How people started living in Makka-tul-Mukarramah

Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلٰى نَبِـيِّنَا وَعَـلَيْهِ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَام brought him [Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم] and his mother, Sayyidatuna Haajirah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا to Makkah and left them there. A long time passed and the Jurham tribe set up camp in Makkah Mukarramah; they also started living there. (During the same period of time, Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام had also grown into a young man.) Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام married one of the women belonging to that tribe; his mother, Sayyidatuna Haajirah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا passed away during this period of time. After a long time, Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام visited his son’s house and asked his wife, ‘Where is your husband?’ She humbly replied, ‘He has gone hunting; may Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ have mercy on you! Please have a seat,
اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ he is about to come.’ Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام asked, ‘Do you have anything to eat?’ She replied in the affirmative and served him with milk and meat.’ When Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام asked her about their living, the wife of Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم humbly said: ‘We are well and اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ prosperous.’ Thereafter, Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام made Du’a of blessing for both of them and told her to convey his Salam when her husband would come, and asked her to tell him to continue to have his door frame.’

When Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام came, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام felt the fragrance of his respected father and said to his wife: ‘Did anybody come here today?’ She replied, ‘Yes! A beautiful-faced and fragrant pious person came and then she related the whole event. She also said: ‘I washed his blessed head and these are his footsteps.’ Having heard the whole event, Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said, ‘He (عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام) was my father, Sayyiduna Ibraheem and my door frame means you and he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم ordered me not to leave you.’

(Rooh-ul-Bayan, vol. 1, pp. 225)

Dear Islamic brothers! From this event, we have learnt the lesson that whenever a guest comes to us we should offer him hospitality as per our capacity. Instead of talking about our poverty, we should always thank Allah