Ebrahim AS stayed away from Hajira & Ismael AS for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them again but did not find Ismael. So he came to Ismael's wife and asked her about Ismael. She said: 'he has gone in search of our livelihood.' Ebrahim AS 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. Ebrahim AS 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 Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam 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 Makkah."

The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam continued: "Then Ebrahim AS said to Ismael'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 Ismael 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.' Ismael 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 Ismael said: 'It was my father, and you are the threshold of the gate. He has ordered me to keep you with me.'

Then Ebrahim AS stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them afterwards. He saw Ismael under a tree near Zam Zam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw Ebrahim AS, 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). Ebrahim AS said: 'O Ismael! Allah has given me an order.' Ishmael said: 'Do what your Lord has ordered you to do.' Ebrahim AS asked: ‘Will you help me?' Ismael said: 'I will help you.' Ebrahim AS 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 Kaaba). Ishmael brought the stones while Ebrahim AS built and when the walls became high Ismael brought this stone and put it for Ebrahim AS who stood over it and carried on building. While Ismael 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." (Ch 2:127 Quran)

The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam added: "Then both of them went on building and going round the Kaaba saying: "O our Lord! Accept this service from us, verily; You are the All Hearer, the All Knower."; (Sahih Bukhari).