Born a slave in Egypt, she groaned for freedom.
Given to Sarai, she groaned for a husband.
Given to Abram, she groaned in childbirth.
Proud of her child, she groaned in abuse.
Running away to the wild, she groaned in desparation.
Returning to her mistress, she still groaned inside.
When Ishmael mocked Isaac, she groaned in the desert.
With all the promises of heirs and conflict, she groaned still.
She aged and died, and her groans should have ceased.
But around the world, Hagar's daughters still groan.
No hope in the Hadith,
No Savior in the Sunna or Shi'a,
No quiet in the Qu'ran
No law of liberty,
No amount of cloth can cover her shame,
No supply of springs can satisfy her thirst,
No number of heirs can hide her indignity,
Hagar still groans in the mosque.
Hagar still groans from the desert.
Who will bear good news to end her groans?
When will her groans become shouts of joy?
How long will Islam disappoint the birthpains of Hagar?
We do not know.
Still we hope.
Still we pray.