Zamzam water - The story Hajjar

The story of Hajjar (r.a) is an inspiration to all women not just Muslim women. It is a story of faith
in action; it highlights the importance of water for humanity’s existence; and it shows how the actions
of a woman have been embedded into one of the pillars of Islam.
Hajjar (r.a) was an Egyptian hand-maid and the second wife of Prophet Ibrahim.
The Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) brought his wife Hajjar (r.a) and their young son Ishmail to the desert
plains of Makkah, where the Holy Mosque stands today. During this time, the city of Makkah was
free from inhabitants and any known source of water. the family camped under the shade of a tree
where the Holy Mosque of Makkah was later built when Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) left his wife and son
with nothing but a bag filled with dates and a water skin to drink from.


According to Ibn Abbas (may Allah swt be pleased with him) as the Prophet Ibrahim
(a.s) departed his family, his dear wife followed him to enquire where he was going saying,
“O Abraham! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company
we may enjoy, nor is there anything (to enjoy)?" She repeated that to him many times, but he did not
look back at her then she asked him, "Has Allah ordered you to do so?" He said, "Yes." She said, "Then
He will not neglect us," and returned while Abraham proceeded onwards. On reaching the Thaniya
where they could not see him, he faced the Ka'ba, and raising both hands, invoked Allah saying the
following prayers:


'O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring dwell in a valley without cultivation, by
Your Sacred House (Ka’baa at Mecca) in order, O our Lord, that they may offer prayer
perfectly. So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide
them with fruits, so that they may give thanks.' [Qur’an 14:37]
Hajjar (r.a) stayed with her son and nursed him for a period until they had run out of food and
water. Once the water skin was empty, Hajjar (r.a) and her son became thirsty. She witnessed her son
tossing and turning in the sand out of thirst. It was a sight that she could not bear. As many mothers,
Hajjar (r.a) grew worried. With no-one to help her in sight she left her son at the site of the Ka’ba in
search of something to feed him.
She began her search by visiting the top Mount Safa, the nearest mountain to her, in the hope that
she may be able to see any other inhabitants or something to help her in the desert. With the scorching
desert heat blazing, Hajjar (r.a) raised her sleeve to protect her eyes from the sun and proceeded to
climb Mount Marwa hoping to see someone. Growing more frantic, she repeated this act seven times
but without avail.
In Sahih Bukhari, Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) narrates the Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) as saying:

"This is the source of the tradition of the walking of
people between them (i.e. Safa and Marwa). When she
reached the Marwa (for the last time) she heard a voice
and she asked herself to be quiet and listened
attentively. She heard the voice again and said, 'O,
(whoever you may be)! You have made me hear your
voice; have you got something to help me?" And
behold! She saw an angel at the place of Zam-Zam,
digging the earth with his heel (or his wing), till water
flowed from that place. She started to make something
like a basin around it, using her hand in this way, and
started filling her water-skin with water with her
hands, and the water was flowing out after she had
scooped some of it."
It was after this incident that Prophet Muhammad (peace
and blessings be upon him) narrated in a hadith:
‘“If she (Hajjar) had left the water, (flow naturally
without her intervention), it would have been flowing
on the surface of the earth.”

Sahih Bukhari: Volume 044, Book 055, Hadith 583