Zamzam

What Does Zamzam Mean in Detail?

The well of Zamzam has been flowing for approximately 4,000 years since it miraculously appeared to save Hajar (Hagar) and her infant son Ismail (Ishmael) from dying of thirst. When Ibrahim left them in the barren valley of Mekkah, Hajar ran between Safa and Marwa searching for water. After seven rounds, the angel Jibreel struck the ground, and water gushed forth. Hajar contained the water, saying 'Zam! Zam!' (Stop flowing!), giving the well its name. The well was later buried and lost until it was rediscovered by Abdul Muttalib, the grandfather of Nabi Muhammad (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Today, Zamzam is distributed through coolers throughout the Haram and is available to all jamaah haji. Nabi declared: 'Zamzam water is for whatever purpose it is drunk for' (Ibn Majah), and it is Sunnah to drink it facing the Qiblah, saying Bismillah, and making doa for whatever one needs. Scientific analysis has shown Zamzam to have a unique mineral composition. The well produces approximately 11-18 liters per second and has never dried up despite serving millions of jamaah haji annually.