Hajar – The Mother Who Trusted Allah

Little Imtiyaz Centre
Sep 18
4 min read

🌿 Trusting the Unseen: The Power of Tawakkul Through the Eyes of Siti Hajar

In this episode, we uncover the meaning of tawakkul – a word powerful enough for a Muslim to live by in a world full of challenges. Tawakkul is remembering Allah and relying on no one but Him.

When faced with hurdles, we put in our effort, strive with our best, raise our hands in du‘a, and finally, place our trust in Allah. That final stage – leaving the outcome to Allah – is what tawakkul truly means. It does not replace effort, but completes it.

Among the many notable women in Islam, Hajar, the mother of Prophet Ismail (A.S), beautifully demonstrated tawakkul. Alone in the barren desert of Makkah, she showed unwavering resilience and trust in Allah while caring for her infant son. Her story remains a timeless reminder that with effort, patience, and tawakkul, Allah will never abandon His servants.

🌾 Her Journey Begins: From Egypt to the Empty Desert

Hajar was the second wife of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) and a mother of Ismail (A.S) lived in Egypt. Back then, When Ibrahim (A.S) entered Egypt with his wife, Sarah, people spoke of her beauty, and word reached the Pharaoh. He commanded that she be brought to his palace. Ibrahim (A.S), fearing the ruler’s evil, introduced himself as her brother, for in faith they were indeed 'siblings' as believers in Allah.

With evil intentions, he tried to approach her, but by Allah’s protection, he was struck with paralysis each time. Realizing her divine protection, the Pharaoh released her unharmed and, to maintain his honor, gifted her a noblewoman from Egypt named Hajar.

Sarah returned safely to Ibrahim (A.S). and shared the story with him, along with the gift of Hajar. In time, Sarah, who remained without children, offered Hajar in marriage to Ibrahim (A.S) Through this union, Allah blessed them with a son, Prophet Ismail (A.S), who would later become the ancestor of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

After some time, Allah commanded Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) to take his wife, Hajar, and their son, Prophet Ismail (A.S) to a deserted area that is now known as Mecca.

At that time, Mecca was completely empty – no water, no houses, and no people living there. It was just dry desert land surrounded by mountains, with no sign of life or agriculture.

As soon as they arrived, Hajar got down with her son.

Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) then said,

“Our Lord! I have settled some of my  offspring in a barren valley, near Your Sacred House, our  Lord, so that they may establish prayer. So make the hearts  of ˹believing˺ people incline towards them and provide them  with fruits, so perhaps they will be thankful.”
– Surah Ibrahim : 37

After a few moments, Ibrahim took a few steps away and then left them.

Hajar called out to him, asking,

“To  whom are you leaving us?”

Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) did not reply.

She continued,

“Is this a command from Allah?”

Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) nodded.

Hajar’s heart filled with faith and courage as she said,

“Then Allah will not abandon us.”

With that trust in Allah, Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) then left them alone.

🏞️ The Sa’i: Running in Hope, Not Despair

As Hajar and her son, Prophet Ismail (A.S), ran out of water. She ran towards a nearby hill called Safa, hoping to find any human beings, food, or drink, but she found nothing. She then hurried back to her son to comfort him. After tending to Ismail, she ran again towards another hill, Marwa, in search of sustenance, yet she still found nothing.

Hajar continued running back and forth between Safa and Marwa in her desperate search. She was the first person to perform this action, which later became an integral part of the Sa’i ritual in Hajj and Umrah.

Just as she returned to her son, the angel Jibril (A.S) appeared and guided her to a place where water would flow. Striking the ground with his foot, water gushed forth, Hajar filled her container and gave water to Ismail, and they were saved from thirst. This miraculous spring of water became known as Zamzam, named for the action of striking the ground, which caused the water to gush suddenly.

In time, travelers passing through the area discovered the water. They asked Hajar for permission to settle nearby, becoming among the first inhabitants of Mecca.

🌸 Lessons We Carry From Hajar’s Story

From her story, there are many valuable lessons we can learn. When Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) left her in a deserted place where no one could be found, it showed Siti Hajar’s unwavering devotion and complete trust in Allah.

She believed that Allah would never abandon her and would guide her, even in such a difficult situation. At the same time, she didn’t just rely on divine guidance alone – she put in sincere effort, searching tirelessly for water, even when it seemed impossible.

Her story carries significance that has been preserved until today. For example, the Zamzam spring is a miraculous reminder of Allah’s provision, flowing abundantly for all His servants and never running dry.

Similarly, Hajar’s determination and perseverance, running between Safa and Marwa, has become part of the rituals of Hajj and Umrah, known as Sai’e. This act serves as a reminder of the challenges she faced during critical times.

🕊️ The Heart of Tawakkul

In summary, Siti Hajar teaches us that true tawakul (trust in Allah) is combined with perseverance and effort. When we place our trust in Allah while striving sincerely, we may be rewarded with blessings and outcomes far beyond what we could ever imagine – fate more abundant than we could ask for.