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Ritual site

Zamzam Well

The sacred well in the Masjid al-Haram; according to tradition it quenched the thirst of Hajar and Ismail, and its water is now shared around the world.

The area of the Zamzam well in the Masjid al-Haram.
The area of the Zamzam well in the Masjid al-Haram.Photo: Mardetanha, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

History

According to a long report from Ibn Abbas (Sahih al-Bukhari 3364), Ismail cried from thirst in the desert, and God caused a spring to flow. Tradition says the angel Gabriel struck the ground, and the well received the name Zamzam. Before Islam the well had been buried; Abd al-Muttalib re-dug it after a dream (Ibn Hisham). Today the water is pumped up and distributed through the mosque.

Visiting tips

Zamzam water can be drunk free of charge in the Masjid al-Haram; there are chilled dispensers and cups. The well itself is usually covered, and visitors take water from the dispensers. You may carry a bottle, though the area around the well can be crowded. Drinking water is important in the heat.

Etiquette

Drink Zamzam water facing the qibla, say the basmala, and ask for what you need. A report in Sunan Ibn Majah says it works according to the intention with which it is drunk. Share the water with others and avoid waste. Keep the dispensers clean and do not waste the water.

Location

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