‘Abdullāh ibn Muḥammad narrated to me: ‘Abd al-Razzāq narrated to us; Ma’mar informed us; from Ayyūb al-Sakhtiyānī and Kathīr ibn Kathīr ibn al-Muṭṭalib ibn Abī Wadāʿah—one of them adding to the other—from Sa’īd ibn Jubayr, who said:

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allāh Almighty be content with them) said: The first time women adopted the waist-belt (minṭaq) was because of the mother of (the Prophet) Isma'īl. She wore a belt in order to conceal her tracks from Sārah (may Allāh Almighty be content with her). Then Ibrāhīm (upon whom be peace) brought her and her son Ismāʿīl while she was nursing him, until he placed them near the House (the Ka’bah), beside a tree above Zamzam at the upper part of the mosque. At that time there was no one in Makkah and there was no water there. He left them there and placed with them a bag containing dates and a water-skin containing water. Then Ibrāhīm (upon whom be peace) turned away to depart. The mother of Ismāʿīl followed him and said: “O Ibrāhīm (upon whom be peace)! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no human being and nothing?” She repeated this to him several times, but he did not turn towards her. Then she said: “Has Allāh commanded you to do this?” He replied, “Yes.” She said, “Then He will not neglect us.” So she returned, and Ibrāhīm (upon whom be peace) went on until when he reached the mountain pass where they could no longer see him, he turned his face toward the House (of Allāh) and supplicated with these words, raising his hands: “Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in a valley without cultivation…” until the words “…that they may be grateful.” The mother of (the Prophet) Isma'īl continued nursing him and drinking from the water until the water in the skin was finished. She became thirsty and her son became thirsty. She began looking at him writhing (or said: tossing about), so she left him because she could not bear to look at him. She found Ṣafā, the nearest hill to her, and stood upon it. Then she faced the valley looking to see if she could see anyone, but she saw no one. She descended from Ṣafā until when she reached the valley she lifted the edge of her garment and ran like a person in distress until she crossed the valley. Then she came to Marwah, stood upon it and looked to see if she could see anyone, but she saw no one. She did this seven times. The Prophet ﷺ said: “That is the running of the people between them (Ṣafā and Marwah).” When she reached Marwah she heard a sound. She said, “Hush,” speaking to herself. Then she listened again and heard it once more. She said: “You have made yourself heard. If you have any help, then help.” Then she saw an angel at the place of Zamzam. He struck the ground with his heel—or with his wing—until water appeared. She began to enclose it with her hands like this and started scooping water into her water-skin while the water kept flowing after she scooped it. The Prophet ﷺ said: “May Allāh have mercy on the mother of (the Prophet) Isma'īl. If she had left Zamzam—or if she had not scooped from the water —it would have been a flowing spring.” She drank and nursed her child. The angel said to her: “Do not fear neglect, for here is the House of Allāh. This boy and his father will build it, and Allāh does not neglect His people.” At that time the site of the House was a raised mound like a hillock, and floods would pass around it from the right and left. She remained in that condition until a group from Jurhum—or a household from Jurhum—passed by coming from the route of Kadā’ and camped in the lower part of Makkah. They saw a bird circling overhead. They said: “This bird must be circling over water, though we know this valley to have no water.” They sent one or two scouts who found water. They returned and informed them, so they came. The mother of (the Prophet) Isma'īl was by the water. They said: “Will you allow us to settle near you?” She said, “Yes, but you will have no right to the water.” They said, “Agreed.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “This suited the mother of (the Prophet) Isma'īl, for she loved human company.” So they settled and sent for their families, who came and settled with them until several households were living there. The boy grew up and learned Arabic from them, and he became the most admired among them when he reached maturity. When he became an adult they married him to a woman from among them. Then the mother of (the Prophet) Ismā’īl passed away. Later Ibrāhīm came after Ismā’īl (peace be upon them both) had married in order to check on them, but he did not find Ismāʿīl (peace be upon him). He asked his wife about him and she said: “He has gone out seeking livelihood for us.” Then he asked about their living conditions. She said: “We are in misery; we are in hardship and difficulty,” and she complained to him. He said: “When your husband returns, convey my greetings to him and tell him to change the threshold of his door.” When Ismā’īl (upon whom be peace) returned he sensed something and asked: “Did anyone come to you?” She said: “Yes, an old man came and asked about you. I informed him. He asked about our living conditions and I told him we were in hardship.” He asked: “Did he give you any instructions?” She said: “Yes, he conveyed greetings to you and told you to change the threshold of your door.” He said: “That was my father, and he commanded me to separate from you. Return to your family.” So, he divorced her and married another woman from them. Ibrāhīm (upon whom be peace) stayed away for as long as Allāh willed, then returned again but did not find him. He entered upon his wife and asked about him. She said: “He has gone out seeking livelihood for us.” He asked: “How are you?” and asked about their life and condition. She said: “We are well and in prosperity,” and she praised Allāh. He asked: “What is your food?” She said: “Meat.” He asked: “What is your drink?” She said: “Water.” He said: “O Allāh, bless them in their meat and water.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “At that time they had no grain, and if they had he would have supplicated for blessing in it.” He ﷺ added: “These two (meat and water) do not suit anyone as exclusive food except the people of Makkah.” Then, Ibrāhīm (upon whom be peace) said: “When your husband returns, convey my greetings to him and tell him to keep firm the threshold of his door.” When Ismā’īl (upon whom be peace) returned he asked: “Did anyone come to you?” She said: “Yes, a handsome old man came,” and she praised him. “He asked about you and I informed him. He asked about our life and I told him we were well.” He asked: “Did he give you any instructions?” She said: “Yes, he sends greetings to you and commands you to keep firm the threshold of your door.” He said: “That was my father, and you are the threshold. He commanded me to keep you.” Then, Ibrāhīm (upon whom be peace) stayed away from them for as long as Allāh willed. After that he came again while Ismā’īl (upon whom be peace) was sharpening arrows for himself under a tree near Zamzam. When he saw him, he stood up to greet him, and they greeted each other as a father greets his son and a son greets his father. Then, he said: “O Ismā’īl, Allāh has commanded me with a command.” He said: “Do what your Lord has commanded you.” He said: “Will you help me?” He said: “I will help you.” He said: “Allāh has commanded me to build a House here,” and he pointed to a raised mound. Then they raised the foundations of the House. Ismāʿīl (upon whom be peace) brought the stones while Ibrāhīm (upon whom be peace) built. When the building became high, he brought this stone (the Maqām Ibrāhīm) and placed it for him. He stood upon it while building, and Ismāʿīl handed him the stones. And they both said: “Our Lord, accept from us. Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” They continued building and walking around the House (i.e. the Ka’bah), saying: “Our Lord, accept from us. Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.”