He is asking about the words of Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) to Ismaa’eel: “Change your doorstep”

Question

Praise be to Allah.

The hadeeth to which the questioner refers is that in which
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told the story
of Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) with the mother of Ismaa’eel (peace be upon
him), when Ibraaheem al-Khaleel left her and her son at the sacred House of
Allaah, and the events that followed.

This story was narrated by al-Bukhaari in full in his
Saheeh. And Allaah has told us in the Qur’aan of some of the details of
this story, such as in Soorat Ibraaheem, where He tells us that Ibraaheem
left his wife and son in Makkah and went back to Syria as Allaah had
commanded him to do, then he came back to Makkah when Ismaa’eel had grown
up. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) tells us
about his return to Makkah:

Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “The mother of Ismaa’eel was pleased with that
[the arrival of Jurhum in Makkah] as she loved the company of people. So
they settled there and sent for their families who came and settled with
them, so that some families became permanent residents there.

The child (i.e. Ismaa’eel) grew up and learnt Arabic from
them and (his virtues) caused them to love and admire him as he grew up, and
when he grew up, they gave one of their women to him in marriage.

The mother of Ismaa’eel died, then Ibraaheem came after
Ismaa’eel had got married, to check on his family that he had left there,
but he did not find Ismaa’eel there. When he asked Ismaa’eel’s wife about
him, she said, ‘He has gone in search of our livelihood.’

Then he asked her about their way of living and their
condition, and she replied, ‘We are living in misery; we are living in
hardship and destitution,’ complaining to him. He said, ‘When your husband
comes, convey my greeting to him and tell him to change his doorstep.’

When Ismaa’eel came, it was as if he felt something out of
the ordinary, so he asked his wife, ‘Did anyone come to you?’

She said, ‘Yes, an old man of such and such a description
came to us and asked us about you and I told him. He asked about our state
of living, and I told him that we were living in hardship and poverty.’

He said, ‘Did he advise you to do anything?’

She said, ‘Yes, he told me to convey his greeting to you and
to tell you to change your doorstep.’

Ismaa’eel said, ‘That was my father, and he has ordered me to
divorce you. Go back to your family.’

So, Ismaa’eel divorced her and married another woman from
amongst them (i.e. Jurhum). Then Ibraaheem stayed away from them for as long
as Allah willed, then he came to them again but did not find Ismaa’eel. So
he came to (Ismaa’eel’s) wife and asked her about Ismaa’eel. She said, ‘He
has gone in search of our livelihood.’

He said: ‘How are you doing?’ asking her about their
sustenance and living.

She replied, ‘We are prosperous and well-off (i.e. we have
everything in abundance),’ and she praised Allaah.

He 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
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “At that time they
did not have grain, and if they had grain, he would have also asked Allah to
bless it for them.”

And he (the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “If someone has only these two things as his sustenance, his
health and disposition will be badly affected, unless he lives in Makkah.”
He (Ibraaheem) said: ‘When your husband comes, convey my greeting to him and
tell him that he should keep firm his doorstep.’ When Ismaa’eel came back,
he said, ‘Did anyone come to you?’ She said, ‘Yes, a good-looking old man
came to me,’ and she praised him (and said) ‘He asked about you, and I told
him. He asked about our livelihood and I told him that we were in a good
condition.’ He said, ‘Did he give you any advice?’ She said, ‘Yes, he told
me to convey his greeting to you and said that you should keep firm your
doorstep.’

He said: ‘That was my father, and you are the doorstep. He
has ordered me to keep you with me.’

Then Ibraaheem stayed away from them for as long as Allah
wished, then after that he came when Ismaa’eel was sharpening his arrows
beneath a tall tree near Zamzam. When he saw him, he stood up to greet him
and (they greeted one another) as a father does with his son or a son does
with his father. Then (Ibraaheem) said, ‘O Ismaa’eel! Allaah has given me a
command.’ Ismaa’eel said, ‘Do what your Lord has commanded you to do.’
Ibraaheem said, ‘Will you help me?’ Ismaa’eel said, ‘I will help you.’

Ibraaheem said, ‘Allaah has ordered me to build a house
here,’ and he pointed to a hillock higher than the land surrounding it.

Then they raised the foundations of the House (i.e. the
Ka’bah). Ismaa’eel brought the stones and Ibraaheem was building, and when
the walls became high, Ismaa’eel brought this stone and put it for Ibraaheem
who stood on it and carried on building, while Ismaa’eel 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.’ [al-Baqarah 2:127]

Then both of them went on building and going round the Ka’bah
saying: ‘Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily, You are the
All-Hearer, the All-Knower’”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari in his Saheeh: The Book of
the Prophets, “For Allaah did take Ibraaheem…”, no. (3113).

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The
words “your doorstep” are a metaphor for his wife. He called her that
because of her attributes, as she guards his gate and protects what is
within.

This story teaches us a number of lessons, including the
following:

1-Gratitude to Allaah is a cause
of His blessing being increased, and ingratitude brings the opposite. This
is clear from the fate of both women.

2-It indicates how a woman should
be: content and accepting whatever provision Allaah grants her husband
without being annoyed or displeased.

3-One should be careful to choose
a good wife who will help him with regard to the hereafter.

And Allaah knows best.