Sarah, Sarah

Her name was originally Sarai . According to Genesis 17:15 she changed her name to Sarah as part of a covenant with Yahweh after Hagar bore Abraham his first born son Ishmael.

The Talmud Sanhedrin 69B identifies Sarai with Iscah, daughter of Abraham's deceased brother Haran (Genesis 11:29), so that Sarah turns to be the niece of Abraham and the sister of Lot and Milka. She was so beautiful that all other persons seemed apes in comparison. (B. B. 58a) Even the hardships of her journey with Abraham did not affect her beauty. (Genesis Rabba xi. 4) She was superior to Abraham in the gift of prophecy. (Exodus Rabba i. 1.) She was the "crown" of her husband; and he obeyed her words because he recognized this superiority on her part. (Genesis Rabba xlvii. 1) She was the only woman whom God deemed worthy to be addressed by Him directly, all the other prophetesses receiving their revelations through angels (ib. xlv. 14).

Later she was called "Sarah" i.e., "my princess," because she was the princess of her house and of her tribe; = "princess," because she was recognized generally as such.

H. 16b; Genesis Rabbah xlv. 7). Sarah was sterile; but a miracle was vouchsafed to her (Genesis Rabbah xlvii. 3) after her name was changed from "Sarai" to "Sarah" (R. H. 16b). When her youth had been restored and she had given birth to Isaac, the people would not believe in the miracle, saying that the patriarch and his wife had adopted a foundling and pretended that it was their own son. Abraham thereupon invited all the notabilities to a banquet on the day when Isaac was to be weaned. Sarah invited the women, also, who brought their infants with them; and on this occasion she gave milk from her breasts to all the strange children, thus convincing the guests of the miracle (B. M. 87a; comp. Gen. R. liii. 13).

Auda quotes Imam Al-Razi, Imam Al-Suyuti, Imam Al-Kamal Ibn Al-Humaam and Imam Al-Mubarkafuri. Abraham married Sarah as she showed uncompromising commitment to God, after the rest abandoned Abraham. After marriage Abraham traveled with Sarah to Ur, then later to Haran, Palestine and finally to Egypt. Ibn Kathir, QASAS AL-ANBIYAA, The story of Ibrahim . Retrieved 18 July, 07.

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