The Story of Zam Zam water

Today we will be talking about the story of the well known blessed water, Zamzam.

For a period of time, Prophet Ibrahim 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 Ibrahim become a father. For that reason, she offered him Hajar her maid (female slave) whom he accepted. By the Will of Allah, Hajar became pregnant with Prophet Ibrahim’s son Isma^il who also became a prophet and was honoured to be the grandfather of Prophet Muhammad may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them all.
Prophet Ibrahim was delighted to have a child and so was his wife Sarah. After a period of time Prophet Ibrahim 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 Allah Prophet Ibrahim ^alayhis-salam was.
Prophet Ibrahim ^alayhis-salam had left his two dear ones, Hajar and Isma^il 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 Ibrahim left them with only a bag of dates and a leather bag filled with water.  When Hajar noticed that Prophet Ibrahim was about to make his way back to Palestine alone, she followed him saying: “O Ibrahim, are we to be left alone in this valley with no water, or food or companions?” To that Prophet Ibrahim did not respond. So she kept posing the question repeatedly without getting an answer from Prophet Ibrahim, therefore, she said, “Did Allah order you to do this?”  He replied, “Yes.”  Upon hearing this, eloquently and with a complete reliance on Allah she said: “Then we will not be lost.”

Following the order of Allah, Prophet Ibrahim 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 Surat Ibrahim, he made the following supplication to Allah:
“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^il settled with her son where Ibrahim peace be upon him left them. She breast-fed him and drank from the water that Ibrahim 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 Jibril 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^il gathered the water with her hands and collected it in her container while it was springing out. Jibril said: “Do not fear loss, for there is a sacred House here which will be built by this child and his father”, meaning Isma^il and his father Ibrahim peace be upon them both.

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

O Allah, 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 Allah to make us amongst those who drink from his honourable hand at the Hawd. Amin.

Dimensions and the Well of Zam-zam Profile

Form of the well of Zam-zam

  Under Ibrahim Wadi alluvial layer, there is half a meter (0.5 m) layer of water, which is passed (permeable). Layer of water that is passed is what is the main place of water-water discharge from the well of Zam-zam
Zam-zam spring water
   Depth of 17 meters further down, the well penetrated a layer of hard rock in the form of igneous Diorite. There used to be a suspected fracture is towards the Red Sea. However, do not exist (perhaps I just have not found) geological report, which shows it.

   Of pumping test well is capable of flowing water for 11 - 18.5 liters / sect, can reach up to 660 liters per minute / minute or 40 000 liters per hour. Cracks or fissures that emit this one quite a lot of water. There is a slit (crack) which extends towards the Black Stone with a length of 75 cm height 30 cm premises, as well as some small gaps towards Shaffa and Marwa.
  Geometric description of other, well below the gap where Thawaf 1:56 m, total depth of 30 m from the edge of the well, water from the edge of the well depth = 4 m, 13 m depth of the spring, from spring at the bottom of the well 17 m, and diameter wells ranged over from 1:46 up to 2.66 meters.

Rainwater As A Source Of Blessing

  City of Makkah is located in the the valley, according to SGS (Saudi Geological Survey) that supplies a broad basin catchment area is an area of ​​60 km2 only, of course, not too wide as a receiver basin rainfall. The well water sources Zam-zam water primarily from rain that fell in the area around Makkah.

The hydrology of this well is just plain well that are in need of care. Treatment includes keeping the well water quality and environmental hygiene as well as maintaining water supply wells in order to meet the needs of the pilgrims in Makkah. Land clearing for settlement in the surrounding Makkah is very cleanly laid out to avoid a reduction in the capacity of these wells.

  The image above shows the location of the well of Zamzam is located in the middle of the valley that extends. Haram Mosque in the middle between the hills, the hills around it. Catchment area of only 60 square km is certainly small enough to catch the rain water is very scarce in Makkah, and require monitoring and maintenance of highly specialized.

  Well, of Zamzam was, once again in view of (scientific) hydro geology, just like ordinary dug wells. Not too special compared to other wells dug. However, because this wells religious meaning, it needs to be maintained. Many are excited about this water because the well is believed to bring fortune. Some claimed the well can also be dry if not kept. Even if we know the story of this well was rediscovered by Abdul Muttalib (grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad SAW) after missing buried 4000 years (?).

  In the past, there are well over a building in an area of ​​8.3 mx 10.7 m = 88.8 m2. Between the years 1381-1388 H of this building to expand the place thawaf eliminated. So the place to drink Zamzam water is moved into the basement. Underground drinking water is provided where the number of zam-zam water tapped 350 (220 male valves for faucets and 130 for women), female-male lobby was separated.

Monitoring and maintenance of the well of Zamzam
  Currently building on the well of Zam-Zam seen the picture above it is not there anymore, even the entry to the basement even this has been closed. So the space for worship Thawaf becomes more widespread. However, if you're observant fitting Thawaf, we can still see no sign of where the well is located. The well is located approximately 20 meters east of the Kaaba.

Monitoring and maintenance of the well of Zam Zam

   The number of pilgrims to Makkah thirty years ago only 400 000 / year (approximately in the year 1970), continued to increase to more than a million pilgrims annually in the years around 1990, and currently has more than 2.2 million. Required maintenance of the well is certainly that is one of the wonders and the main attraction for pilgrims.
  The Saudi government certainly cannot just let the silent surrender of this well preserved by God through the natural process. But the government of modern Saudi Arabia that have been scientifically current and scientifically establish a special agency to deal with this well of Zamzam. It looks like Saudi Arabia also not simply believe it to surrender to God as a guard, but it is man who believes strongly in these wells must maintain a blessing.

Pump Systems

  In 1971 conducted the study (research) hydrology by a hydrology expert from Pakistan named Tariq Hussain and Moin Uddin Ahmed. This was triggered by a statement from a doctor in Egypt stating Zamzam water and hazardous waste contaminated water for consumption. Tariq Hussain (including myself of the hydro geology) also cast doubt on speculation of a long fissure that connects the Red Sea to the Well of Zam-zam, since Mecca is located 75 Kilometers from the beach.

 Regarding the alleged Egyptian doctor is, of course the results refute the claim that a doctor from Egypt, but there are things more important to me that this is precisely the study Tariq Hussain finally spurring the government of Saudi Arabia to pay attention to the Well of Zamzam is modern. Currently, many new buildings are built around the Grand Mosque, also lots of tunnels built around Makkah, so that the current  Construction is to be really tightly controlled as it will affect the local hydro geological conditions.

Research Agency under the well of Zamzam SGS
(Saudi Geological Survey) It assigned to:

* Monitor and maintain to keep from the well is dry.* Maintain an urban surrounding Wadi Ibrahim as it affects the water filling.* Manage the flow of water from the catchment area (recharge area).* Maintain the movement of ground water and also maintain quality control over the building.* Upgrading and pumps and receiver tanks.* Optimize supplies and distribution of Zam-zam water

Development of the Zam Zam well maintenance. 

  Long ago, Zamzam was taken with a scoop or bucket, but then the water pump was built in 1373 H/1953 M. This pump delivers water from the wells to water reservoirs, and among them also to tap-tap that is around the well of Zamzam.
  Pumping test (pumping test) was performed on these wells, the pumping 8000 liters / sec for more than 24 hours showed the well water level from 3.23 meters to 12.72 meters below the surface and then until 13:39 meters. After it stopped pumping water level is back to 3.9 meters above the surface of the wells in 11 minute after the pump was stopped. So easy to believe that the aquifer that supplies water comes from several crack's fracture in the hills around Makkah.
  Many things have been done the Saudi government to maintain these wells, among others, by establishing a special agency in 1415 H (1994). and now has built a channel to channel to the Zam-zam water storage tanks with a capacity of 15,000 m3, continued with another tank at the top of the Grand Mosque in order to serve the pedestrians and travelers. Other than that of Zam-zam water is also transported to other places to use them to tank truck Nabawi Mosque in Madina Al-Munawarrah.
  Currently the well is equipped with electric submersible PUM is embedded below. We can only see the pictures just as above. This is a drum on the right side hidrograf, Old style drum hydrograph used for recording levels in the Zamzam Well.

 Mineral Content

  Unlike a common mineral water, the water of Zamzam is unique in containing the natural elements of 2000 mg/liter. Usually the natural mineral water (carbonated water hard) will not be more than 260 mg per liter. Chemical elements contained within the water of Zamzam can be grouped into The first, positive ions such as sodium (250 mg/liter), calcium (200 mg/liter), potassium (20 mg/liter) and magnesium (50 mg/liter).Second, negative ions such as sulfur (372 mg/liter), bicarbonates (366 mg per liter), nitrate (273 mg/liter), phosphate (0.25 mg/liter) and ammonia (6 mg/liter).

Zam zam water molecules

  The content of chemical elements is what makes the taste of the water of Zamzam is believed to provide unique and special properties. Water is readily available that are scattered around the Grand Mosque, and the Prophet's mosque in Madinah is the water that has been processed so it is safe to drink, fresh, chilled, and there are some cool (warm). However, the process is said hygienists not use chemical processes to avoid changes in taste and content of this water.