Who was the wife of Ibrahim and the mother of Ishmael?

The story behind the answer

In Islamic tradition, Hajar was Ibrahim’s wife and the mother of Ishmael. She is known as Hagar in the Hebrew Bible and in many English-language discussions of the Abrahamic traditions.

Muslim tradition tells how Ibrahim settled Hajar and their infant son in the valley of Mecca. When their water ran out, Hajar searched urgently for help, running between the hills of al-Safa and al-Marwah. Her search is commemorated during the sa'i ritual of Hajj and Umrah. Islamic tradition connects the appearance of the Zamzam Well with this story, making Hajar a central figure in the sacred history of Mecca.

The Qur'an does not name her explicitly, but later Islamic tradition identifies her as Hajar. Sarah was Ibrahim’s other prominent wife and the mother of Isaac, while Maryam was the mother of Jesus and Aisha was a wife of Muhammad. Hajar’s name is therefore the specifically relevant answer in this Islamic context.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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