would be born. He remained in that state for as long as Allah willed. Then Nimrod had a need to go to the city, but he trusted none of his people with it except Azar. So he sent for him and summoned him, saying: “I have a matter which I wish to entrust to you, and I am sending you only because of my confidence in you. I adjure you not to go near your wife.” Azar replied, “I am more protective of my religion than that.” Nimrod then entrusted him with his task. Azar entered the city and fulfilled it, then said, “If only I could visit my family and look upon them.” When he saw Abraham’s mother, peace be upon him, he could not restrain himself and had intercourse with her, and she conceived Abraham, peace be upon him.
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: When Abraham’s mother conceived, the soothsayers said to Nimrod, “The boy of whom we informed you has been conceived by his mother tonight.” Nimrod therefore commanded that the boys be slaughtered. When Abraham’s mother, peace be upon him, approached the time of delivery and labor overtook her, she fled, fearing that he would discover her and kill her child. She gave birth to him in a dry riverbed, wrapped him in a piece of cloth, and placed him among reeds. She then returned and told her husband that she had given birth, and that the child was in such-and-such a place. His father went and took him from that place, dug for him an underground shelter beside a river, concealed him within it, and sealed its entrance with a rock for fear of wild beasts. His mother would visit him regularly and nurse him.
Muhammad ibn Ishaq said: When Abraham’s mother went into labor, she went out at night to a cave near her and gave birth to Abraham, peace be upon him, there. She attended to him as is done for a newborn, then closed up the cave over him and returned to her house. Thereafter, she would look in on him to see how he was, and would find him alive, sucking his thumb.
Abu Rawq said: One day, Abraham’s mother said, “I shall certainly look at his fingers.” She found that he was sucking water from one finger, milk from another, honey from another, dates from another, and clarified butter from another.
Muhammad ibn Ishaq said: Azar had asked Abraham’s mother what had become of her pregnancy. She replied, “I gave birth to a boy, but he died.” He believed her and said nothing further to her. A day for Abraham was like a month in terms of growth, and a month like a year. Thus, Abraham remained in the cave only fifteen months, until he said to his mother, “Take me out.” She brought him out in the evening, and he looked and reflected upon the creation of the heavens and the earth. He said, “Surely, the One who created me, provided for me, fed me, and gave me drink is my Lord; I have no god besides Him.” Then he looked to the sky and saw a star, and said, “This is my Lord.” He continued to watch it until it set; and when it disappeared, he said, “I do not love those that set.” Then he saw the moon rising and said, “This is my Lord,” and continued to watch it until it set. Then the sun rose, and so the account continues to its end. Thereafter, he returned to his father Azar, having set his course aright, recognized his Lord, and disavowed the religion of his people—though he had not yet openly called them to this. He informed Azar that he was his son, and Abraham’s mother likewise told him that he was his son and informed him of what she had done concerning him. Azar was delighted by this and rejoiced greatly.