the purpose is to ensure that if one allegation does not hit its target the second should take its place, for this reason, the same breath seems to be exhaling both hot and cold air simultaneously. However, the truth is that both these allegations are false and ineffectual. The ancestry of the Holy Prophet sa from the children of Ishmael as has already been discussed previously. As far as the allegation related to Hagar as is concerned, its rebuttal is as follows: firstly, there is no conclusive evidence which can prove that Hagar as was a slave-girl. Generally the word ‘ ٌ جَارِیَة ’ has been used in Arab transcripts for Hagar as , which means both ‘a slave-girl’ as well as ‘a girl’. However, even if it is hypothetically accepted that Hagar as was once a slave, none can reject the fact that when Abraham as took her into matrimonial tie, he kept her as his wife and not as a slave-girl. Furthermore, if to merely remain in the bondage of slavery for a while is objectionable, then those who raise allegations should bear in mind that even Sarah as was not protected from this blemish. It is confirmed that upon the arrival of Abraham as to Egypt, the Pharaoh took Sarah as away from Abraham as and took her into his possession as a slave. She was granted freedom after some time. 1 Moreover, Joseph as son of Jacob as , a noble ancestor of the Banū Isrā’īl, was also made a slave and then sold in Egypt, where he spent a significant period of his life. This is such an instance as is even known to young school children. Hence, even if a portion of Hagar’s as life was spent in the bondage of slavery, this cannot become a cause of reproach. In fact, there is no proof of the fact that Hagar as was a slave-girl at all. As a matter of fact, all that has been evidently established is that when the Pharaoh fell in awe of Abraham as and Sarah as , after his disgraceful action, not only did he release Sarah as , but also presented a noble and intelligent girl to Abraham as and Sarah as and that girl was Hagar as. Furthermore, the Bible and Islāmic narrations both allude to the fact that the Pharaoh fell into immense awe of Abraham as and Sarah as as a result of their grandeur and spiritual power. Therefore, it would not be a surprising notion if Hagar as was among the close relatives of the Pharaoh, who was presented to Abraham as and Sarah as , in reparation of the wrong committed by the Pharaoh against Sarah as. On account of this, perhaps she was later declared a slave-girl. This is not a mere notion; rather, various 1 * Genesis (12:14-20) * Chambers’ Encyclopedia 1930 Edition, Volume 1, p. 18, Column 2