Prophet Ibrahim and Makkah

At a fixed time in history Allah bestowed on Ibrahim (Abraham) a son in his old age, Isma'il (Ishmael), whose mother Hajar (Hagar) – supposedly a slave - was a gift tendered by Pharos to Sarah. Isma'il's birth stirred great jealousy in Sarah's heart, and she demanded that Ibrahim cast out this 'bondwoman' and her son.[1] Faced with this domestic squabble, he brought Hajar and Isma'n to the barren land of Makkah, to a harsh sunbeaten valley bereft of inhabitants, food, and even water. As he began the trek home, Hajar gazed at the emptiness around her in bewilderment, and asked him thrice whether he was deserting them. He made no reply.

Then she asked whether this was the command of Allah, and he replied: yes. Hearing this she said, "Then He will not abandon us." And indeed He did not abandon them, causing the waters of Zamzam to eventually gush out of the sand at the infant Isma'Il's feet; this spring made possible the first settlements in the area, with Jurhum being the earliest tribe to settle there.[2]

Several years later Ibrahim, on a visit to his son, informed him of a vision:

"Then, when (the son) reached (the age if serious) work with him, (Ibrahim) said: 'O my son! I see in a dream that I offer you in sacrifice: now see what is your view!' (The son) said: 'O my father! Do as you are commanded: you will find me, if Allah so wills, one practicing Patience and Constancy! ... And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice."[3]

On the heels of this incident, Ibrahim and Isma'il received a divine commission to establish the first sanctuary on earth dedicated for the sole worship of Allah.

“The first House (of worship) appointed for people was that at Bakka; full of blessing and if guidance for all kinds of beings.”[4]

Bakka is another name for Makkah, and in that rocky vale both father and son concerted their efforts towards the construction of the sacred Ka'ba, with the piety of one whose gruelling ordeal had just been resolved by the Almighty Himself. Upon its completion Ibrahim made the following supplication:

“O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by 'Your Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: So fill the hearts of some among men with love toward them, and feed them with Fruits: So that they may give thanks.”[5]

Soon the roots of this supplication had visibly blossomed and Makkah was no longer desolate, gaining life in the presence of Allah's noble sanctuary, the waters of Zamzam, and a burgeoning population. It eventually became a central junction on the trade routes to Syria, Yemen, Ta'if and Nejd. [6] which is why "from the time of Aellius Gallus down to Nero all the emperors cherished the desire of extending their influence to the important station of Mecca and made tentative efforts in this direction."[7]

There were naturally other population movements within the Arabian Peninsula. Of note were the Jewish refugees who, many centuries later, introduced Judaism to Arabia during the Babylonian Exile, settling in Yathrib (present-day Madinah), Khaibar, Taima' and Fadak in 587 B.C.E. and 70 C.E.[8] Nomadic Arab tribes were also in flux. Banu Tha'liba (the tribe of Tha'Iiba) from the Qahtanite stock also settled in Madinah; among their descendants were the tribes of Aws and Khazraj, later dually known as al-Ansar[9] (Supporters of the Prophet). Banu Haritha, later known as Banu Khuza'a, settled in Hejaz and displaced the earlier inhabitants, Banu Jurhum,[10] becoming the custodians of the House in Makkah. They were subsequently responsible for introducing idol worship.[11] Banu Lakhm, another clan of Qahtanite origin, settled in Hira (present-day Kufa in Iraq) where they founded a buffer state between Arabia and Persia (c. 200-602 C.E.).[12] Banu Ghassan settled in lower Syria and founded the Ghassanid Kingdom, a buffer state between Byzantine and Arabia, which lasted till 614 C.E.[13] Banu Tayy occupied the Tayy Mountains while Banu Kinda settled in central Arabia.[14] The common feature of all these tribes was their lineage to Ibrahim through Isma'il.[15]

This section is not meant to serve as a history of Makkah prior to Islam, but as a starting point for the closest ancestral family member of the Prophet who had a direct bearing on his life. For the sake of brevity I will pass over numerous details and pick up the trail with Qusayy, the great-great-great grandfather of the Prophet.