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Key points
- Zamzam is the well in Masjid al-Haram that Allah opened for Hajar and her baby Ismail (AS).
- The Prophet ﷺ said that Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for, so drink it with a du’a in your heart.
- Free Zamzam is in coolers all over Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi, cold and not cold.
- To take it home, carry the sealed 5-litre can sold at official outlets. Airlines set their own limit, so check yours.
The story of Zamzam
Ibrahim (AS), by the command of Allah, left his wife Hajar and their baby Ismail in the empty valley of Makkah with a little water and some dates. When the water ran out and the baby cried with thirst, Hajar ran between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times, looking for help.
Then she heard a sound. The angel Jibril struck the ground, and water came up beside the baby. Hajar built a small wall of sand around it to hold the water. The Prophet ﷺ said that if she had left it alone, Zamzam would have become a flowing stream (Bukhari 3364). That spring is still giving water today, more than four thousand years later.
The sa’i of every Umrah and Hajj follows Hajar’s steps between Safa and Marwah, and every pilgrim drinks from her well.
What the Prophet ﷺ said about Zamzam
- “It is blessed, and it is food that satisfies” (Muslim 2473). Abu Dharr (RA) lived on Zamzam alone for a month in Makkah
- “The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for” (Ibn Majah 3062). Pilgrims drink it asking for health, knowledge, forgiveness or anything they need
- The Prophet ﷺ drank Zamzam after his tawaf (Bukhari 1637), and pilgrims follow this after the two rak’ahs of tawaf
How to drink Zamzam
- Say Bismillah before you drink
- Face the qiblah if you can
- Drink in three breaths, taking the cup away from your mouth between sips (Muslim 2028)
- Make du’a for yourself, your family and anyone who asked you to pray for them. There is no fixed wording
- Drink your fill, and say Alhamdulillah at the end
A du’a many pilgrims read with Zamzam
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا وَاسِعًا، وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ
Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman nafi‘an, wa rizqan wasi‘an, wa shifa’an min kulli da’.
O Allah, I ask You for useful knowledge, plentiful provision and healing from every illness.
Reported from Ibn ‘Abbas (RA); any du’a in your own words is fine
The Prophet ﷺ drank Zamzam standing, so drinking it standing or sitting are both fine.
Where to find Zamzam in the Haram
The well is about 20 metres from the Kaaba, but it is underground now and you cannot see it. The water is pumped to thousands of coolers and taps in Masjid al-Haram, in the courtyards and on every floor. Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah also has Zamzam coolers, brought from Makkah every day.
Most coolers are cold. Look for the ones marked “not cold” if you have a sore throat, or if an elderly parent finds cold water hard. Disposable cups are kept beside the coolers. Please do not fill large bottles at the coolers inside the mosque: there are filling points outside for that.
Taking Zamzam home to India
Illustrative image- 1
Step 1
Buy the official can
Zamzam for travel comes in a sealed 5-litre can, sold at official outlets in Makkah and at some airports. Bottles you fill yourself are usually not accepted on the flight.
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Step 2
Check your airline
Each airline sets its own rule for Zamzam. Most flights to India allow one 5-litre can per passenger, carried separately from the checked bag, but always confirm with your airline before you buy.
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Step 3
Keep it apart from your bag
Do not pack Zamzam inside your suitcase. The can is checked in on its own and collected at the belt in India.
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Step 4
Ask about your package
Where Zamzam is part of your Suhail Tours package, our team arranges it for you as the airline allows.
Questions
From the well of Zamzam in Masjid al-Haram, about 20 metres from the Kaaba. Allah opened it for Hajar and baby Ismail (AS), and it has given water ever since.
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Official guidance
This guide is general travel information. For religious rulings, please ask a qualified scholar.
