The Etiquette Of Drinking ZamZam Water

The fuqaha’ (Islamic jurists) have stated that there is an etiquette considered mustahabb (recommended) for drinking ZamZam water. It has been said that one is to face the Ka’bah and pronounce bismillah, pausing to take a breath three times, before drinking one’s fill and praising Allah (SWT) after one finishes. It is also advised that one should be sitting whilst drinking it, as one would do when drinking other kinds of drinks.

It was reported that when Ibn ‘Abbaas (RAA) drank from the water of ZamZam, he said:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْماً ناَفِعاً ، وَرِزْقاً وَاسِعاً وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ

“O Allah, I ask you for beneficial knowledge, plentiful provision and healing from every disease.”

Ibn ‘Abbaas (RAA) also said, “I gave the Prophet, Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam,  ZamZam water to drink whilst he was standing,” (reported by al-Bukhaari, 3/492). It is taken to mean that it is permissible to drink whilst standing.

The scholars also recommended that the person who drinks Zamzam water should sprinkle some of it on his head, face and chest, make lots of du’a’ when drinking it, and should drink it for a purpose that will benefit him in this world or the next, because of the hadith in which the Prophet (SAW) said: “The water of Zamzam is for whatever purpose it is drunk for.” (Reported by Ibn Maajah, 2/1018; see Al-Maqaasid al-Hasanah by al-Sakhaawi, p. 359).

Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (RAA)has 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 Jibril and is the water with which Allah quenched the thirst of Isma’il.”

Shaykh ibn al-‘Uthaymin (RAA) said, “So you should have an intention concerning what you want to gain by drinking this water. He should drink his fill, i.e., fill his stomach with it until it is filled to the ribs, because this water is good. A hadith has been narrated concerning this: the difference between the believers and the hypocrites is drinking one’s fill of Zamzam water.” [Narrated by Ibn Majah in al-Manasik, 1017; al-Hakim, 1/472]

May Allah (SWT) quench our thirst from the Cistern (al-Hawd) of His Prophet on the Day of the greatest thirst. Allahumma Aamiin.

 

Drinking ZamZam
Drinking ZamZam
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