Zamzam Water

Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) saw a man drinking zamzam water. So he said: ‘Do you know how to drink zamzam water?’ He said: ‘How do I drink zamzam water oh Ibn Abbas?’ He said: ‘If you want to drink the zamzam, then pull a bucket of it, then face the qiblah and say: Bismillah. Breathe three times while drinking and drink until you are full. Then say:

It was reported that Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) he said when he drank the water of zam-zam:

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messsenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The best water on the face of the earth is Zamzam water. In it is food for nourishment and healing for illness.”

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr 11011 | Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Albani

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“Zamzam water is the best and noblest of all waters, the highest in status, the dearest to people, the most precious and valuable to them. It was dug by Jibril and is the water with which Allah quenched the thirst of Isma’il.

`Aishah reported that she took Zamzam water home with her in bottles, and said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) took some of it away with him, and he used to pour it on the sick and give it to them to drink.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 4/37)

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Myself and others tried seeking healing with Zamzam water and saw wondrous things. I sought healing with it from a number of illnesses, and I was healed by the permission of Allah. I saw someone who nourished himself with it for a number of days, half a month or more, and he did not feel hunger; he performed Tawaf along with the other people just as they did. And he told me that he consumed nothing but Zamzam water for forty days and he had the strength to have intercourse with his wife, to fast and to perform Tawaf numerous times.” (Zad al-Ma’ad, 4/319, 320)

The scholars also recommended that the person who drinks Zamzam water should sprinkle some of it on his head, face and chest, make lots of du`a when drinking it, and to drink it for a purpose that will benefit him in this world or the next, because of the hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The water of Zamzam is for whatever purpose it is drunk for.” (Reported by Ibn Majah, 2/1018; see Al-Maqasid al-Hasanah by al-Sakhawi, p. 359)

The Salaf and ‘ulama acted upon this Hadith. When ‘Abd-Allah ibn al-Mubarak went for Hajj, he came to Zamzam and said, “O Allah, Ibn Abi’l-Mawali told us from Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that Your Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for.’ I am drinking it to ward off thirst on the Day of Resurrection.” Ibn Abi’l-Mawali is thiqah (trustworthy) so the hadith is hasan (good).”

Al-Hakim at-Tirmidhi (رحمه الله) said: The drinker of Zamzam water, if he drinks to satisfy his hunger, Allah makes him full up, if he drinks to quench, Allah quenches his thirst, if he drinks for healing, Allah heals him, if he drinks to rid himself of bad behaviour, Allah improves his behaviour, if he drinks because he feels anxiety, Allah calms him down and gives him relief, if he drinks to enrich his mind, Allah makes him rich, if he drinks for a need, Allah provides it to him, if he is smitten with fear, Allah gives him serenity, if he drinks because of a plight, Allah makes it disappear, if he drinks for a victory, Allah will grant it to him, and whenever he drinks it with a good intention and goodness, Allah will guarantee it to him, as he asked by means of a gift from Heaven descended by Allah Most High for help. [Nawadir al-usul fi aḥadīth ar-rasul (274/3)]

Al-Shawkani said in Nayl al-Awtar (8/51): “The report proves that the water of zam-zam is good for everything it is drunk for, whether it is intended for a worldly benefit or a benefit from the Hereafter. This is because the statement is said in a general form and that means it includes everything.” This view was held by other scholars too such as Mujahid who said: “If you drink it seeking health, Allah will give you healing. If you drink it to satisfy your hunger, Allah will satisfy your hunger. If you drink it to quench your thirst, Allah will quench your thirst.”

Al-Nawawi said in Al-Athkar (p.333): “This is what scholars and righteous people do; they drank the water of zam-zam with the intention that Allah fulfills their esteemed wishes, and and their wishes were fulfilled. The scholars said: It is recommended for a person who is drinking it to be forgiven or cured to say before drinking it: ‘Oh Allah! I learnt that the Messenger of Allah said: The water of zam-zam is good for whatever is drunk for. O Allah! I am drinking it to forgive me, or to such and such … etc.” And Allah knows best.”

Should Du’a be made before or after drinking Zamzam water? The apparent indication of the Sunnah texts is that a person should drink Zamzam water with the sincere intention of fulfilling his need. He is not required to recite a specific supplication; his intention is enough. There is no objection, however, to reciting a specific supplication when drinking Zamzam water. In fact, it was reported that a number of the righteous predecessors did so, and some scholars declared it to be recommended.

Ibn Taymiyyah said, “It is recommended to drink one’s fill; i.e. fill his stomach with it until it is filled to the ribs, and invoke Allah with whatever legitimate supplication he wishes.”