The Prophet (pbuh) continued: “After Ishmael’s mother had died, Abraham came after Ishmael’s marriage in order to see his family that he had left before but he did not find Ishmael there.
When he asked Ishmael’s wife about him,
she replied: “He has gone in search of livelihood.” Then he asked her about their way of living and their condition, and she replied, “We are living in misery; we are living in hardship and destitution,” complaining to him. He said: “When your husband returns, convey my salutations to him and tell him to change the threshold of the gate (of his house).”
When Ishmael came, he seemed to have felt something unusual, so he asked his wife: “Has
anyone visited you?” she replied, “Yes, an old man of such and such description came and asked me about you and I informed him and he asked about our state of living and I told him that we were living in a hardship and poverty.” On that Ishmael said: “Did he advise you anything?”
She said: “Yes he told me to convey his salutation to you and to tell you to change the threshold of your gate.” Ishmael said: “It was my father and he has ordered me to divorce you. Go back to your family.” So, Ishmael divorced her and married another woman from among them (Jurhum).
The Kaba is Built – by Prophet Muhammad
“Then Abraham stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them again but did not find Ishmael. So he came to Ishmael’s wife and asked her about Ishmael. She said: ‘he has gone in our livelihood.’ Abraham asked her; ‘how are you getting on?’ asking her about their sustenance and living. she replied: ‘we are prosperous and well off (we have everything in abundance).’ then she thanked Allah. Abraham said: ‘What kind of food do you eat?’ she said:
‘meat.’ he said: ‘what do you drink?’ she said: ‘water.’ he said: ‘O Allah! bless their meat and
water.””
The Prophet (pbuh) added: “At that time they did not have grain, and if they had grain he would have also invoked Allah to bless it. If somebody has only these two things as his sustenance, his health and disposition will be badly affected unless he lives in Mecca.”
The Prophet (pbuh) continued: “Then Abraham said to Ishmael’s wife: ‘When your husband
comes give my regards to him and tell him that he should keep firm the threshold of his gate.’
When Ishmael came back he asked his wife, ‘did anyone call no you?’ she replied: ‘yes, a good looking old man came to me,’ so she praised him and added: ‘He asked about you and I informed him that we were in a good condition.’ Ishmael asked her:’ did he give you any piece of advice?’
she said; ‘yes, he told me to give his regards to you and ordered that you should keep firm the
threshold of your gate.’ on that Ishmael said: ‘It was my father, and you are the threshold of the
gate. He has ordered me to keep you with me.’
Then Abraham stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them afterwards. He saw Ishmael under a tree near Zam Zam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw Abraham, he rose up to welcome him (and they greeted each other as a father does with his son or a son does with his father). Abraham said: ‘O Ishmael! Allah has give me an order.’ Ishmael said:
‘Do what your Lord has ordered you to do.’ Abraham asked:’Will you help me?’ Ishmael said: ‘I
will help you.’ Abraham said: ‘Allah has ordered me to build a house here,’ pointing to a hillock
higher than the land surrounding it.
“Then they raised the foundations of the House (the Kaba). Ishmael brought the stones while
Abraham built and when the walls became high Ishmael brought this stone and put it for Abraham who stood over it and carried on building. While Ishmael 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.” (Ch2:127 Quran)
The Prophet (pbuh) added: “Then both of them went on building and going round the Kaba
saying: “O our Lord! Accept this service from us, verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower.”
(Sahih Bukhari).