Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Founding of Mecca
Ismail was now crying from hunger and thirst, so Hajjar prayed to Allah for help. As Is-
mail wailed, he stamped his foot upon the ground and suddenly up gushed a spring of wa-
ter.
They named the spring Zamzam and in time, caravans and nomads began to water their
camels there. Soon a desert settlement formed around the well. That settlement was
Mecca, and Zamzam is the only natural source of water in the city to this day.
Rejecting Temptation
Ibrahim's greatest trial was still to come. Allah commanded him to take his son to the
mountains and there slay him. Determined to demonstrate the strength of his faith,
Ibrahim obeyed the commandment but on the way to the mountains, Shaitan (the Devil)
intervened, harrying, cajoling, taunting and mocking Ibrahim to give up his mission. On
the point of despair, Ibrahim overcame his temptation by throwing stones at Shaitan.
This act is commemorated today by the stoning of the
jamrah
(pillars) in Mina today.
Sacrifice
When Ibrahim arrived at the appointed place with knife drawn against his son's neck, he
was commanded by Allah to allow Ismail to live, and to sacrifice a ram in his place.
This is remembered during Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), when Muslims all over
the world perform a ritual sacrifice, usually of a cow, sheep or goat, which is then pre-
pared for family feasting.
