Prophet Ishmael (Ismail A.S.)

After a while Abraham did marry Hagar and she had a son. They called him Ishmael. They were all very happy. Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael moved to a valley in Arabia. They settled in a good place with hills and mountains on all sides to protect them. After a while Abraham said that he should go back to see Sarah and to get more food and water. Before he left he prayed to Allah to look after his wife and son because they did not have much food and water left. The food and water soon began to run low. Hagar was very worried. What could they live on?  They prayed to Allah.
Hagar went to the top of the mountain, Mount Safa, to look for Abraham. Now their water was all gone and they were desperate. She went to the other side of the valley and climbed to the top of Mount Marwa. She looked towards the North, East, West and South for help but found none. Hagar kept running backwards and forwards between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa. She did this seven times. Suddenly she saw Ishmael kick the ground with his heel. A spring of water gushed out - beautiful, pure water, they were saved. Even today this water, called Zamzam, still flows in the alley of Hijaz and when people go to Makkah on Hajj they go seven times between the two mounts in memory of this miracle that saved the lives of Hagar and Ishmael. When Abraham returned he was amazed to see the valley.
The water had made the place very fertile. All the animals and caravans visited and made it a prosperous place.

The Sacrifice of Prophet Abraham (A.S)

One night Abraham had a dream. He dreamt Allah told him to sacrifice Ishmael. Abraham thought it was Satan playing nasty tricks on him. The next night Abraham had the same horrid dream. Abraham knew that Allah would only ask him to do such a thing if he had good reason. Even though he loved his son dearly, he was prepared to do this difficult thing for Allah. Abraham told Ishmael they had to go to Mount Arafat.
  He took a knife and a rope with him. On the way they passed   place called Mina.  The devil, Satan, came to Abraham and tried to talk him out of sacrificing his son. Abraham turned his back on him and would not listen. When they reached Mount Arafat, Abraham told Ishmael what Allah wanted him to do. Ishmael listened and accepted what was to happen. He was an exceptional child. He too was a great prophet. Ishmael told his father to tie his hands and legs and blindfold himself so he would not struggle and make his father even more upset than he was going to be and Abraham was blindfolded so he would not see his son suffer.
Abraham did as Ishmael had said. He then took the knife and did what Allah had told him to do. When he took the blindfold from his eyes he looked down, not at his son but at a dead ram. Ishmael was at his side. Abraham was afraid. He thought he had disobeyed but then he heard a voice telling him not to worry. Allah looks after his followers. Abraham and Ishmael had passed a difficult test.
Each year, during the month of Dhul Hijjah, many Muslims, from all over the world, travel to Makkah. They want to remember what Abraham and Ishmael did. In the month of Dhul Hijjah these pilgrims go to Makkah, Mina and Arafat. They visit places where Abraham and Ishmael lived and preached. They give a sacrifice just as Allah commanded Abraham to do. The pilgrims sacrifice animals in memory of the deed. We must obey Allah's commands as Abraham and Ishmael did. We obey by doing the things we know are right, praying, obeying our parents and always telling the truth.