Hagar

Hagar is a biblical character in the book of Genesis. She has an important role as wife of Abram/Abraham and mother of Ishmael. As such, she is an important figure within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Genesis 16, she is introduced as an Egyptian slave woman who belongs to Abram’s wife Sarai. Since Sarai is unable to conceive, she gives Hagar to Abram as a wife so that she may have children through Hagar. After Hagar conceives, Sarai perceives a change in Hagar who “looked with contempt on her mistress” (NRSV). Sarai complains to Abram who permits Sarai to do as she pleases. Sarai “dealt harshly” (NRSV) with Hagar who runs away. While in the wilderness, Hagar has an encounter with a messenger of the Lord. This messenger tells her to return to Sarai and to submit to her. Also, he promises to multiply her offspring. He instructs her to name him Ishmael (God hears). She names the Lord “El-roi” (God who sees), and well where this encounter took place was called “Beer-lahai-roi” (well of the living one who sees me). When she returns, she bears a son to Abram, who was eighty-six years old at the time. In Genesis 21, Sarah, having borne Isaac, tells Abraham to cast out Hagar and Ishmael. Abraham is distressed, but God tells him to accede to Sarah’s request as Isaac will be Abraham’s heir. Also, God promises that Ishmael will become a great nation as he is Abraham’s offspring. Abraham sends them away and they wander in the wilderness. After the water in the skin is gone, Hagar sits away from Ishmael and prays not to see his death. God hears Ishmael and promises Hagar that Ishmael will become a great nation. God opens her eyes and she sees a well. Ishmael grows up and becomes an expert bowman. Hagar obtains a wife for him from Egypt. Although Hagar does not appear by name in the Qurʾan, she is known within Islam as the mother of Ishmael. Also, she is traditionally considered to be an ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad.