Who was Hagar?

In the text of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 12-25), God speaks directly to Abraham on multiple occasions, renaming him from Abram and establishing an everlasting covenant through his descendants. God addresses his first wife, Sarah, by changing her name from Sarai and promising her a son in her old age, and also directly addresses his second wife, Hagar, through an angel in the wilderness, comforting her and promising to make a great nation out of her son Ishmael.

From the perspective of ancient Near Eastern legal history including standard legal frameworks like the Code of Hammurabi and Nuzi tablets, children born to a legal surrogate or handmaid (such as Hagar) were considered completely legitimate heirs of the father if the primary marriage was barren. The biblical narrative confirms this legal status by recording that God blessed Ishmael, promised to make him a great nation precisely because he was Abraham's physical seed, and explicitly commanded Abraham to circumcise him as a full member of the sacred covenant.

In the biblical text of Genesis 16, Sarah (then Sarai) explicitly suggested that Abraham should take her Egyptian handmaid Hagar to produce an heir because she was barren. However, after Hagar became pregnant, conflict arose, and Sarah later demanded that Abraham completely cast out Hagar and her son Ishmael to ensure Isaac remained the sole primary heir. From an Islamic perspective, the relationship is viewed with greater reverence, framing the journey of Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael to the valley of Mecca as a fulfilled divine mandate rather than a simple domestic dispute.

Yes, Hagar was legally considered to be Abraham's first wife. (Note: Biblical texts in Genesis 16 describe her as a wife given by Sarah, while historically, she is often classified as a secondary wife or concubine.)

The Fiery Furnace: When Abraham smashed the idols of his town, King Nimrod ordered him thrown into a roaring fire. God miraculously commanded the flames to become cool and safe for him.

The Sacrificial Test: God tested Abraham's devotion by commanding him to sacrifice his son. Demonstrating absolute submission, Abraham prepared to obey before God stopped him and replaced his son with a ram.

Leaving His Family in the Desert: Abraham followed divine guidance by leaving his wife Hagar and infant son Ishmael in the barren valley of Mecca, which led to the miraculous emergence of the Zamzam water spring.

Ishmael (Isma'il) was a revered prophet, skilled archer, and the eldest son of the patriarch Abraham (Ibrahim) and Hagar (Hajar). He is a central figure in monotheistic tradition and the noble ancestor of the North Arabian tribes and Prophet Muhammad.

Under divine command, Abraham left infant Ishmael and his mother Hagar in the barren valley of Mecca. As Hagar ran between the hills of Safa and Marwah searching for water, God miraculously caused the Zamzam spring to gush forth from beneath young Ishmael's feet, saving their lives and laying the foundation for Mecca.

3 wives. Sarah: Married in Ur. Age at marriage is unknown. She gave birth at 90 years old and died at 127 years old.. Hagar: Age at marriage or death is unknown.. Keturah: Married Abraham after Sarah's death. Her age is unknown.