The Story of Zam Zam water

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

Praise be to God the Creator of the world, the One Who exists without beginning, without end, without location, without a "how" and Who does not depend on time. Nothing resembles Him in anyway and He hears and sees everything without organs. Whatever you imagine, God is different from that. May the elevation in degree and preservation of his community of what he fears for it, be granted to our master Muḥammad Al-'Amin, the Honest One, who called for following Islam, the religion of truth, the religion of all the Prophets: of the first, Adam, to the last Muḥammad.

The story of the well known blessed water, Zamzam.

For a period of time, Prophet Ibrâhîm resided with his wife Sarah in Palestine. At 70 years of age, Sarah was an infertile old lady who was so keen to see her 86 years old husband Prophet Ibrâhîm become a father. For that reason, she offered him Hajar her maid (female slave) whom he accepted. By the Will of Allâh, Hajar became pregnant with Prophet Ibrâhîm’s son Ismâ`il who also became a prophet and was honored to be the grandfather of Prophet Muḥammad may Allâh’s blessings and peace be upon them all.

Prophet Ibrâhîm was delighted to have a child and so was his wife Sarah. After a period of time Prophet Ibrâhîm went with his baby son Isma`il and his mother Hajar to Makkah.

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam,

Observe, in what I am about to tell you, how reliant upon and submissive to Allāh Prophet Ibrâhîm `alayhi s-salam was.

Prophet Ibrâhîm `alayhi s-salam had left his two dear ones, Hajar and Isma`îl in a barren area in Makkah. Makkah at the time was completely isolated with no evident buildings or people living there since there was no water for survival. There, Prophet Ibrâhîm left them with only a bag of dates and a leather bag filled with water.  When Hajar noticed that Prophet Ibrâhîm was about to make his way back to Palestine alone, she followed him saying: « O Ibrâhîm, are we to be left alone in this valley with no water, or food or companions? » To that Prophet Ibrâhîm did not respond. So she kept posing the question repeatedly without getting an answer from Prophet Ibrâhîm, therefore, she said, « Did Allâh order you to do this? »  He replied, « Yes. » Upon hearing this, eloquently and with a complete reliance on Allâh she said: « Then we will not be lost. »

Following the order of Allâh, Prophet Ibrâhîm peace be upon him left and when he was a fair distance away from Hajar and their son, he looked back at the Sacred House (Al-Bayt) and as mentioned in Ayah 37 of Sûrat Ibrâhîm, he made the following supplication to Allâh: « O Lord! I have settled some of my offspring in a barren valley by Your Sacred House so that they would perform the Prayer. O Lord, make the hearts of some people yearn towards them and provide them with fruits for which they would give thanks. »

Hajar, the mother of Isma`îl settled with her son where Ibrâhîm peace be upon him left them. She breast-fed him and drank from the water that Ibrâhîm had left for them. This water eventually ran out as the water container dried up. Consequently, Hajar became thirsty, and so did her son who started crying and became unsettled due to his extreme thirst. Hajar hated seeing him in that state and she set forth looking for water. As-Safa being the mountain closest to her, she climbed it and looked down at the valley to see if she could find anyone to assist her. She found no one and so she descended from the mountain until she reached the valley. Then she climbed Al-Marwah Mountain in keeping her search for water but to no avail. She went back to As-Safa then back again to Al-Marwah for many times. On her last arrival to Al-Marwah, she heard a voice which prompted her to call out: « Help, if you can. » There was Angel Jibrîl peace be upon him, who hit the ground with his wing until fresh and pure water emerged. That became known as Zamzam water. The mother of Isma`îl gathered the water with her hands and collected it in her container while it was springing out. Jibrîl said: « Do not fear loss, for there is a sacred House here which will be built by this child and his father, » meaning Isma`îl and his father Ibrâhîm peace be upon them both.

Hajar drank from Zamzam water quenching her thirst and breast-fed her son Ismâ`il. She thanked Allâh, the One who endows countless bounties upon His slaves.

O Allâh, we ask you to grant us Al-Hajj and Al-`Umrah and the visit of the Prophet peace be upon him, and we ask You Allâh to make us amongt those who drink from his honorable hand at the Hawd. Amin.

الحمد لله رب العالمين

Angel Jibril hajar ibrahim hajar ismail mecca story Prophet Ibrâhîm prophet Ismail Zam Zam Zam Zam water zamzam zamzam water Islamic Reminders Prophets Stories Histories sunni