Dear friends, as Eidul Azha approaches, we all are reminded of the great sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS). His faith and belief in Allah was so strong that he was willing to sacrifice his son, Ismail (AS), on his Creator’s command.
But Allah the Merciful was only testing His prophet. A ram was sent from the Heavens to be sacrificed instead of the young Ismail. Allah was so pleased by his prophet’s obedience that He made it mandatory for all affluent Muslims to follow this legacy of Hazrat Ibrahim every year by slaughtering goats, cows, sheep and other halal animals.
The history of Zamzam
There is a second story about Hazrat Ibrahim’s firm belief in Allah, which is just as interesting. This story has a third character, Bibi Hajra, who was as devoted a believer as her husband and willing to go through all trials ordered by the Almighty.
When Ismail was born, Prophet Ibrahim got a divine order to leave his newborn son and devoted wife in a desert, where there were neither any inhabitants, nor food or drink. The only providence Prophet Ibrahim left for them was some dates and water.
Every year, millions of pilgrims perform the rituals of Hajj, retracing the steps of Bibi Hajra between the hills of Safa and Marwa. Discover the powerful history behind the ritual of Sa’ee and the astounding scientific properties that make Zamzam water a true living miracle
When Hajra asked her husband why he was leaving her and their infant son alone in the desert, Prophet Ibrahim replied that Allah had ordered him to do so. His virtuous wife calmly replied that if this was the case, Allah will take care of her and her baby.
After a few days, the provision left behind by Prophet Ibrahim finished and Hajra could not bear to see her infant son crying with thirst. The distraught mother ran to a hill nearby (Safa) so that she could see from a height if there was any source of water or help nearby. Disappointed when she could not find anything, she ran down from Safa and climbed Marwa, another hill nearby. In this way, she made seven rounds between the two hills, increasing her speed when she was on the plains because from there, she could not see her baby.
Zamzam begins to flow miraculously
When Hajra reached Marwa on her seventh round and looked down from the hill to check on her child, she was amazed to see water gushing out from under Ismail’s feet. It is related that the angel Jibrael was sent by Allah and he struck his wing on the place where little Ismail, in extreme distress, was rubbing his tiny feet in the sand. Miraculously, this caused a spring to start flowing from the spot.
Hajra quickly ran to her son and, to save the precious commodity, started placing small rocks around the water. In excitement she repeatedly said, “Zam, zam”, which means “Stop, stop!”
Eventually, a well was formed at the place the spring had started flowing. Although more than four thousand years have passed, to this day this miraculous spring flows unabated.
In those days, when water was a scarcity, small caravans moved from place to place in search of it. A passing caravan stopped when they saw water and took Hajra’s permission to settle there. These nomads started cultivating different edibles for a living as well as to provide food for their families. With the passage of time, as the news of Zamzam spread, more wandering tribes came to settle there. This is the origin of the bustling city of today’s Makkah, which transformed with time into a centre of trade and culture.
The ritual of Sa’ee
Just like sacrificing animals on Eidul Azha is obligatory for the affluent, reviving Bibi Hajra’s legacy of making seven rounds from Safa to Marwa, and running at the marked parts where Bibi Hajra increased her speed, is also a compulsory part of Hajj or Umrah. This ritual is called Sa’ee, and it reminds the pilgrims of the distress of the lone mother and also makes them thankful for the blessings of Allah, as they have access to ample food and drink.
Some hadiths about Zamzam water
Several authentic hadiths lay emphasis on the virtues of Zamzam water, describing its spiritual and physical advantages. Here I will quote only a few of them.
Jabir bin ‘Abdullah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for.”
In another hadith narrated by Abu Dharr Ghaffari, the Prophet said: “It is a blessing, and it is food that satisfies, and a cure for the sick”.
Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet said: “The best water on the face of the earth is the water of Zamzam”.
The pilgrims and Zamzam
Muslims who go for pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah drink to their fullest from the blessed water, especially after performing tawaf, the seven rounds around the Holy Ka’aba. They also bring back home gallons of Zamzam for their own use and as a gift for family and friends.
Children, if you have the chance to visit the holy cities of Makkah and Medina, you will witness how coolers filled with Zamzam are lined at small distances. The supply is very systematic, as the coolers hold both cold and normal water, and are replaced as soon as they are empty.
It is a firm belief of Muslims that supplications made to Allah after drinking this holy water are accepted.
Unique properties of Zamzam
The properties of Zamzam water are amazing. It is rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, sodium and fluorides which are beneficial for the bones, nourish our cells and boost general health. It is free from pathogens, and bacteria cannot grow in it.
Zamzam water has an alkaline nature, so it assists in reducing acidity of the stomach and improves gut health. Studies suggest that its antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties provide protective benefits for the kidneys, heart and nerves.
A Saudi expert on Zamzam, Dr Yahya Koshak, found after years of research through ultraviolet technology that this holy water is free of bacteria, germs and other pollutants owing to its high fluoride content. It is believed that the purity and quality of the water remains unchanged since it started flowing nearly five thousand years ago, making it truly unique in nature.
A renowned German scientist, Dr Knut Pfeiffer, has researched this blessed water for many years. In the research papers he has published online, he has stated that Zamzam boosts energy levels in the body and strengthens the cell systems, thus providing the body with greater stamina.
Another spectacular feature of Zamzam
Most properties of Zamzam are astounding, its water level being one of them. Continuously flowing since centuries, it has never run dry. In modern times, it caters to millions of pilgrims from all around the world.
Even when water is pumped at the speed of 8000 litres per second, the water level drops only temporarily, and once the pumping stops, it takes hardly 11 minutes to return to its original level. This sacred well is undoubtedly one of the great miracles of Islam.
Dear friends, this year when your elders or family friends return from Hajj and offer you Zamzam, do not drink it as ordinary water. Believe firmly in its physical and spiritual benefits and be sure to make duas after drinking it.
Wishing you all a happy Eidul Azha.
Published in Dawn, Young World, May 23rd, 2026