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In
the Jewish and Christian Scripture there is the story of three strangers who
visited Abraham. He sat with them while his
wife Sarah made bread from their finest wheat.
Abraham prepared meat, curds and milk for them to eat under the shade of
a tree. After the guests had eaten, they
blessed Abraham and gave him the happy news that Sarah would soon bear a
son. Sarah laughed at the idea because
she was well past childbearing age. The
guests insisted it was no joke. When it
came to pass, Abraham realized they were angels who visited. Sara were blessed with a child as they
foretold. The hidden meaning of the
story is that miracles happen for those who practice hospitality.
Virtually
the same story appears in the Quran. According
to Islamic Scripture three heavenly messengers came to Abraham and bade him
peace which he reciprocated. He quickly
placed a meal of roasted calf before them.
When they did not reach out to eat it, he became afraid and
worried. They reassured him and gave him
the glad tidings that his wife would bear a son named Isaac, and after Isaac
another son Jacob. As in the story in the
Book of Genesis, Sarah laughed in disbelief.
They reminded her that the grace of God can bring about the seemingly
impossible. Then the heavenly messengers
blessed Sarah and Abraham and they all praised God.
