It has been nearly four thousand years since an elderly Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) brought his wife Hajar (Hagar) and son Ismail (Ishmael) to a non-arable, desolate land in a valley located in Mecca, which is now a city in the modern country of Saudi Arabia.
Prophet Ibrahim's Faith Tested / History of "Rajm"
Before relocating them there, Prophet Ibrahim was tried by Allah (God) with the challenge to sacrifice his son Ismail, who faithfully wished to comply without question. In the valley of Mina, on their way to fulfill this requirement, he was tempted 3 times by Satan, but overcame the temptations.
Just before complying, Allah released them both from completing - they had fulfilled His commandment by the mere intention of fulfilling it and given the order to sacrifice a ram instead. The "rajm" or throwing of the pebbles during Hajj commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's success in overcoming the temptation of Satan to not fulfill Allah's commandment. The ritual slaughter of Hajj or Eid Al-Adha, commemorates Allah's Mercy shown to Ibrahim.
Arrival to Mecca
According to the Qur'an, Ibrahim (peace be upon him - pbuh) said upon arrival to that "non-arable" valley in Mecca: "...O my Lord! Make this a land secure, and keep me and my children away from ever worshiping idols. My Lord! They have led astray many people. Only the one who follows me [in worshiping the One God] is truly of me, and as for the one who disobeys me, You are All-forgiving, Most Gracious."
Raising of the Ka'ba
Next came the raising up of the house of worship - the Ka'ba, (Qur'an) "And when Ibrahim and Ismail with him, raised up the foundations of the House [of Worship, praying], 'O our Lord! Accept this from us; You are All-hearing, All-knowing'".
It was at this point that the Ka'ba was designated as a house of worship for mankind, and Mecca a sacred precinct for those who believe. (Qur'an) "And when We (God speaking in formal first person) made the House (the Ka'ba) of worship a destination to which people may turn repeatedly and a sanctuary: take, then, the place whereon Ibrahim once stood as your place of prayer. And thus who stay beside it for worship, and those who stay beside it for worship, and those who bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer.
Maqam Ibrahim
The place where "Ibrahim once stood" is called "Maqam Ibrahim". With regards to the Ka'ba it is located directly facing the corner of the Ka'ba where the Black Stone is located. Today it is encased in a protective glass enclosure. For those that have the opportunity to get close, large footprints embedded in rock can be seen. One of the elements of Hajj is to pray behind Maqam Ibrahim after having made seven rounds (tawaf) about the Ka'ba.
The Well of Zam-Zam Appears
Ibrahim was ordered to return to his people, leaving Hajar and Ismail in Mecca. It was not long before supplies were scarce and their water ran out. Ismail, in his hunger, began stamping his feet. Hajar, in her desperate state to find water for them both, began running between to rather large hills in order to look further into the distance - she did this seven times. When she was exhausted and returned to Ismail, she found that water from a spring had emerged from where Ismail had been stomping.
The spring is referred to as the well of Zam-Zam. Today, as part of Hajj, Muslims also go between the two hills of Safa and Marwa (Sa-i) and drink from the well of Zam-Zam.
The appearance of a water source was important for another reason - it made the area conducive to being a center of trading. Soon Mecca prospered.
Monotheism Restored
During the approximately 25 centuries between the raising of the Ka'ba by prophets Ibrahim and Ismail, the "sacred precinct" had come under control of many different groups, including idolators. It was not until the coming of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that it was again purified for the worship of the one God and became a part of the 5 pillars of Islam, becoming a site of mandatory pilgrimage for those who are able.
