while he did not turn to look at her. She said to him, “Has Allah commanded you to do this?” He said, “Yes.” She said, “Then He will not abandon us.” ⦗194/b⦘ She then returned, while Abraham went on until, when he reached the mountain pass where they could no longer see him, he turned to face the House. Then he supplicated with these prayers, raising his hands and saying: “Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your Sacred House, our Lord, so that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them, and provide them with fruits so that they may be grateful.”

Ishmael’s mother continued to nurse Ishmael and drink from that water until the water in the skin was exhausted. She and her son became thirsty, and she began to watch him tossing about—or, he said, writhing. Unable to bear watching him, she went away and found Safa, the nearest mountain to her. She climbed it, then faced the valley, looking to see whether she could spot anyone, but she saw no one. She descended from Safa, and when she reached the valley, she lifted the hem of her garment and ran as a person in distress runs until she crossed the valley. Then she came to Marwah, climbed it, and looked to see whether she could spot anyone, but she saw no one. She did this seven times.

Ibn Abbas said: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “That is why people perform the sa‘i between them.”

When she reached Marwah, she heard a sound. She said, “Quiet!”—addressing herself. Then she listened carefully and heard it again. She said, “You have made me hear you; if you have any aid to offer, then help!” Thereupon she found the angel at the site of Zamzam. He dug with his heel—or, he said, with his wing—until the water appeared. She began to make a basin around it with her hands, and she filled her waterskin from it, while the water continued to gush forth after she had drawn from it.

Ibn Abbas said: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “May Allah have mercy on Ishmael’s mother. Had she left Zamzam alone”—or he said, “Had she not drawn water from it, Zamzam would have become a flowing spring.”

He said: So she drank and nursed her child. The angel said to her, “Do not fear being forsaken, for here is the House of Allah, which this boy and his father will build. Allah does not forsake His people.”

The site of the House was elevated above the ground like a hillock. Floodwaters would come to it and pass by its right and left sides. Things remained thus until a company from Jurhum—or a household from Jurhum—passed by them, coming from the direction of Kada’. They encamped in the lower part of Mecca and saw a bird circling in the air. They said, “This bird must be circling over water, yet we know this valley and know that there is no water in it.” So they sent one or two scouts, who found the water. They returned and informed them about it, whereupon they came forward, while Ishmael’s mother was by the water. They said, “Will you allow us to settle near you?” She replied, “Yes, but you shall have no right of ownership in the water.” They said, “Agreed.”

Ibn Abbas said: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: This pleased Ishmael’s mother, for she loved human companionship. They settled there and sent for their families, who joined them, until several households of them had settled there. The boy grew up and learned Arabic from them. He won their esteem and admiration as he matured, and when he came of age, they married him to a woman from among them. Ishmael’s mother died, and Abraham came after he had married.