The story of how the Ka’bah was built

As regards the story of the construction of the Ka’bah in the Sunnah, Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated the story of Haajar, the wife of Ibraaheem and the mother of his son Ismaa’eel. In his report, he said:
"… Ibraaheem brought her and her son Ismaa’eel, while she was still breast-feeding him, and left them in a place near the Ka’bah (meaning near the place where the Ka’bah was later built) under a tree on the spot of Zamzam (meaning the place where Zamzam later appeared), at the highest place in the mosque. In those days there was no-one in Makkah nor was there any water. So he left them there and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates, and a water-skin containing some water, then he set off for home. Ismaa’eel’s mother followed him and said: ‘O Ibraaheem, where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is there anything (to enjoy)?’ She said this many times, but he did not look back at her. Then she asked him, ‘Has Allaah commanded you to do this?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ She said, ‘Then He will not forsake us,’ and returned, while Ibraaheem went on his way. When he reached al-Thaaniyah, where they could not see him, he turned to face the Ka’bah, raised his hands and offered the supplication: ‘O Our Lord! I have made some of my offspring dwell in an uncultivable valley, by Your Sacred House in order, O Our Lord, that they may perform al-Salaat (iqaamat al-salaat), so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allaah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.’ [Ibraaheem 14:37]

Ismaa’eel’s mother went on suckling Ismaa’eel and drinking from the water (she had). When the water in the water-skin had all been used up, she became thirsty and her child also became thirsty. She started looking at him tossing in agony; she left him because she could not endure looking at him, and found that the mountain of al-Safaa’ was the nearest mountain to her on that land. She stood on it and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody. Then she descended from al-Safaa’ and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress and trouble, till she crossed the valley and reached the mountain of al-Marwa, where she stood and started looking, expecting to see somebody, but she could not see anybody. She repeated that (running between al-Safaa’ and al-Marwa) seven times." Ibn ‘Abbaas said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘This is the origin of the tradition of al-Sa’ee (the walking) of people between them (al-Safaa’ and al-Marwa).’ When she reached al-Marwa (for the last time), she heard a voice and she made herself quiet and listened attentively. She heard the voice again and said, ‘O (whoever you may be)! You have made me hear your voice; have you got something to help me?’ And behold! She saw an angel at the place of Zamzam, digging the earth with his heel (or his wing), till water flowed from that place. She started to make something like a basin around it, using her hands in this way, and started filling her water-skin with water from her hands, and the water was flowing out after she had scooped some of it." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) added: "May Allaah bestow mercy on Ismaa’eel’s mother! Had she let the Zamzam (flow without trying to control it) (or had she not scooped from that water) (to fill her water-skin), Zamzam would have been a stream flowing on the surface of the earth." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) further added: "Then she drank (water) and suckled her child. The angels said to her: ‘Don’t be afraid of being forsaken, for this is the House of Allaah which will be built by this boy and his father, and Allaah never forsakes His people.’ The House at that time was on a high place resembling a hillock, and when torrents came, they flowed to its right and left. She lived in that way until some people from the tribe of Jurhum or a family from Jurhum passed by her and her child, as they (the Jurhum people) were coming through the way of Kadaa’. They stopped and stayed in the lower part of Makkah where they saw a bird that had the habit of flying around water and not leaving it. They said, ‘This bird must be flying around water, although we know that there is no water in this valley.’ They sent one or two messengers who discovered the source of water, and returned to inform them about it. So, they all came (towards the water)." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) added: "Ismaa’eel’s mother was sitting near the water. They asked her, ‘Do you allow us to stay with you?’ She replied, ‘Yes, but you will have no right to possess the water.’ They agreed to that." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) further added: "Ismaa’eel’s mother was pleased with the whole situation, as she used to love to enjoy the company of the people. So, they settled there, and later on they sent for their families who came and settled with them so that some families became permanent residents there. The child (Ismaa’eel) grew up and learnt Arabic from them, and (his virtues) caused them to love and admire him as he grew up. When he reached the age of puberty, they made him marry a woman from amongst them. After Ismaa’eel’s mother had died, Ibraaheem came after Ismaa’eel’s marriage in order to see his family that he had left before … Then Ibraaheem came and saw Ismaa’eel under a tree near Zamzam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw Ibraaheem, he stood up to welcome him and they greeted one another as a father greets his son or a son greets his father. Ibraaheem said, ‘O Ismaa’eel, Allaah has given me an order.’ Ismaa’eel said: ‘Do what your Lord has ordered you to do.’ Ibraaheem asked, ‘Will you help me?’ Ismaa’eel said, ‘I will help you.’ Ibraaheem said, ‘Allaah has ordered me to build a house here,’ pointing to a hillock higher than the land surrounding it." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) added: "Then they raised the foundations of the House (Ka’bah). Ismaa’eel brought the stones and Ibraaheem was building, and when the walls became high, Ismaa’eel brought this stone and put it for Ibraaheem, who stood on it and carried on building, while Ismaa’eel was handing him the stones, and both of them were saying: ‘Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.’ [al-Baqarah 2:127]. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) added, "Then both of them went on building and going around the Ka’bah saying, ‘Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.’" (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, 3113