Zamzam Well
Also Called
Location Located Inside Coordinates Faith Significance Came to existence How came into existence |
Ab-e-Zamzam,Chah-e-Zamzam
Mecca, Saudi Arabia Masjid Al-Haram 21.422°N 39.826°E Islam Holiest water in Islam Around 2000 B.C. When Prophet Ismael (Peace On Him) scraped the land with his feet |
The Well of Zamzam or the Zamzam Well, or just Zamzam (Arabic: زمزم) is a well located within the Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 20 m (66 ft) east of the Kaaba,the holiest place in Islam. According to Islamic belief, it was a miraculously-generated source of water from God, which began thousands of years ago when Abraham's (Ibrahim) (Peace On Him) infant son Ishmael (Ismail) (Peace On Him) was thirsty and kept crying for water and was kicking at the ground when water gushed out. Millions of pilgrims visit the well each year while performing the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages, in order to drink its water.
How the Zamzam came into being?
Islamic history states that Zamzam well was revealed to Hagar, the wife of Abraham (Ibrahim) (Peace On Her) and mother of Ismail,around the year 2000 BC. According to Islamic tradition, she was desperately seeking water for her infant son, but could find none, as Mecca is located in a hot dry valley with few sources of water. Muslim traditions say that Hajar ran seven times back and forth in the scorching heat between the two hills of Safa and Marwah, looking for water. Getting thirstier by the second, her son, Ismael (Peace On Him) anxiously scraped the land with his feet, where suddenly water sprang out. There are other versions of the traditions involving ALLAH sending his angel, Gabriel, who touched the ground where water rose.The name of the well comes from the phrase Zome Zome, meaning 'Stop', a command repeated by Hajar during her attempt to contain the spring water.
Structure and hydrogeology of the Well
The Zamzam Well is hand-excavated and is about 30.5 m deep, with an internal diameter ranging from 1.08 to 2.66 m. hydrogeologically, the well lies within Wadi Ibrahim, which runs through the Holy City of Makkah, and taps groundwater from the wadi alluvium and, to a much lesser extent, the underlying fresh bedrock. The well is now housed in a basement room, protected by glass panels that allow a clear view of the well. Electric pumps are used to draw water from the well, replacing the ropes and buckets. No visitor is allowed to enter the Zamzam Well room and surroundings. Outside this room, there was a service area, where cold Zamzam water fountains and dispensing containers were provided for drinking purposes. Recently, the Al-Haram Tawaf area has been extended to cover the entrance to this area and it is no more accessible to pilgrims. Instead, cold Zamzam water fountains and dispensing containers are now placed at the periphery of Tawaf area.
The upper 13.5 m of the well is excavated in the sandy alluvium of the Wadi Ibrahim, and the lower 17.0 m in the underlying diorite bedrock. In between lies a 0.5 m thick highly permeable weathered rock. Most of the alluvial section of the well is lined with stone masonry except for the uppermost 1m, which has a reinforced concrete collar.The weathered rock section is lined with stone and it is this section that provides the main water entry into the well.
The upper 13.5 m of the well is excavated in the sandy alluvium of the Wadi Ibrahim, and the lower 17.0 m in the underlying diorite bedrock. In between lies a 0.5 m thick highly permeable weathered rock. Most of the alluvial section of the well is lined with stone masonry except for the uppermost 1m, which has a reinforced concrete collar.The weathered rock section is lined with stone and it is this section that provides the main water entry into the well.
Nutrition in Zamzam Water
Minerals Mass concentration as reported by researchers at King Saud University.
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