Jan 23, 2004, 12.00am IST
The holy water known as ZamZam, brought from Makkah (Mecca) by Hajjis returning home, is believed to have healing powers.
In a parched desert where there wasn't a trace of water, Allah showered his blessings on Ibrahim's family, by commanding Angel Jibreel to dig the earth with his heel (or his wing), and water started flowing in the desert to quench the thirst of Ibrahim's wife Hajar and her son Ismael.
When Ibrahim married Hajar and she conceived Ismael, Sarah, Ibrahim's first wife, became jealous of her and swore that she would cut three parts from her body.
So Hajar tied a girdle round her waist and ran away, dragging her robe behind her so as to wipe out her tracks lest Sarah should pursue her.
Ibrahim brought her and her son Ismael near the Ka'bah under a tree on the spot of Zam-zam. Those days no one lived in Makkah nor was there any water. So he made them sit over there and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates, and a small water-skin containing some water, and set out homeward.
Ismael's mother followed him saying, "O Ibrahim, where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we can enjoy, nor is there any- thing (to enjoy)? Has Allah ordered you to do so?" "Yes", he said. "Then he will not neglect us," she said and returned.
Ibrahim reached Thaniy-yah, faced the Ka'bah, and raising both hands invoked Allah: "Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka'bah at Makkah): in order, O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat). So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits, so that they may give thanks" (Quran V.14: 37).
Ismael's mother continued to suckle the child and drank all the water she had. She left Ismael, for she could not endure his thirst, and found the mountain of As-Safa. She saw no one. She crossed the valley and reached Al-Marwah mountain where, too, she could see no one.
She ran between As-Safa and Al-Marwah seven times. The Prophet said: "This is the source of the tradition of the Sa'y (the going) of people between As-Safa and Al-Marwah.
When she reached Al- Marwah for the last time she heard a voice and said: ‘‘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.
The Angel said to her: ‘‘Don't be afraid of being neglected, for this is the House of Allah which will be built by this boy (Ismael) and his father (Ibra-him), Allah never neglects his people".
She lived in that way till some people from the tribe of Jurhum passed by her and her child. They landed in the lower part of Makkah where they saw a bird that had the habit of flying around water and not leaving it.
They sent messengers who discovered the source of water, and they all came (towards the water). The Prophet added: "Ismael's mother was sitting near the water.
They asked her, "Do you allow us to stay with you?" She replied, "Yes, but you will have no right to possess the water." So they settled there, and later on sent for their families who came and settled with them and some families became permanent residents there.
Fayyaz S Pathan
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