I'm looking for which Islamic sources explain the story of Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael's affair with Safa and Marwa. Online, every site I can find tells the story of Abraham leaving Hagar and Ishmael, and her running back and forth 7 times, but there aren't any sources cited. Thanks

I know that today there is a general consensus that slavery is banned. And that the only way to get slaves are by taking prisoners of war and giving them good treatment and the option to free themselves once they collect a certain amount of money. My question is that was trading slaves allowed in early muslim society ? Were people able to buy and sell slaves to one another ? I couldn't understand this because it seems to compare slaves as objects or animals, please clarify this for me :) jazakum allahu khayran

Does anyone know the historical background behind 4:157, and if so can you link a source w/ the Arabic? Thanks!

The shortest distance between LA and Mecca would have a person facing nearly north. In what direction do Muslims in LA face while praying? If it's east, should it be changed?

We know that Ibrahim rebuilt/built the Ka'ba. And it was a place of worship for the prophets after him. Doesn't this mean Ka'ba was a place of worship for the Christians and Jews? That is should be revered among them as well? - If so then are there any references in their books regarding Ka'ba/Mecca being a holy place? - Has there been any Islamic researches regarding this? Are there any narrations about how the prophets of their time visited the Ka'ba?

The wikipedia article for the Qibla compass says that to calculate the direction to face for prayer (i.e. towards Mecca) one must use a "sphercial triangle" which I have never heard of. It is also uncited and I don't believe it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qibla_compass I live in Western Europe and have always heard the adage "face East" but of course Mecca is also demonstrably south of Europe as well. My question comes from the somewhat surprising fact I learned recently which is that if you were to fly from New York to Mecca, you would begin by flying North East and over Greenland(!) following the curve of the Earth, turning back South East (although always following a straight line on the surface of the Earth) towards Mecca. Do New Yorkers face North East in muslim prayer? If not, which way do they face and why? Given our modern day understanding of the shape of the Earth, if Muslims do not face North East when praying in New York, should they? I want to say that I could see this question being taken as sarcastic but I genuinely would like to know the answer. I'm a Maths teacher and I think it would be something interesting to bring into a topic on 3D shapes or coordinates.

I am leaving for Umrah soon, but due to the uncleanliness of barbers in Mecca, I am wondering if I am able to shave my head beforehand and still have it count?

Assalam o Alaikum to all my Muslim brothers, If one were to get the opportunity to pray Salah inside the Kaaba, which direction should he face?