ZamZam Water And Its History

Bismillahirrahmanirrahiim

Praise be to Allah. May the peace and blessings of Allah be showered upon our Beloved Messenger, his family, companions, and those who follow them.

“Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al-‘Aalameen (the mankind and jinn). In it are manifest signs (for example), the Maqaam (place) of Ibraaheem (Abraham); whosoever enters it, he attains security…” [Quran 3:96-97].

Zamzam is one of those signs and is the name of a famous well in al-Masjid al-Haraam [the Sacred Mosque in Makkah]. Zamzam is 20 meters away from the Ka’bah and is 5 feet deep. It is written that when Ibrahim (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) left his wife and infant son at the barren valley when following Allah’s command, he made a humble request: “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka’bah at Makkah) in order, O our Lord, that they may perform shalat (prayer). So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.” 

In response, Allah (SWT) caused the well of Zamzam to gush forth and it is also called the well of Isma’il the son of Ibrahim (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them both) because it is the well from which Allah  (SWT) quenched the thirst of Isma’il when he was an infant. According to the story, his mother looked for water for him, but could not find any. She climbed to the top of as-Safa, the mountain closest to her, then she looked down at the valley to see if she could find anyone to assist her. She was praying to Allah (SWT) for help and for water for Isma’il and continued in her search. She then climbed to the top of al-Marwah and did the same as she had upon as-Safa before going back As-Safa, then back again to Al-Marwah many times.

Allah (SWT) eventually send Jibril (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and he struck the earth with his heels, and water appeared. That water became known as Zamzam water and the mother of Isma’il gathered the water with her hands and collected it in her container while it was springing forth. Jibril (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to her: “Do not fear loss, for there is a sacred House here which will be built by this child and his father”, (referring to the prophet Isma’il and his father prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon them both).

zamzam1

Scroll to Top