—gone out hunting, and that their circumstances were straitened (1). He said to her, “When your husband returns, convey my greetings to him and tell him to change the threshold of his door.” He then left immediately, for a wisdom Allah had decreed.

When Ishmael returned he sensed that something had happened, so he asked his wife. She said, “An elderly man of such-and-such appearance came. He inquired about you and I told him; he asked about our condition and I told him we were in hardship. He sends you greetings of peace and says: Change the threshold of your door.” Ishmael said, “That was my father, and you are the threshold—return to your family.” He divorced her.

Ishmael later married another woman. Abraham came again while Ishmael was still out hunting. He entered and asked her about Ishmael, and she informed him. He asked about their livelihood, and she replied that they were enjoying blessing and ease. She was a righteous woman, grateful to Allah and grateful to her husband. He said to her, “When your husband returns, convey my greetings to him and tell him to keep firm the threshold of his door.” He then departed at once, before meeting Ishmael, for a wisdom Allah the Exalted intended.

When Ishmael came back from the hunt he asked, “Did anyone visit you?” She answered, “An old man of such-and-such description came.” He asked, “Did he leave any message?” She said, “He asked about you and I told him; he asked about our circumstances and I told him we are in blessing, and I praised Allah. He sends you peace and instructs you to keep firm the threshold of your door.” Ishmael said, “That was my father, and you are the threshold; he has ordered me to keep you.”

Abraham returned a third time and found Ishmael shaping arrows beside Zamzam. When he saw him, he approached, and they greeted one another as a compassionate father and dutiful son do. Abraham said, “O Ishmael, Allah has commanded me to build here a House that will remain a place of worship for mankind until the Day of Resurrection.” He replied, “Then I shall help you with that.” So the two of them began to raise the structure.