Lady Hagar: A remarkable example of a devout woman, an ‎obedient wife, and a compassionate and faithful mother.‎

Historians say that Hagar was a Canaanite princess, whom ancient Arab historians considered to be the Amalekites, and that their kings were the Nimrods (plural of Nimrod), whom the Egyptians called the Hyksos. She was the daughter of their leader, whom the Pharaohs killed, and was subsequently adopted by the Pharaoh. A group of scholars asserts that she was the sister of the Egyptian King Senusret and that she was a Copt from Egypt, from a village called Umm al-Arab near Farma. "Copt" (plural: Copts) refers to the original inhabitants of Egypt, and its origin is Greek, meaning "Egyptian" (aigyptios). The fine white linen garments (Coptic, plural: Coptic) are also attributed to the Copts. The Holy Quran, the revelation of the Lord of the Worlds, mentions that she was the mother of our master Ishmael, from whose lineage descends our master the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, in the words of God Almighty: "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka'bah at Makkah); in order, O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks. (Surat Ibrahim: 37).

And so begins the story of the lady Hagar, who, with her great importance and divine favor, was present when our master Abraham and his wife Sarah went to Egypt. During their journey, one of the king's servants saw Sarah and was captivated by her beauty. He rushed to the king and said, "Here is a man with a woman who is one of the most beautiful." The king sent for Abraham and asked him about the woman with him. Abraham replied, "She is my sister." Abraham returned to his wife and told her that he had informed the king that she was his sister, and he asked her not to contradict him before the king.

The king sent for Sarah, but when he reached for her, he was seized. He said, "Pray to God for me, and I will not harm you." So she prayed for him, and he was restored to health. Then he tried to reach for her again but was seized once more. He asked her to pray for him again, so he left her alone and gave her Hagar.

Hagar lived with Sarah for a time, loving each other for the sake of God. Sarah taught Hagar what she had learned from Abraham about the Islamic faith, monotheism, and divine knowledge. Abraham was a true believer, a Muslim, as God Almighty stated: "3:67 Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah]. And he was not of the polytheists" (Surat surah Al Imran: 3:67).

Sarah reached the age of seventy-six or seventy-seven and had not conceived. Abraham, peace be upon him, grew old, and his hair turned white. Despite her deep love for her husband, or perhaps because of it, Sarah saw a solution to prevent her husband, the Prophet Abraham, from being deprived of righteous offspring. She hesitated, considering Hagar as a suitable wife for him, having witnessed her excellent character and refined manners since Pharaoh had given her to serve him. Although Hagar was the most beautiful woman on earth, captivating Pharaoh with her beauty, her jealousy, like any woman's, held her back. She feared he would abandon her for his new wife and lose his love for her. However, she hardened her heart, silenced her doubts, and presented the idea to her husband after all hope of ever becoming a mother had faded. Abraham married Hagar at Sarah's request. Hagar showed signs of pregnancy and rejoiced in the child God had bestowed upon her. The days of her pregnancy passed, and she eagerly awaited the birth of her first child. Sharing in her joy was our master Abraham, who praised God morning and evening for answering his prayer and granting him, in his old age, our master Ishmael, a prophet, true to his word, patient, and among the righteous. This is mentioned in the words of God Almighty: "And mention in the Book (the Quran) Isma'il (Ishmael). Verily! He was true to what he promised, and he was a Messenger, (and) a Prophet. 54 And he used to enjoin on his family and his people As-Salat (the prayers) and the Zakat, and his Lord was pleased with him" (Surat Maryam: 54-55). In the words of God Almighty: “And (remember) Isma'il (Ishmael), and Idris (Enoch) and Dhul-Kifl (Isaiah), all were from among As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).” (Surat Al-Anbiya, verse 85), and His words: “And remember Isma'il (Ishmael), Al-Yasa'a (Elisha), and Dhul-Kifl (Isaiah), all are among the best.” (Surat Saad, verse 48).

After Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, Sarah felt jealous of her and of Abraham’s love for Ishmael. This jealousy is a trait common among women; it is an innate human characteristic. So God Almighty wanted to remove that jealousy from her heart, and He inspired our master Abraham, peace be upon him, to take Hagar and her infant son Ishmael to Mecca, to the Sacred House of God, at a place that was a valley with no vegetation, no water, and no people, as God Almighty says, "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka'bah at Makkah); in order, O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks. (Surat Ibrahim: 37).

Our master Abraham left Hagar and turned his back on her. When she clung to his clothes, she asked him why. How could he leave her and their infant son in a desolate desert? He did not answer her until she asked him, "Did God command you to do this?" Abraham said, "Yes." Hagar replied, "Then He will not abandon us," and she submitted to God's command and wisdom.

Hagar and her son faced one of the most difficult and profound moments in the story of Prophet Ishmael. Her water ran out, her milk dried up, and she was bewildered about how to feed her infant son in the desolate valley. Looking around, she saw only mountains. The child's cries grew louder, so she climbed the nearest hill, Safa, hoping to see someone, but found none. She then descended into the valley and climbed the next nearest hill, Marwa, hoping to find someone who might help her. She continued this frantic journey between Safa and Marwa seven times. On the seventh attempt, her thirst intensified, and she was exhausted from the journey, still searching for water. Then she looked at her child and saw water gushing forth from beneath his feet. She rushed to him and began gathering sand around him, saying, "Zamzam, Zamzam." She drank until she was quenched and bent down to give Ishmael some to drink. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The angel brought her until he reached the site of Zamzam. He struck the ground with his heel, and a spring gushed forth. The woman was in a hurry and began to draw water from her waterskin. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘May Allah have mercy on the mother of Ishmael. Had she not been in a hurry, Zamzam would have remained a flowing spring.’” (Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas; Source: Takhrij al-Musnad by Shu’ayb (Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut); Hadith classification: Sahih).

Then the tribe of Jurhum came and asked Hagar for permission to stay by the water, offering her payment for it. She agreed.

Our master Ishmael grew up, married, and was dutiful and obedient to his mother, patient in the face of life’s hardships and calamities. And how could he not be dutiful? Loving and obedient to her, she was the one to whom he dedicated his entire life.

Lady Hagar passed away at the age of ninety, and Ishmael, peace be upon him, buried her beside the Sacred House of God (the Kaaba). She died, leaving us a magnificent example of a believing woman, an obedient wife, and a compassionate and faithful mother. God rewarded her abundantly, honoring her memory with the Sa'i (the ritual walking between Safa and Marwa) during Umrah and Hajj. He magnified her memory by burying her near His House, comforting her in her loneliness, providing for her and her child from sources she could not have imagined, and making from her descendants our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, the Seal of the Prophets and the best of God's creation until the Day of Judgment. May God be pleased with her and grant her His favor, and may He make her life a good example for us.