This miraculous spring...

This miraculous spring, today is called the Zam Zam which is now surrounded by the great Mosque around the Holy Ka'ba This divinely created spring, generated from under the feet of Ishmael began giving fresh drinking water, not only to the poor mother and her baby son but also to the travellers and their caravans and through this providential facility, the spot developed into a habitation with its unique importance as the halting place for caravans from the various directions, as a junction of the routes to the various important centres of trade.

Hagar and Ishmael lived at the place, and when Abraham again visited them, Ishmael his son whom he had left in babyhood, to the care of God, was a grown-up young lad. Abraham, aided by his young son Ishmael raised up the walls of the ancient Prayer House which was founded since time immemorial, exclusively for worship to the only True God, which is now called the Holy Ka'ba to which Haj (the pilgrimage) or a devoted visit has been enjoined by Islam on all its adherents.

The same spring which gushed out from under the feet of Ishmael even today flows with greater force, more than sufficient to supply fresh drinking water to millions of visitors to the House of God raised by Abraham and Ishmael. Abraham, while raising the walls of the Holy House prayed to God to accept it, saying:- "And when Abraham and Ishmael raised the founda- tions of the House (Saying) Our Lord! accept from us; surely Thou art the Knowing. "Our Lord!

and make us boTh submissive (Muslims) to Thee and (raise) from our offsprings a nation submitting to Thee, and show us ways of devotion and turn to us (Mercjful), surely Thou art the Oft Returning (to mercy), the Merciful: "Our Lord! and raise up in then: an Apostle from among them who shall recite to them Thy communications and purify them; surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise.

2:127-129 In response to the above prayers, God addressing Abraham said:- "And when W e made the house a resort for met, and a (place of) security, and: Appoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing place of Abraham. And We enjoined Abraham and Ishmael, ' Purjfy My House for those who visit (it) and those who abide (in it) for devotion and those who bow down (and) those who pros- trate thentselves.

2:125 Abraham tested with a sacrifice ABRAHAM REPEATEDLY HAD visions of slaying his son Ishmael.