Prophet Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him)
Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him) is a revered Prophet of God and His messenger, known as the Friend of God. Chosen by the Almighty, he was uniquely appointed with a divine mission and had the distinction of being favored by God. Unlike his people, who worshipped stars and idols, Abraham was endowed with profound reasoning that steered him away from idolatries. When guided by God towards the monotheistic faith, which promotes the oneness of God without any associations, he called upon his community to abandon their false gods. However, they did not believe in him; instead, they denied his message and sought to cast him into the fire. Yet, by God’s grace and mercy, he was saved and granted the honor of having prophets descend from his lineage—specifically Isaac and Ishmael, followed by Jacob and Joseph. The final Prophet and Messenger, Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), is also a descendant of Abraham. The Quran emphasizes his status with the verse: “And Allah took Abraham as a friend” (Quran 4:125).
Wives of Prophet Abraham
Historical texts reveal that the Prophet Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him) was married to four women, whose details are outlined below:
Sara
Sara, whose name is pronounced with emphasis on the ‘r’, was the wife of Prophet Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him) and his cousin. She was the mother of the Prophet Isaac (Peace Be Upon Him) and the daughter of Haran, brother of Terach, Abraham’s father. It is said that Haran was a king in Harran, located in Babylon. Sara was renowned for her beauty, intelligence, and virtue, standing out even among her peers who worshipped celestial bodies. Despite her noble attributes, she struggled with infertility, bearing no children for many years. However, divine tidings of her bearing Isaac (Peace Be Upon Him) were delivered to her by the angels Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael (Peace Be Upon Them).
Sara passed away after giving birth to Isaac, at the age of one hundred and twenty-two, though some accounts state she was one hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died in the village of the giants in Canaan, in the region of Levant, specifically at a plantation owned by Abraham, where she was subsequently buried.
Hagar
Hagar was an Egyptian maiden of great beauty, gifted to Sara by the King of Egypt during her time there. Sara later offered Hagar to Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him) in marriage so that he might have children through her. Hagar gave birth to the Prophet Ishmael (Peace Be Upon Him). Abraham took Hagar and their son Ishmael to Palestine before moving to the region of Hijaz, where he subsequently left them in Mecca and returned to the Levant. After some time, their supply of water dwindled, prompting Hagar to ascend Mount Safa to search for help. She then descended to Mount Marwah, returning repeatedly between the two mountains seven times in search of assistance. This act is commemorated as the Sa’i between Safa and Marwah in the pilgrimage rituals.
Hagar passed away in Mecca prior to the death of Sara. Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him) was not present during her passing; instead, Ishmael (Peace Be Upon Him) buried her and mourned her loss deeply, as she had been his companion during his father’s absence.
Kanturah
Kanturah, the daughter of Yaqtan from the Canaanite people, became the wife of Abraham after the deaths of Sara and Hagar. She bore him six children: Midian, Zimran, Jokshan, Shuab, and Nishaq, though the name of the sixth son is not mentioned. Her descendants, known as the Midianites, include the people of Prophet Shuayb (Peace Be Upon Him), as they trace their lineage back to her son Midian.
Hajun
Hajun, the daughter of Amin, was married to Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him) following his union with Kanturah. She bore him five sons: Kaysan, Suraj, Amaym, Lutaan, and Nafis.