Allah has made all living creatures out of water. People require water for almost everything; for agriculture, construction, transportation, and for cooling and heating. But not all water carries the same value and significance.
Muslims consider the water of Zamzam as something revered and unique. They crave this mysterious liquid and love to drink it whenever they can. And those fortunate to go to Hajj, return home carrying it for thousands of miles as a prized possession and to give as gifts to their friends and families.
So, what is so special about Zamzam water? In a word: Everything.
There is nothing ordinary about it: the miracle of how it came into being in the middle of the desert, its consistency throughout the centuries, the beneficial qualities it has, and the fact that it never dries up. This water is special.
The fact is, this small 5 ft. deep well is far away from any other source or body of water. It is self-replenishing. It is constantly replenishing itself in order to produce gallons upon gallons of water for consumption of thirsty pilgrims plus the additional amount that is bottled and also the amount that is taken as gifts and distributed worldwide to millions. Zamzam water has scientifically been proven to contain healing properties due to its higher content of Calcium and Magnesium Salts and also the natural fluorides that encompass a germicidal action.
It is also an established scientific fact that pools or water wells tend to grow vegetation such as algae—especially in warm climates. Amazingly this is not the case in the well of Zamzam. It has remained free from biological contaminants.
Venerable even before Islam
After the re-emergence of Zamzam at the hands of Abdul-Muttalib, the Makkans accorded Zamzam the veneration it deserved. They used to drink from Zamzam whenever they were about to engage in a matter of grave importance.
Al-Harith Ibn Khalifah As-Sa’di narrated that Quraysh always commenced their preparation to fend enemies by drinking from Zamzam. This was so customary that one could easily infer the gravity of matters from the collection of pots near Zamzam.
The Makkans recognised that Zamzam was blessed. They sought its blessing in matters of importance.
A clear sign
Al-Masjid Al-Haram (The Sacred Mosque in Makkah) is the first house of worship appointed for mankind. Along with this appointment, Allah blessed its vicinity with many signs of distinction. Allah says, “Verily, the first house (of worship) appointed for mankind was at Bakkah (i.e. Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for mankind and jinn. In it are manifest signs (for example), the Maqam (place) of Ibrahim; whosoever enters it, he attains security…” [3:96-97].
Zamzam is one of those signs. In fact, chronologically, it is the first because when Ibrahim left his wife and infant son at the barren valley, following Allah’s command, he made a humble request, “O Lord! I have made my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Kabah at Makkah) in order, O Lord, that they may establish prayer. So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks” [14:37]. Zamzam was the first among many fruits.
Perpetual water
One of the greatest attributes of Zamzam is that it will never dry up. This is a gift from Allah. The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “… May Allah bestow his mercy upon her (Hajar), had she let go (of the water of Zamzam) it would have become a spring (rather than a well) whose water shall never dry” [Ahmad].
Every year, millions of pilgrims drink Zamzam water, which has been around for centuries. It is fed daily to the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah in large quantities, and is packaged and shipped to millions of Muslims worldwide, without the slightest blemish in its flow. It is the epitome of munificence; the more we drink, the more it gives.
A sign of the believer
The Prophet said, “One difference between us (believers) and the hypocrites is that they cannot drink much from Zamzam” [Ibn Majah].
The heavenly connection
Ibn ‘Abbas related that when a man drowned in Zamzam much of the water was removed out of the well in order to retrieve the body. After removing the body, Ibn ‘Abbas told the man who was at the bottom of the well to collect water from the wellspring which flows from the direction of the Kabah. He continued and said the source of this wellspring is from Paradise. ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr corroborates this point. This gives Zamzam yet a further distinction whereby this earthly stream is mixed with water from Paradise. It is worth noting that these reports need to be verified for authenticity.
The location of the well
The well is located only few paces from the Kabah, behind the Maqam Ibrahim, to the left. Its location is now clearly marked on the marbles of the Mataf (the circular marbled open space where the pilgrims circumambulate around the Kabah). The well itself was lowered below the ground to facilitate the modernisation of water extraction from the well, and to remove all obstacles from the path of Tawaf.
It is worth mentioning that there are other wells named Zamzam, after the original one. Such a well can be found, for example, in Madinah.
The names of Zamzam
The Arabic word “Zamma” means “to constrain.” Ibn Abbas attributes the name to the sound of water, as “Zamzamat Al-Ma’,” in Arabic means “the sound of water.”
Like any object of reverence, Zamzam commands both love and respect. In addition to the sublime nature and the lofty history of this unique water, its attributes have lead way to its many names. Some of its names that are related to its sublimity are Barakah (Blessing) and Mubarak (Blessed). Another beautiful name is Bushra (Glad Tidings). Its history contributed to its many names such as Hazmatul-Jibreel (the Dent of Jibreel).
Zamzam’s attributes, however, account for most of its names. Some of these attributes were learned from teachings of the Prophet, others were coined as descriptive names for the physical and spiritual attributes of the water. These names include Kafiyah (satisfying), Afiyah (healing), and Shifa’ (a curative). Over the centuries people gave different names to it – some say 54 in all.
The chemical analysis of Zamzam water
Dr. Ahmad ‘Abdul-Qadir Al-Muhandis indicates that the results of chemical analyses show that Zamzam water is pure water, without colour or smell, has a distinct taste, and its hydrogen exponent is 7.5, indicating that it is alkaline to some extent.
A study conducted in American laboratories showed that traces of thirty elements were identified in Zamzam water by means of energizing neutrons. Some of these elements scored less than 0.01.
After matching up the chemical analysis to international specifications, especially to the specifications of the World Health Organization (WHO), results proved the portability of Zamzam water as well as its beneficial effect on the body health. Additionally, sodium is very high in Zamzam water and the international specifications do not put a limit to the measurement of its composition.
|
Minerals |
Percentages |
|
Calcium |
198 |
|
Magnesium |
43.7 |
|
Chloride |
335 |
|
Sulfur |
370 |
|
Iron |
0.15 |
|
Manganese |
0.15 |
|
Copper |
0.12 |
This is an analysis of a study conducted in the laboratory of the Department of Water and Waste Water Treatment, the Western Province, Saudi Arabia (1400 H.)
Zamzam water has also been treated by ultraviolet rays, and microbes have no place to survive in it, which means that Zamzam water preserves its taste and is not a congenial environment for bacteria.
According to various chemical analyses, dry weather make Zamzam more saline through evaporation, which is good for the human body.
The Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “Zamzam is a lavish meal and a great healer,” and, “Zamzam is what one intends to drink it for.”