The well of Zam-Zam

The well of Zam-Zam
Written by Dr. Bilal Philips
The building which enclosed Zam-Zam stood close by the Hambalee Maqaam and was erected in 1662 CE. It was a square shape, of massive construction with an entrance to the north which opened into the room containing the well. This room was beautifully ornamented with marbles of various colors, and adjoining it was a small room with a stone reservoir which was always full of Zam-Zam water. Pilgrims were able to drink the water by passing their hand through an iron grated opening which served as a window into the reservoir without entering the room. The mouth of the well was surrounded by a wall five feet in height and about ten feet in diameter. Upon this stood the people who drew up the water in leather buckets and an iron railing was placed there to prevent them from falling in. From before dawn until nearly midnight, the room was constantly crowded with visitors. Everyone was at liberty to draw up the water for himself but the labor was generally performed by persons placed there on purpose and paid by the mosque. Although they expect a trifle from those who come to drink, they dare not demand it.



Before the Wahhaabee movement’s conquest, the well of Zam-Zam belonged to the Shareef and the water was part of a monopoly which could only be purchased at a very high price. However, one of Sau‘d’s first orders on his arrival at Makkah was the abolition of this traffic and the holy water was dispensed free of charge.



On the north-eastern side of Zam-Zam stood two small buildings, one directly behind the other called al-Qubbatayn (the two domes) which were covered by domes and painted in the same manner as the mosque. Water jars, lamps, carpets, mats, brooms and other articles used in the mosque were kept in these small buildings which were built by Khushgildee, governor of Jiddah, in 1540 CE. One is called Qubbah al ‘Abbaas since it was placed on the site of a small tank said to have been formed by al‘Abbaas, Prophet Muhammad’s uncle.



A few feet west of Zam-Zam and directly opposite to the door of the Ka‘bah stands a movable staircase which is pushed upto the wall of the Ka‘bah on the days when the building is opened. Visitors used this staircase to ascend to the door which is made of wood with some carved ornaments. The staircase moved on low wheels and was sufficiently broad enough to admit four persons ascending abreast. The first staircase was sent from Cairo in 1415 CE by Mu‘yad Abu an-Naasir, King of Egypt.



In the same line with the latter and close by it stood a lightly-built, insulated and circular arch about fifteen feet wide and eighteen feet high called Baab as-Salaam which should not be confused with the great gate of the Mosque bearing the same name. Those who entered the Baytullah for the first time were enjoined to do so by the outer and inner Babas-Salaam. Nearly in front of the Babas-Salaam and nearer to the Ka‘bah than any of the other surrounding buildings stood the Maqaam Ibraaheem. This was a small building supported by six pillars about eight feet high, four of which were surrounded from top to bottom by a fine iron railing which thus left the space beyond the rear pillars open. Within the railing was a frame about five feet square terminating in a pyramidal top and containing the stone upon which Ibraaheem stood when he built the Ka‘bah.