Abū Saʿīd related: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke about the three utterances of Ibrāhīm, saying, “Not one of them was spoken except for the sake of Allah’s religion. He said, ‘Indeed, I am ill’; he said, ‘Rather, it was this biggest one of them that did it’; and he said to the king who sought his wife, ‘She is my sister.’”
His words, “She is my sister,” mean that she is my sister in the religion of Allah. As for his statement to her, “There is no believer on the face of the earth except me and you,” it must be understood to mean: there is no believing husband-and-wife pair besides us, for Lūṭ was with them and he was a prophet (upon him be peace).
When she returned to him he said, “Mahyam?”—that is, “What news do you bring?” She replied, “Allah has foiled the plot of the unbeliever.” In another version she said “the wicked one,” referring to the king, “and He has given me a maidservant.”
From the moment Ibrāhīm delivered her to the king he stood praying to Allah, imploring Him to protect his household and to turn back the might of the one who wished them harm. She did the same; so when that enemy of Allah approached her, she rose, performed ablution, prayed, and called upon Allah with the great supplication mentioned earlier.
It is for this that the Almighty said, “Seek help through patience and prayer” (Q 2:45). Allah therefore safeguarded and preserved her, as a protection for His servant, His Messenger, His beloved and intimate friend, Ibrāhīm (upon him be peace).
Some scholars have held that three women attained prophethood: Sārah, the mother of Moses, and Mary—peace be upon them. The majority, however, hold that they were truthful saints; may Allah be pleased with them all.
I have come across a report stating that Allah, exalted is He, lifted the veil between Ibrāhīm and Sārah, so that he could see her from the moment she left him until she returned. He watched her while she was with the king and saw how Allah protected her from him, in order to soothe his heart, cool his eyes, and deepen his reassurance. He loved her intensely for her faith, her kinship to him, and her striking beauty—it is said that no woman from Eve’s time until hers was more beautiful—praise and bounty belong to Allah.
Some historians mention that the Pharaoh of Egypt in question was the brother of al-Ḍaḥḥāk, the king infamous for tyranny, and that he served as his brother’s governor over Egypt. It is also said that his name was Sinān ibn ʿAlwān ibn ʿUbayd ibn ʿUwaj ibn ʿImlāq ibn Lāwidh ibn Sām ibn Nūḥ.
Ibn Hishām, in al-Tījān, relates that the one who desired Sārah was ʿAmr ibn Imriʾ al-Qays ibn Māylūn ibn Sabaʾ, who at that time ruled Egypt; this was transmitted by al-Suhaylī, and Allah knows best.