The Miraculous Elixir: Zamzam Water

In His infinite mercy and wisdom, Allah has created the earth and the sky for humans, plants, animals, and all living creatures. On this earth, Allah has additionally created a delicately balanced ecosystem of flora and fauna for our benefit. Not only has He provided varied foods, fruits and means of sustenance for us, but He has also granted us the wonderful bounty of water without which it would have been impossible to sustain life. Water is indispensable for hydration, health and wellbeing. Needless to say, water is also a vital necessity for our survival, and the Quran mentions how it is a sign of Allah’s power and mercy bestowed towards us. The Arabic word for water is ma’aa, and Allah has directed our attention to it in the Quranic verses, more than 60 times. Water is also referenced in the Quran through mention of rivers, seas, fountains, springs, rain, hail, clouds, and winds.

“Seest thou not how Allah sends down water from the sky and then the earth becomes green on the morrow?’ [Surah Hajj 22:63]

“Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?” [ Surah Anbiya 21:30]

These verses emphasize the fact that water is a vital element in the creation of all living things. According to recent research, plants too, like humans and animals, have life and soul, and water plays a crucial role in their growth, evolution, and creation. For us Muslims, when water is mentioned, our minds are irrevocably directed towards Zamzam water, which we all consider as not only holy, but as a panacea for many illnesses, especially if it is drank with faith and conviction. It is water that is miraculous, since both its flow and supply is incessant and unabated, despite its constant usage for hundreds of years. Zamzam Water – Mention in the Quran The Quran does not directly mention the Zamzam well, but the story of Zamzam water is mentioned in the Tafsir of Surah Ibrahim in the Quran. Muslims consider Zamzam water to be miraculous, as they believe that it was provided by God as sustenance for Prophet Ismail (AS) and his mother, when they most needed it.

“Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.” [Surah Ibrahim 14:37]

Mention here is made about Prophet Abraham (AS) leaving his son Ismail (AS) and his mother Hajar (RA) in the desert in Makkah. Hajar (RA) ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times in her anguished search for water for her baby Ismail (AS). Angel Jibreel then dug through the sand and unearthed the Zamzam well from which Zamzam water sprang forth. Zamzam Water – Mention in the Hadith In a long Hadith, Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari, (may Allah be pleased with him), narrated,

“He once came to Mecca and stayed there for thirty days with no food or drink other than Zam Zam. The Prophet Muhammad, (PBUH) asked him, ‘How long have you been here?’ Abu Dharr replied, ‘I have been here for thirty days and nights.’ The Prophet asked, ‘Who has been feeding you?’ Abu Dharr answered, ‘I had no food except Zamzam water, and I became so full that the folds of my belly disappeared, and I felt no hunger at all.’ Upon hearing this, the Prophet (PBUH)) said concerning the water of Zamzam, ‘It is a blessing, and it is food that satisfies.’” (Muslim 2473)

The Hadith clarifies that the benefit of Zamzam water upon the believer is dependent upon his intention or purpose when using it. If someone drinks it intending to be given healing for the disease he is suffering from, Allah will grant him healing. It was narrated from Jabir ibn Abdullah, that he heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say,

“Zamzam water is for whatever purpose it is drunk.”

Al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi commented, “This applies to people’s intentions and their sincerity in those intentions, for when a believer is troubled by something, he turns to his Lord. If he seeks refuge in Him and asks for help, he finds assistance according to his intention.” Al-Shawkani mentioned in Nayl al-Awtar that the phrase, “for whatever purpose it is drunk,” is a general expression encompassing any worldly or otherworldly need. It was customary for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to carry Zamzam water and instruct others to do so in containers and vessels. He would pour it over the sick and give it to them to drink. Abdullah ibn Abbas, (may Allah be pleased with him), narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said,

“The best water on the face of the earth is the water of Zamzam; in it is food for nourishment and healing for illness.” (reported by al-Tabarani).

The phrase, “the best water on the face of the earth,” signifies the unparalleled quality of Zamzam water. This distinction is attributed to it due to the divine blessings it holds. It is said to “provide food for nourishment,” as it can be a substitute for food, not just providing sustenance, but also strengthening the person who consumes it. Additionally, it is “a healing for illness,” as it offers a cure for many maladies when imbibed with a sincere intention. These hadiths underscore the exceptional virtues of Zamzam water. To add further to the hadith of Ibn Abbas, “… and it is a cure for illness,” it is said that the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH), used to not only drink Zamzam water, but also pour it over their heads and faces, and offer supplication to Allah after doing so. It is reported that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say when drinking Zamzam water, “O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, ample provision, and a cure from every disease.” The salaf and religious scholars acted upon this hadith. When ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak went for Hajj, he came to imbibe Zamzam water and said this beautiful dua’a, “O Allah, Ibn Abi’l-Mawali told us from Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir from Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, that Your Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for,’ and I am drinking it to ward off thirst on the Day of Resurrection.” Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Direct Connection to Zamzam Water Zamzam water had a direct impact on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on three (some scholars say it may be four) important occasions in his life. Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) chest was opened, and his heart was washed with Zamzam water, as is recorded in Sahih Bukhari. The first time that Angel Jibreel did this procedure was when he was four years old (living with his wet nurse Halima al-Sa’diyya) to cleanse his heart of any impurity. The second time this was done was when he was forty years old, to bear the immense weight and responsibility of revelation from Angel Jibreel, to give him honor and to purify his heart. The third time was on the night of Isra and Mi’raj when he was taken up to the heavens, to provide him with wisdom and belief, to prepare him for the visions of the upper world and to absorb the grandeur of Allah’s speech. There is great divine wisdom in these events, as Allah specifically chose Zamzam water to cleanse the heart of His beloved Prophet (PBUH). This once again accentuates the significance of Zamzam as “the best of waters”. History/Origin of Zamzam Water The following account is a detailed delineation of the origin of Zamzam Water. It is an excerpt from the early days of Al Bidaya Wan Nihayah (The Beginning and the End), under the story of the birth of Ismaeel, by Ibn Kathir: During those days there was nobody in Makkah, nor was there any water. So Prophet Ibrahim (AS) made his wife and son sit, and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates, and a small waterskin containing some water, and set out homeward. Isma‘il’s mother followed him, saying, “O, Ibraheem! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is there anything (to enjoy)?” She repeated that to him many times, but he did not look back at her. Then she asked him, “Has Allah ordered you to do so?” He said, “Yes.” She said, “Then He will not neglect us,” and she returned, while Ibrahim proceeded onward. Upon reaching the mountain where they could not see him, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) faced the Ka‘bah, raised both his hands and invoked Allah with the following supplication,

“O, our Lord! I have made some of my offspring dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Your Sacred House (the Ka‘bah in Makkah) in order, our Lord, that they may offer prayer perfectly. So fill some hearts among men with love toward them, and (O, Allah) provide them with fruits, so that they may give thanks.” [Surah Ibrahim, 14.37]

Isma‘il’s (AS) mother went on suckling him and drinking from the water (she had). When the water in the waterskin had all been used up, she became thirsty and her child also became thirsty. She started looking at him tossing in agony; she left him, for she could not endure looking at him, and found that the mountain of Al-Safa was the nearest mountain to her. She stood on it and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody. Then she descended from Al-Safa and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her robe and ran in the valley in distress and trouble, till she crossed the valley and reached Al-Marwa mountain. She stood and started looking, expecting to see somebody, but she could not see anyone. She repeated that (running between Al-Safa and Al-Marwah) seven times. [The Prophet (PBUH) said, “This is the source of the Sa’i, tradition,” the walking between Safa and Marwah, that Muslims follow until present times]. When she reached Al Marwa (for the last time) she heard a voice and she listened attentively. She heard the voice again and she said, “O, (whoever you may be)! You have made me hear your voice; have you got something to help me?” And behold! She saw an angel at the place of Zamzam, digging the earth with his heel (or his wing), till water flowed from that place. She started to make something like a basin around it, using her hand in this way, and started filling her waterskin with water with her hands, and the water was flowing out after she had scooped some of it. The Prophet added, “May Allah bestow mercy on the mother of Isma‘il! Had she let the Zamzam [flow without trying to control it, or had she not scooped from that water to fill her water- skin], Zamzam would have been a stream flowing on the surface of the earth.” Then she drank (water) and suckled her child. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid of being neglected, for this is the House of Allah which will be built by this boy and his father, and Allah never neglects His people.” The House (i.e. the Ka‘bah) at that time was on a high place resembling a hillock, and when torrents came, they flowed to its right and left. The water of Zamzam was not just a spring that burst forth to quench the thirst of Hajar and her child. Ibn Kathir further mentions in his book, Al-Bidaya wa’l-Nihaya: Prophet Ismaeel and his descendants supervised the Kaaba after its construction, following the religion of Prophet Ibrahim until Isma’il’s death. It quickly became the nucleus for the habitation of the barren valley of Makkah, which eventually turned into the centre of the holiest place on earth, drawing the hearts of millions. In later years, some people from the tribe of Jurhum passed by on the way from the Kada’. The Ka’bah and its surroundings, unfortunately, became a centre of conflict between Ibrahim’s progeny and the Jurhum tribe. The few descendants of Isma’il were driven out of the sacred place, and the Ka’bah now became the stronghold of power for the corrupt Jurhum tribe. Jurhum’s tyranny and transgressions in Makkah continued until the Khuza’a tribe, a noble Arab tribe, overpowered them. A fierce war broke out between the two tribes, with bloodshed occurring even within the Ka’bah. Realizing their defeat, the leader of Jurhum, gathered the treasures of the Ka’bah and buried them in the well of Zamzam before leaving Makkah. The Zamzam well continued to exist in this state, buried and concealed. It remained thus throughout the time of Khuza’a and beyond, until a sacred vision came to the Prophet’s (PBUH) grandfather, Abdul Muttalib to revive and re-dig the well, which he subsequently did. This was a few decades before the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Construction/Physical Features of the Zamzam Well Statistically, the Zamzam well pumps between 11 to 18 litres of water per second, averaging an astounding 900 litres per minute. It is mindboggling to imagine the immeasurable volume of water it has provided for centuries, since the moment angel Gabriel, (PBUH), struck the ground with his wing/heel for Prophet Isma’il (PBUH) and his mother. This miraculous water has quenched the thirst of millions of pilgrims, and, if Allah wills, will continue to sustain many, many more to come. The Zamzam well is located to the east of the Holy Ka’bah, at a distance of 21 meters from it, and its depth exceeds 30 meters. The opening of the well is situated 1.56 meters below the surface of the Mataf, (the area surrounding the Ka’bah) to the left of the Maqam Ibrahim, directly opposite the Ka’bah. The well is divided into two sections: The first is a constructed portion extending to a depth of 12.80 meters from the well’s opening, and the second is carved into the mountain rock, reaching 17.20 meters, making the total depth 30 meters from the opening to the bottom. The well is fed by three main sources: One near the Black Stone corner, another near Mount Abu Qubais and Safa, and the third near Mount Marwah. In recent times, studies have revealed that the Zamzam well receives its water from ancient rock layers through three fissures extending from beneath the Ka’bah, Mount Safa, and Mount Marwah, converging in the well. For a long time, Zamzam consisted of two basins: One between it and the corner for drinking, and another at the back for ablution. There was no protective grate around it. It was merely a well surrounded by a simple stone wall. Later, King Abdul ‘Aziz initiated the installation of a pump in 1373 AH, and after that, King Saud expanded the Mataf, lowering the well’s opening and replacing buckets with taps. King Khalid’s comprehensive cleaning in 1399 AH significantly increased the water flow. Today, Zamzam water is accessible throughout the Haram via coolers and public fountains, with tests ensuring its cleanliness through regular laboratory analyses. Science & Zamzam Water – Composition of Zamzam Water Progressive and traditional methods of hydro chemical study have been extensively utilized to examine samples of Zamzam water. These methods revealed that there were 34 elements in Zamzam water, with calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) in higher concentration than natural water. Tests further confirmed the balanced mineral and nutritional composition of Zamzam water. The results conclude that Zamzam water, due to its unique composition delivers a protection against several diseases. There are still ongoing studies to discover the connection among Zamzam water’s interaction and its benefits from various other diseases. Unique Features of Zamzam water

• The Zam Zam well with its infinite supply of Zamzam water has never ever dried up. On the contrary it has always fulfilled the eternal demand for water over the years.
• It has always kept the same salt balance and unique taste since it came into existence.
• This water has never been chemically preserved or chlorinated as is done to water supplied in large quantities to people living in cities and other habitations.
• Natural growth of flora, algae and other organisms usually takes place in most wells, making it develop a distinctive odor or give it an abhorrent taste. Amazingly, Zamzam water does not fall into this category. It has remained free from any bacterial and microbial contamination, thus making it pure, palatable and pleasant for usage over centuries.

Masaru Emoto’s Findings Masuro Emoto (1943-2014) was a Japanese businessman, author and pseudoscientist who claimed that human consciousness could affect the molecular structure of water.  He conducted a special study on Zamzam water. His conclusions regarding it were as follows, “The quality and purity of Zamzam water will not be found anywhere else on earth. If one drop of Zamzam water is mixed with 1,000 drops of regular water, regular water will increase in quality similar to Zamzam water. The minerals in Zamzam water are far superior to any other water I have tested. The quality of Zamzam water cannot be changed…. even after it was recycled – it remained pure.” Zamzam water is considered by many other well-known scientists (such as Dr. Yayha Koshak and Dr. Knut Pfeiffer) to be the purest water due to the high amounts of bicarbonates (366mg/l) found within it, which is even higher than the pure water obtained from the French Alps. Duaa to Recite When Drinking Zamzam Water Ibn Majah (RA) reported that the Messenger (PBUH) of Allah SWT instructed the Muslim Ummah to recite bismillah (in the Name of Allah) before eating and drinking anything. Ibn Abbas (RA) used to recite this dua while drinking Zamzam water, “Allahumma inni as’aluka `ilman nafi`aaa, wa rizqan wasi`aaa, wa shifa’am min kulli da’I,” which translates to, “O Allah! I ask you for beneficial knowledge, plentiful sustenance and cure from every illness.” After reciting the dua’a, it is recommended to say alḥamdulillah (all praise be to Allah). Recommended Etiquette for Drinking Zamzam Water It is a sunnah to drink Zamzam water after completing tawaf around the Ka’bah and before starting the sa’i (ritual walking) between Safa and Marwah. Furthermore, it is recommended to drink Zamzam water after completing the rituals of pilgrimage. As Zamzam water is designated to be blessed water, there are special etiquettes that need to be followed when drinking it, according to the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Ibn Majah (RA) reported that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated the following when asked about the right way to drink Zamzam water, he said,

“When you drink from Zamzam, turn to face the Qiblah, mention the name of Allah SWT, drink three sips and drink your fill of it. When you have finished, then praise Allah SWT.”

The Messenger (PBUH) also said,

“The sign [that differentiates] between us and the hypocrites is that they do not drink their fill from Zamzam.” (Ibn Majah)

Benefits & Virtues of Zamzam Water Every pilgrim or visitor to the Ka’bah drinks from this well, which has never run dry despite the endless usage of its water. For thousands of years, the well has overflowed with water, unchanging in taste and unceasing in flow, a powerful testament to Allah’s command and grace. The eternal blessing of Zamzam water continues to be a source of sustenance and healing, revered and cherished by millions around the world. A renowned geology professor, Abbas Sharaqi, said, “The 4000-year-old well of Zamzam will never run out of water as it is connected to renewable groundwater, with rain being the primary source.” The virtues of Zamzam water exist in the water, by Allah’s permission, whether it is in its original location or transported elsewhere, as the immense blessings lie in the water itself. Imam ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Zamzam water is the best and noblest of all waters, the highest in status, the dearest to people, the most precious and valuable to them. It was dug by Jibr’il and is the water with which Allah quenched the thirst of Isma’il.” Ibn al-Qayyim further said in his book Zad al-Ma’ad, “Myself and others have experienced the remarkable effects of healing with Zamzam water and we saw wondrous curative healing by Allah’s permission. I saw someone who nourished himself with it for a number of days, half a month or more, and he did not feel hunger; he performed tawaf along with the other people just as they did. And he told me that he consumed nothing but Zamzam water for forty days and he had the strength to fast and to perform tawaf numerous times.” [Zad al-Ma’ad, 4/319, 320] In conclusion it will be apt to proclaim that the Zamzam water is considered sacred by Muslims all over the world, and it is a benevolent miracle of Allah, as it is considered to be pristine and pure. Muslims believe that drinking Zamzam water has multiple benefits for the true believer – whether it be spiritual, medicinal or physical. Millions of pilgrims, to date, not only drink it with faith, certitude and conviction, but also take bottles of it back to their countries for further usage. They distribute its beneficial, wholesome goodness among family and friends, in the hope that they too can reap its benefits, even if they have been unable to travel to the holy land.

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Sources: Information on History & Background of Zamzam Well – https://en.islamonweb.net/zamzam-the-eternal-blessing-historical-physical-and-spiritual-features Information on Masaru Emoto’s Experiment https://youtu.be/s3DxELxeSLk?si=eoQg6RZiFEnuvg6a Information on Scientific experiments https://doi.org/10.26452/jibps.v3i4.1429 The story of Hajar & Prophet Ismail  – Ibn Kathir Al-Bidāya wa l-Nihāya (Arabic: البداية والنهاية, The Beginning and the End)