Meccan Period summary

The Book of Genesis is the book of Isaac (AS) and his descendants. It narrates the story of Abraham (AS) and the birth of his two sons, Ishmael (AS) and Isaac (AS). Abraham (AS) was eighty-five, childless, and with no hopes of having children, as his 76-year-old wife, Sarah, was too old to provide him with a child. ReAlising his longing for children, Sarah asked her husband to take her handmaid, Hagar, as his second wife.

Even though Sarah was the one to suggest her husband’s second marriage, bitter feelings began to emerge between Hagar and her that led Hagar to flee away and cry out to Allah (SWT) for help. A reply from Allah (SWT) came to a distressed Hagar, and she was informed that she was carrying a child and must name him Ishmael (AS) (meaning Allah (SWT) shall hear).

Thirteen years after Ishmael’s birth, Allah (SWT) promised Abraham (AS) a second son that would be birthed by the 90-year-old Sarah. Allah (SWT) also promised Abraham (AS) that both his sons would be blessed and taken care of, but his covenant had to be established with Isaac (AS).

After Isaac (AS)’s birth, Sarah didn’t want Hagar and Ishmael (AS) to stay under the same roof with them, and Abraham (AS) was greatly aggrieved by the departure of his beloved son. With Allah (SWT)’s promise to keep Ishmael (AS) safe, Abraham (AS) let his son go. Hagar and Ishmael (AS) left for a barren valley of Arabia named Becca.

When the mother and son reached Becca, it wasn’t long before they were hit by the overwhelming thirst. Out of helplessness, Abraham (AS) cried out to Allah (SWT) for help while laying down on the hot sand. When Hagar saw her son dying of thirst, she ran from one point of vantage on the rocks to another seven times to find some help, but not a single soul was in sight. At the end of her seventh run, she heard the voice of the Angel who assured her that Allah (SWT) had heard the voice of her son and would provide his help.

The touch of Ishmael’s heel on the sand had caused a spring of water to erupt out of the ground to quench his thirst. The well is an abundant source of water to date and is known as Zamzam.

Abraham (AS) later visited the holy destination of Hagar and Ishmael. Allah (SWT) also led Abraham (AS) to the exact point where he and Ishmael (AS) were asked to build a sanctuary named Ka’bah. The cubic shrine has each corner facing towards the four points of the compass. The holiest object there is a celestial stone that was whiter than milk when it reached Earth from heaven, but the sins of humans turned it black.

After the completion of Ka’bah, Allah (SWT) asked Abraham (AS) to begin the rite of the Pilgrimage to Becca (or Mecca), which was the conception of the holy Pilgrimage.

Modern Context: The Forgotten Foundation We often focus on the structure of our lives—careers, homes, status—while neglecting the spiritual foundation. Abraham (AS) left his family in a barren desert with nothing but trust in God, establishing a legacy that outlasted empires. A life built without a spiritual core is a house of cards.

Practical Step: The ‘Trust’ Drop

The Action: Identify one major worry you are micromanaging (money, kids, future). Mentally "leave it in the valley" like Abraham did. Do your part, then fully hand the outcome to God.