We were talking about what built a man like Ibrahim (AS) who Allahﷻ loved and called him His Khaleel. It was this connection with Allahﷻ that built the man Ibrahim (AS) who when he was in his 80’s Allahﷻ blessed with a son, Ismail (AS). Then when Ismail (AS) was still nursing Allahﷻ ordered Ibrahim (AS) to take him and his mother Hajar (AS) and leave them in the barren valley of Bakka. Plot this route from Palestine to Makkah. Ibrahim (AS), and our mother Hajar (AS) walked that route. Who guided them? What route map did they follow? How did Ibrahim (AS) know that he had reached his destination? The stories of the Qur’an are meant for us to reflect on. To put ourselves in that place and ask, ‘What would I have done?’ The answer depends on my connection with Allahﷻ. On my Tawakkul on Him. My trust in Him. Real trust. Not a claim of trust. He left them. No explanation because that was part of the instruction. It was a test for both. She called out to him. ‘Where are you going, leaving us here?’ No response. ‘Did your Rabb order you to do this?’ He nods his head. ‘Then go. He will not allow us to perish.’ Ya Allahﷻ, Ya Kareem, where does this come from? This complete faith in You. Ya Rabb have mercy on us. This is a very tough standard to be compared to. Please cover us with your Grace and forgive us.

When he reached a place where his wife couldn’t see him, he stops and says:

رَّبَّنَآ إِنِّىٓ أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِى بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِى زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ ٱلْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱجْعَلْ أَفْـِٔدَةً مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَهْوِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ وَٱرْزُقْهُم مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

Ibrahim 14: 37    O our Rabb! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (The Ka'bah); in order, O our Rabb, that they may establish As-Salat, so fill some hearts among people with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.

Let us put ourselves in the place of Ibrahim (AS). Assuming we even get to where he is at, at this juncture, what is the dua we would make? The first thing that I would ask for would be safety for my family so that they can survive and not become a meal for the first predator that comes along. Then I would ask for food for them and shelter, so that they can continue to survive. But what is Ibrahim (AS) asking for? The totally amazing thing is that Ibrahim (AS) is not even asking for safety. What does he understand that I don’t? He knows, not just as information, but deep down in his being, that if Allahﷻ ordered him to do this, the safety of his family is a given. To ask for that would really mean that he didn’t understand who Allahﷻ is and would in a way be a lack of Adab. It would be like you leaving your child with me while you have to go away for a weekend and saying, ‘Yawar Bhai, please make sure that he is safe and cared for.’ I would consider that an insult and would hand your child back to you and say, ‘Please leave him with whoever you don’t need to say this to.’

Why is Allahﷻ telling us this story? What we wish for depends on our position and our knowledge. When I board a plane, I think about my seat, inflight service, a nice meal and then a nice snooze. The pilot also boards the same plane with me. What is he thinking? Seat, food, and snooze? Why is he thinking differently from me? Because he is the pilot. His job is not to ride in the plane but to fly it. His priorities are different because of his role and his knowledge. What is our role as Muslims? What did Allahﷻ send us to do? But what are we doing?

In Ibrahim (AS)’s language, first and foremost, note the Adab. He takes the responsibility for the predicament of leaving his wife and baby in a dangerous place, totally alone and defenseless.