Prophet Ibrāhīm: Part 1 — Coolness and Safety, Hājar and Ismāʿīl
Section 15 of 25 · Lives of the Prophets
Between al-Ṣafā and al-Marwah
Hājar sat down. She would breastfeed him, and she would eat from those dates and drink from the water, until she ran out of dates, and ran out of water, and ran out of milk. Now Sayyidunā Ismāʿīl (peace be upon him) is crying and weeping. And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) described him, and said: yatalawwā — he was curling. Ismāʿīl was curling on himself because of the hunger, and he was hitting the ground with his feet, and he was crying as if he was dying.
At that moment Hājar could not sit down any further. Even though there's nowhere to go, she couldn't handle seeing her child dying in front of her eyes. So she went on top of a mountain that was close to her; she climbed that mountain — and that mountain is al-Ṣafā. And she looked from the top of the mountain, to see if she could see anyone. She saw no one. She walked down the mountain, and then she ran through the valley, and then she climbed another mountain. The name of that mountain is al-Marwah. And she got to the top of the mountain, looking around to see if she could see anyone. She saw no one.
So she walked down the mountain, ran through the valley, and climbed al-Ṣafā again. And she kept on doing that seven times. And that is the sunnah of Sayyidatunā Hājar that we are doing today in Hajj. Every one of us is making that saʿy.
Subḥān Allāh, Sayyidatunā Hājar at that moment was afraid; she had fear in her heart. She was running with worry. If she knew what would happen, she would be climbing those mountains with a big smile on her face. If she knew that the nations of the world — millions and millions of them — are going to follow her tracks, and follow her sunnah, and follow her way, she would be making that trip with a big smile on her face.
فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَـٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْرًا
“So, when they (the divorced women) have (almost) reached their term, then either retain them with fairness, or part with them with fairness. And make two just men from among you witnesses (of your either decision). And (O witnesses,) keep your testimony upright for the sake of Allah. That is what anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day is exhorted to do. Whoever fears Allah, He brings forth a way out for him, and provides him (with what he needs) from where he does not even imagine. And whoever places his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Surely Allah is to accomplish His purpose. Allah has set a measure for every thing.” (65:2–3)
And this is the rizq that Allah (swt) gives to you from the doors that you don't expect. Wa man yattaqi Allāha yajʿal lahu makhrajā, wa yarzuqhu min ḥaythu lā yaḥtasib: if you have taqwā of Allah (swt), Allah (swt) will provide for you rizq from places you never expect.