When were Hagar and Ishmael's stories first written, and when is Mecca in them?
Research question: When are the earliest manuscripts and attestations of the Hagar–Ishmael Genesis narrative and the Quranic Abraham–Ishmael passages, and when do Arabic sources first place Abraham and Ishmael at Mecca?
The facts do not give dates for the earliest manuscripts of the Genesis Hagar–Ishmael narrative or of the Quranic Abraham–Ishmael passages. The earliest dated item is a Syriac reference to the "Mahgraye" as descendants of Abraham through Hagar, a term used since the 640s CE 7. A Samaritan midrashic commentary, probably from the 10th century CE, claims Mecca was built by the sons of Nebaioth, Ishmael's eldest son 4. The Qur'an mentions Abraham's prayer for Mecca in Q 14:35-41 6, and Zuḥailī argues that the prayer in Surah al-Baqarah predates the Kaaba's construction while the one in Surah Ibrāhīm follows it 9. The facts do not say when Arabic sources first place Abraham and Ishmael at Mecca, so that part of the question is unanswered. The newest fact comes from a 2025 publication, so it is roughly a year old as of October 2026 5.
Sources
"The civilization of Mecca is believed to have started after Ibrāhīm (Abraham) left his son Ismāʿīl (Ishmael) and wife Hājar (Hagar) in the valley at Allah 's command."Mecca - Wikipedia
"According to Islamic tradition, the Kaaba was rebuilt several times throughout history, most famously by Ibrahim and his son Ismail"Kaaba - Wikipedia
"Allah revealed to Ibrahim that he should take Haajar and the infant Ismaa’eel and take them to Makkah."Hagar in Islam
"In the 'āl ʿimrān , a commentary on the Samaritan midrashic chronology of the Patriarchs, of unknown date but probably composed in the 10th century CE, it is claimed that Mecca was built by the sons of Nebaioth , the eldest son of Ismāʿīl or Ishmael ."Mecca - Wikipedia
"According to Dirk, the Judeo-Christian tradition is notably silent regarding Abraham’s life in Ur and Mecca."Late Antiquity Revisited: Angelika Neuwirth's View on the Story of Prophet Abraham (2025)
"In the Qur’an, Abraham’s prayer for Mecca is mentioned in Q 14:35-41, where he seeks blessings and guidance for his descendants in Mecca."Late Antiquity Revisited: Angelika Neuwirth's View on the Story of Prophet Abraham (2025)
"Although somewhat forgotten in the Islamic tradition, one of the early sources in Syriac refers to the "Mahgraye" as the descendants of Abraham from Hagar."THE HAGARISM THEORY OF MICHAEL COOK: THE QUR’AN AND HADITH IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF RELIGIOUS SYNCRETISM (2025)
"Firestone, citing Hurgronje, suggests that the Meccan verses represent an earlier linguistic idiom before the Prophet Muhammad’s extensive interactions with Jewish and Christian communities."Late Antiquity Revisited: Angelika Neuwirth's View on the Story of Prophet Abraham (2025)
"According to Zuḥailī, Surah al-Baqarah records Abraham’s prayer for the first time before he built the Kaaba, whereas the prayer in Surah Ibrāhīm occurs after its construction."Late Antiquity Revisited: Angelika Neuwirth's View on the Story of Prophet Abraham (2025)
"(4) the event took place in Mecca"Late Antiquity Revisited: Angelika Neuwirth's View on the Story of Prophet Abraham (2025)