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Narrated by 'Abdullaah ibn 'Abbas:

"After Ismaa'eel's mother had died, Ibraheem came after Ismaa'eel's marriage in order to see his family that he had left before, but he did not find Ismaa'eel there. When he asked Ismaa'eel's wife about him, she replied, '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 returns, convey my salutation to him and tell him to change the threshold of the gate (of his house).'

When Ismaa'eel came, he seemed to have felt something unusual, so he asked his wife, 'Has anyone visited you?' She replied, 'Yes, an old man of so-and-so description came and asked me about you and I informed him, and he asked about our state of living, and I told him that we were living in a hardship and poverty.' On that Ismaa'eel said, 'Did he advise you anything?' She replied, 'Yes, he told me to convey his salutation to you and to tell you to change the threshold of your gate.' Ismaa'eel said, 'It 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 among them (i.e. Jurhum).

Then Ibraheem stayed away from them for a period as long as Allaah wished and called on 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.' Ibraheem asked her, 'How are you getting on?', asking her about their sustenance and living. She replied, 'We are prosperous and well-off (i.e. we have everything in abundance).' Then she thanked Allaah. Ibraheem said, 'What kind of food do you eat?' She said, 'Meat.' He said, 'What do you drink?' She said, 'Water.' He said, 'O Allaah! Bless their meat and water.'"

The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam added, "At that time they did not have grain, and if they had grain, he would have also invoked Allaah to bless it."

The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam added, "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 wa sallam added, "Then Ibraheem said to Ismaa'eel's wife, 'When your husband comes, give him my regards and tell him that he should firm the threshold of his gate.'

When Ismaa'eel came back, he asked his wife, 'Did anyone call on you?' She replied, 'Yes, a good-looking old man came to me.' And she praised him and added, 'He asked about you, and I informed him, and he asked about our livelihood and I told him that we were in a good condition.'

Ismaa'eel asked her, 'Did he give you any 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 Ismaa'eel said, 'It was my father, and you are the threshold (of the gate). He has ordered me to keep you.'"

~ Saheeh al-Bukhari