Benefits of Zumzum (The best water on Earth)
Written by: SK.
Translated by Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
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Zumzum water
well is one of the important parts inside the holy mosque of Kaba. It is the
most famous well on earth due to its spiritual and unique status amongst the
Muslims in general; and more specifically to those doing Hajj.
It is that
water well which was blown open by angel Gabriel inside the holy mosque. It
was when Ibrahim (PBU) left his baby son Ishmael and his mother Hajer in
that then barren valley; which had no water or plants. When they ran out of
water, and Hajer was exhausted in search for water running between the two
peaks (Safa and Marwa) looking into the horizon for a saviour. And it was
when she gave up that the mercy of Allah; with Allah’s grace did come.
Benefits of the
water of Zumzum.
The messenger
(PPBU) said: {the water of Zumzum is for what ever it is drunk for}. The
messenger (PPBU) also said: {The best water on earth is the Zumzum water. It
is a food for the feeding and a cure for ailments}.
The messenger
(PPBU) said: {A clear sign which distinguish us from the hypocrites is that
they do not fill them selves when they drink from Zumzum}.
3a-esah said:
“the messenger (PPBU) used to carry Zumzum water in containers. He used to
pour it on the sick and give them drinks off it”
Habeen
Ebn-Thabit asked 3ata (ÚØÇÁ):
“Will I take Zumzum water on me? He answered: “the messenger (PPBU) did, and
so did Hasan and Husain”. In fact all the companions used to generously
offer Zumzum water to their visitors.
Abu-Thur Gafari said: “I spent 30 days and nights eating no food except the
water of Zumzum. I put on weight and never felt hunger”
Many Muslims use and depend on Zumzum water to treat many ailments. This of
course is conditioned with; having the right faith within the heart,
entrusting and delegating to Allah, and having the confidence into Allah.
Source of the name:
The well was called Zumzum because of the abundance of the water. Some say
the name was due to lack of dispersing of the water and due to it remaining
collective in close proximity during flowing. It is reported that Hajer said
those words: “Zum, Zum” as she was pushing earth round the water to contain
it. The words zum zum meaning stay together, don’t go to waste.
Zumzum has many names, amongst them: Zumzum, Zomam, Gabriel’s kick,
Ishmael’s drink, the filler, the secret reserve, Ailment-cure,
Hunger-feeder, drink of the honest.
Story of Zumzum well
Zumzum first appeared in the year 2572 before the birth of the Messenger
Muhammad (PPBU). That makes it approximately 4000 years using the lunar
calendar. Prophet Abraham came to Mecca along with Ishmael’s mother and the
baby son Ishmael. Abraham left the mother and the baby in where Zumzum is
today. She had a water container from which she drank and kept breast
feeding the baby until the water ran out. Her milk dried up and baby was in
pain from hunger and she thought he was about to die. She saw the peak of
the hill Safa bright so she went to see if there is help there. And she kept
waking between the peeks of the two hills Safa and Marwa. After doing the
walk seven times between them she went back to the baby that’s when she
heard a strange sound. She said: “I hear your voice, help us if you have
goodness”. That’s when Gabrail kicked the ground and the water came out.
Seeing the water seeping Hajer kept pushing the earth round it so it won’t
go away before she got the water container. She drank and survived with her
baby.
Zumzum was the start of civilization in Mecca. The first people to settle
where in a caravan from the land of Sham they were called: “Jarhum”. They
saw birds at Zumzum water when they knew no water did exist there before.
They found Hajer and asked her permission to settle by the water. She gave
permission to settle but as long as the water remains a gift to all.
Settlements in Mecca increased after Abraham and Ishmael built the Kaaba
mosque beside the water well. Another tribe immigrated from the south called
“Yamaniah” who became known as Khuza3a. That was when the “Damp of Ma-reb”
was destroyed. Kuza3a eventually took over the up keeping of the mosque. The
children of Ishmael left Mecca. The responsibly of up keeping the mosque was
transferred to Kussay ben Kilab in the 5th century AC when he
pushed Khuza3a back by force. He then allowed Kouraish into Mecca and
divided the area amongst them. Zumzum had by them was ignored and almost
dried up until it was re-dug by Abdul-Muttalib ben Hashem the grandfather of
the messenger (PPBU). That was immediately after the famous elephant
incidence.
Kuraish tried to prevent Abdul-Muttalib from digging the well. They
ridiculed him and fought him off. He had one son and was considerably weak
within the tribe. And he made his famouse promise of sacrificing a son to
God if he was to be blessed with ten children. Even after the well was dug
and the water started flowing again they kept on knocking down the basin he
built to collect the water for the pilgrims. And he kept rebuilding.
Time went by; Abdulmuttalib got married againd and he was blessed with ten
boys. And he had to fulfill his promise of sacrificing one of his children.
He used random lottery to determine which of his children to sacrifice. The
fate made the chance be to select Abdullah to be sacrificed. And that was
the father to be of the messenger (PPBU). The lottery was repeated ten
times; and every time it was always his name which came up to be sacrificed
by slaughter. Until the solution of sacrificing the son by sacrificing 100
camels instead. And it was.
Changes to Zumzum
For a long time Zumzum was two medium size reservoirs, one used for drinking
and the other used for waduu. Zumzum was a well surrounded with rocks and
stones in a simple form of a building. The Khalifa Jaffer Al-Mansour was the
first to build a dome over the well in the year 145 H.
This was followed by Khalif Abu-Jaffar with the laying of marble stones on
its ground. A sealing was then built for it, and the small dome was
decorated by covering it in mosaic. A new large dome was built in the year
160 h. Zumzum was refurbishment and rebuilt in the year 220 H by the Khalifa
Al-Moutasem.
Major changes:
1)
After a fire in the mosque on 28th Shawal the year 82 H,
the mainitenance included Zumzum well.
2)
In the year 815 H the dome was refurbished by Jamal uddeen Muhammad
3)
In the year 844 H the marbels of Zumzum was renewed by Sultan Kaitbay
(ÞÇíÊÈÇí)
4)
In the year 982 H in the ottoman erra much attention was given to
Zumzum especially by Sultan Saleem 2nd.
5)
In the years 1083, 1187 and 1203 the building round Zumzum was
renewed.
6)
In the year 1201 H the dome was renewed by Sultan Ahmed.
7)
Up to that time (Year 1300 H) the biggest architectural work was
carried out by sultan Abdul-hameed 2nd by an architect called
Muhammed Sadeq.
8)
In our modern time, Zumzum was rebuild further away from the mosque
because it obstructs the large number of pilgrims doing tawaf round the
Kabba. Pumps are used to pump water to the new location with two separate
rooms for men and women. Thousands of years later Zumzum is still the main
drinking water for the inhabitance of the city of Mecca and round it, and
the pilgrims who take some of it away with them.
Notes:
-
Adhan
- The call to prayer.
-
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the
messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of
Islam.
Assalam Alaikum -
The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace
be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching
it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during
leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
Aya (or Ayah):
is a verse of the Koran.
It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
is a mountain
outside the city of Mecca
that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing
Hajj must stay at this location on the same
day.
Badr
- The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the
pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph
- A Muslim ruler. See:
(Khalifa)
Dajjal
- Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah
- The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din)
- Religion or way of life.
Duaa:
a prayer in the form of
talking to Allah;
praising him and asking him for help.
Fatwa
- Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are
the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose:
is the highest level of
the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh
- Religious law.
Hadeeth:
is something reported
that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave.
It is usually narrated or told by one
of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are
reported and checked to be genuine. No
more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar -
The Black Stone set into the corner of the
Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj -
The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in
the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas:
is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith
- The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his
followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is
the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or
Hejrah):
the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This
event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12
months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a
name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah -
Worship. All the words and deeds with which
Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese):
On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used
by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar
or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn
Omar.
Imam
(or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman:
belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) -
The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the
Christians.
Islam
- Submission, the religion of all the
prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah -
The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of
the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad:
is striving in the
line
of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving
oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection
of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the
fight one's self against temptations.
It also means "holy war."
Jinn
-
Supernatural, invisible beings race of
beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst
them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on
Judgment Day.
Ka'aba:
A cube shaped building in
Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say
Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by
Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers.
Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage
in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa:
is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation:
"Successor".
Khutbah -
A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr -
Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for
anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran
- Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book
of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran
literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to
the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the
Arabian
peninsula
(in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to
immigrate to.
Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid -
A
center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah -
A
sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah:
is
the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous
black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim
house of worship.
Muhajir -
(Muhajireen)
Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It
was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median
and Ethiopia.
Muhammad -
the final messenger and
prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He
received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in
Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad
ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim
- One who holds faith to the religion of
Islam.
Nafilah:
a voluntary prayer other
than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara -
Christians. Nasrani:
A Christian individual. Nasraniah:
Christianity.
Ommah:
is the Arabic word for a
nation. It usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise -
Another word for heaven. A
garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and
imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels.
All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty
Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise
is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU
(P.B.U.H.) :
Peace and Prayers Be
Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the
messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar -
Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all
things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr):
The night when the first
revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the
last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to
the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and
few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the
holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla -
The direction which Muslims turn for daily
prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish -
An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger
Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan -
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which
is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat -
Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of
worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is
performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa:
A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion
leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants
of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who
ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk -
Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with
Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of
Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam-
Fasting
Sunni:
is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life
style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah):
Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he
dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought.
Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered
the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an
important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes.
It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all
Muslims.
Surah -
A
chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf:
part of the pilgrimage (Hajj)
ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise
direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed -
Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that
there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement
of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new
Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah -
Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person
to understand God.
Taurat: The old
Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah -
the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah):
A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to
Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic
year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual
done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor -
The
Psalms
Zakat -
The
third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
