Water burst forth, and she quickly built a little basin around it, shaping the earth with her hand in this manner, and began ladling the water into her skin-bag. Each time she scooped, it bubbled up again. In another version it says: it rose only in proportion to what she ladled.

Ibn ʿAbbās—may Allah be pleased with him—reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “May Allah have mercy on the mother of Ishmael: had she left Zamzam—or, he said, had she not scooped from it—it would have become a freely flowing spring.”

She drank, nursed her child, and then the angel said to her, “Do not fear being lost; here stands a House of Allah which this boy and his father will build, and Allah never neglects His own.”

At that time the House was only a rise above the ground, like a mound; torrents would sweep down, passing to its right and to its left. They remained there until a caravan from Jurhum—or, he said, a family from Jurhum—came by the route of Kadaʾ. They camped at the lower part of Mecca and noticed a bird circling overhead. They said, “That bird is hovering over water, yet we have long known this valley and it has never had water.” They sent one or two scouts, who found the water, returned, and informed them.

They came to the spot while the mother of Ishmael was by the water and asked, “Would you allow us to settle near you?” She replied, “Yes, but you have no claim to the water.” They agreed.

Ibn ʿAbbās said that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) added, “That answer pleased the mother of Ishmael, for she enjoyed the company of people.” They settled there, then sent for their families, who joined them until the place was inhabited by several households.

The boy grew up, learned Arabic from them, mingled freely with them, and they were delighted with him as he matured. When he reached marriageable age, they married him to one of their women. Later the mother of Ishmael passed away.