Gardens of the Righteous — Page 318
318. GARDENS OF THE RIGHTEOUS one except the people of Mecca can live on meat and water alone and it does not suit others). . Another version is: Abraham came and inquired: Where is Ishmael? His wife said: He has gone out hunting and asked Abraham: Will you not stay and eat and drink? He asked: What is your food and drink? She answered: Our food is meat and our drink is water. He supplicated: Allah bless their food and their drink (the Holy Prophet observed: This is the blessing of the prayer of. Abraham). Abraham said: When your husband returns, convey my greetings to him and tell him to strengthen his door-sill. When Ishmael returned he inquired: Did anyone come? She said: Yes, a handsome old gentleman came and she praised him. She continued: He asked me about you and I told him. He asked me: How we were living and I told him: Well. Ishmael asked: Did he leave any message with you? She answered: Yes, he left his greetings for you and his direction that you should strengthen your door-sill. Ishmael said: This was my father, and you are the door-sill which he ordered me to hold to. . Abraham kept away from them for some time and when he came again. Ishmael was sitting under a big tree near Zam Zam repairing his arrows. . When he perceived Abraham, he stood up and they greeted each other like father and son. Abraham told Ishmael: Allah has laid upon me a commandment. Ishmael said: Then do what your Lord has commanded you to do. He said: Will you help me? Ishmael said: I shall help you. Abraham said:. Allah has commanded me to build a House here and he pointed towards the dome and its surrounding area. Then they started raising the foundations. . Ishmael fetched the stones and Abraham laid them on and when the foundation had been raised Ishmael brought a stone and placed it for Abraham so that he stood on it and continued to build while Ishmael handed the stones to him. And both of them prayed: Our Lord, accept this offering from us, indeed Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing (2. 128). . Another version is: Abraham took Ishmael and his mother with him and they had a water-skin full of water. Ishmael's mother drank of the water and gave suck to her child till they came to Mecca and Abraham put his wife under a big tree. Abraham then turned away and Ishmael's mother followed him till when they arrived at Kada'a she called to him from behind and said:. Abraham, with whom are you leaving us? He answered: With Allah. She said: I am happy with Allah and she returned keeping on drinking from the water-skin and giving suck to her child. When the water gave out, she thought,. I had better go and have a look and see if I can spot anyone. She ascended to the top of Safa and looked but did not see anyone. She descended to the valley and ran to Marwah and did it several times and then thought that she should go and look at the child. So she went and saw that he was in the same condition as if he was approaching death. She found it difficult to control herself and hoping to find someone again went and ascended Safa and looked and looked but did not see anyone. She ran between Safa and Marwah seven times altogether. She then thought of going again and looking at the child when she .