Zam zam

History of Zamzam :

In this picture the circle indicates the exact location where the little syedna Ismael rubbed his heals and the water of zam zam burst out.

•    According to Islamic belief, it was a miraculously – generated source of water from Allah (God), which began thousands of years ago,when there was a prophet and his name was Abraham. He had two wives, Sara and Hagar. First wife Sara did not have any children but Hagar gave birth to Ismail, who became another prophet of the World Series. Abraham was unemployed and Allah did not send the social security check to time. The triple had no money to buy milk or water for the newly born son. So Abraham sent Hagar and her newborn son hundreds of miles away and abandoned them in the middle of the desert. When Hagar was running between the hills of Safa and Marwa in the search of water with an empty feeding bottle, baby Ismail became impatient and kicked the sand when water gushed out. A pool of water surfaced and shaped itself into a well, the famous holy hole that was called  as “Zomë Zomë”which now pronounced as “Zam Zam” meaning ‘accumulate’, a command repeated by Hajar during her attempt to contain the spring water.

•    There are other versions of the story involving Allah sending his angel, Gabriel, who touched the ground where water rose.

According to Islamic tradition, Abraham rebuilt the Bait-ul-Allah (House of Allah) at the site of the well, a building which had been originally constructed by Adam, and today is called the Kaaba, a building towards which all Muslims around the world face in prayer, five times each day.

Description of zam zam well

Hydrogeologically, the well is in the Wadi Ibrahim (Valley of Abraham). The upper half of the well is in the sandy alluvium of the valley, lined with stone masonry except for the top metre which has a concrete “collar”. The lower half is in the bedrock. Between the alluvium and the bedrock is a half-metre section of permeable weathered rock, lined with stone, and it is this section that provides the main water entry into the well. Water in the well comes from absorbed rainfall in the Wadi Ibrahim, as well as run-off from the local hills. Since the area has become more and more settled, water from absorbed rainfall on the Wadi Ibrahim has decreased.

Old fashion of takin zam zam from zam zam well

This underground Zam zam, parlour has been closed in Year 2003

Originally water from the well was drawn via ropes and buckets, but today the well itself is in a basement room where it can be seen behind glass panels. Electric pumps draw the water, which is available throughout the Masjid via water fountains and dispensing containers near the Tawaf area. In Makkah free water tapes are installed  out side haram between baba-e fatha and bab-e-umra.

Location of Zamzam :

Location of zam zam well

History of zamzam well

Zam zam Well is situated in “Mutaf” and after the modern construction of masjid-ul-haram, it has been covered by a marble slab and a black circle is drawn over it which indicates the exact place where Little Innocent Ismail rubbed his heels on the earth because of intense thirst and by the order of Almighty Allah the water started to run out from the deserted land of makkah.

The Well of Zamzam is a well located within the Masjid al Haram in Mecca, 20 meters east of the Kaaba, the holiest place in Islam. After modern construction, the actual well of “Zam Zam” is now under the surface of “Mutaf” and the people has to go  in basement where a number of Basins are fixed for faithful to quench their thirst with “Zam Zam” Water. The under ground “Zam Zam” water area, is divided into two parts. One for Ladies and other one for Gents. Men and women  zam zam enclosures are marked “zam zam Rijal” and “zam zam Nisa” respectively. In arabic Rijal means men and Nisa means woman.
In the dead end of the under ground water area, there is the original Well, which is now covered  by a glass wall and  well can not be seen.

Corner of RUK-NE-YEMANI

It is to be noted that in year 2003, the basement of zam zam has been closed and now pilgrims can not go in basement. Reason of covering this basement is to increase the capacity of faithful in mutaf ,involved in tawaf. Now pilgrims drink zam zam from coolers  which  have been  placed in HARM every where.

Properties of Zamzam :
•     no colour
•     no  smell, but it has a distinct taste
•     pH is 7.9–8.0, indicating that it is alkaline to some extent.
•     Sodium chloride (common salt) is in excess in Zamzam making it taste salty.

Health benefits :
By the result of the hardness in the water, Muslims believe that Zamzam is beneficial for health. They also claim that the excess amount of Sodium does not cause any harmful effects.
However, independent study of the water has not been done so far.

Beliefs :
•    Muhammad, the doctor used to sprinkle the holy water of Zam Zam on sick people and make them drink the same.
•    They also believes in giving zamzam, before leaving home for good deeds. Since then, Zam Zam water became the holy water for Muslims.
•    Pilgrims drink from Zam Zam to purify their souls and supposedly be cured from any disease that they may have.
•    They also dip their future burial clothes in the Zam Zam.

Religion :
They also rub their noses and clean the wax of their ear with this holy water, a process called Ablution or Wudu. Millions of pilgrims visit the Well each year while performing the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages, in order to drink its water.

Saudia Law :

This is the pot in which followers take zam zam in it.

The water cannot be sold outside of the kingdom, but because of strong demand there is a thriving market in fake Zamzam water in other countries. Upon receiving the certificate of “Al-Haj”, they collect a bottle of Zam Zam water that will be used as medicine when they return home.