The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 100
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 100 ancient research scholars have presented this ideology as an established fact. A Jewish scholar by the name of Dubshalom writes in his commentary of the Torah that Hagar as was the very daughter of the Pharaoh, whom he had presented to Sarah as upon witnessing her spiritual power. 1 Therefore, the accusation of being a slave-girl is completely false and incorrect. However, hypothetically, even if it is proven that she was a slave, indeed, slavery in which an innocent individual is forcefully stripped of freedom and made a slave (as was the common custom of the time) cannot be the cause of imperfection. If it is so, then not a single noble and free nation of the world can be held exempt from the blemish of slavery. The nation of the Banī Isrā’īl itself was taken into the bondage of slavery for an extended period of time, first in Egypt and then in Babylon. 2 Nonetheless, on account of this, the prophets and kings of the Banī Isrā’īl cannot be categorized as the sons of slaves. Moreover, no Israelite can be held rightfully liable for taunt or reproach on account of Sarah as , who was temporarily imprisoned by the Pharaoh, nor Joseph as , who spent a significant portion of his life in the house of the Pharaoh as a slave. Construction of the Ka‘bah Following this secondary yet necessary discussion, we now return to our actual subject matter. It has already been mentioned that under Divine command, Abraham as brought Hagar as and her infant child to settle in the desolate valley of Makkah after which he returned home. When Abraham as visited Makkah for the second and third time, Hagar as had passed away. Coincidentally, Ishmael as was also absent, due to which a reunion of father and son could not take place. Upon this, Abraham as honoured Makkah with his presence a fourth time, and this time, together, both of them began the construction of a house of worship in Makkah. This house of worship was in fact quite old and its markings had been destroyed. Abraham as proposed to build the house anew, after receiving Divine knowledge. In the construction of this house, Ishmael as was a helper in the task of reconstruction and would 1 Tārīkh Arḍul-Qur’ān, By Syed Sulaimān Nadvī, Volume 2, p. 40, National Book Foundation, Second Edition (2000) 2 * Exodus (1:10-14), Kings II (25:9-11), Jeremiah (52:24-30), Kings II (24:10-16) * Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume 15, pp. 383-384, Under the word “Jews” , 1911 Edition