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Zamzam Well

From Wikipedia
Zamzam Well
water well
Native labelزمزم Edit
CountrySaudi Arabia Edit
Edey de administrative territorial entity insydMecca Edit
Coordinate location21°25′21″N 39°49′35″E Edit
Map

De Zamzam Well be a well wey locate within de Masjid al-Haram insyd Mecca, Saudi Arabia. E dey locate 20 m (66 ft) east of de Kaaba,[1] de holiest place insyd Islam.

According to Islamic narratives, de well be a miraculously source of water dem generate, wich na open up thousands of years ago wen na dem lef de son of Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismaʿil (Ishmael), plus ein mommie Hajar (Hagar) insyd de desert. Na dem state say e dry up during de settlement of de Jurhum insyd de area wey na e be rediscovered insyd de 6th century by Abd al-Muttalib, grandpoppie of Muhammad.

Etymology

De origin of de name be uncertain.[2] According to historian Jacqueline Chabbi, de noun Arabic: زمزم, romanized: Zamzam be an onomatopoeia. She dey associate de noun plus de adjectives Arabic: زمزم, romanized: zamzam den زمازم, romanized: zumāzim wich be onomatopoeic wey dey denote a dull sound wey dey stem from either a distant roll (of thunder) anaa a guttural sound dem emit plus a closed mouth by animals anaa people, however dey mean either 'an abundant supply of water' anaa 'a source of water wich no dey dry up' if dem apply am to Arabic: ماء, romanized: māʾ, lit. 'water' . She dey state say dis latter dey mean of an unintelligible guttural sound wey dey encompass a layer of meaning dem associate plus de sacred den mystical, for addition to de basic notion of de sound possibly be related to de concept of an abundant flow of water.

Early Islamic sources dey use de terms Arabic: زمزم, romanized: zamzama den Arabic: زمازم, romanized: zamāzima make e refer to de religious rites of Zoroastrianism den de Zoroastrians. De terms be onomatopoeic den dey derive from wat Arabs perceive e be an indistinct, droning sound of de recitation of Avestan prayers den scriptures by Magi.

Mediaeval Arabic writers like al-Masʿūdī generally state dem name de well on de account of Arabic: زمزم, romanized: zamzama, lit.'prayers wey Zoroastrians recite'. Dem dey argue dat base for dema "kinship plus Abraham" na Zoroastrians regularly make pilgrimages to Mecca make dem pray over de well. A later account by al-ʿAynī dey claim say na dem name de well after Arabic: زمازم, romanized: zamāzima supposedly dey mean 'bridles' wich na be donated to de well by wey dem name after Sasan, de Zoroastrian progenitor of de Sasanian Empire.

Oda medieval Arabic sources dey connect de name to de Angel Gabriel ebe de source of de murmuring dem capture by dis onomatopoeia.[3]

Hughes additionally dey identify a tradition of deriving de name from an exclamation dem supposedly make by Hajar either ebe Arabic: زم، زم!, romanized: zamm, zamm!, lit. 'fill, fill!' anaa supposedly Egyptian wey dey mean "Stop, stop!".[2][4]

Traditional accounts

Traditional origins

An imperial pilgrim ein water flask from Ottoman Turkey, dem use take collect water from de Zamzam Well, wey dey bear de Sultan ein tughra

Islamic tradition dey state dat na dem gbele de Zamzam Well up insyd sam form by God make e assist Hajar, de second wifey of Ibrahim den mommie of Ismaʿil. Insyd Islamic narratives Ibrahim, wey God command am, lead Hajar den Ismaʿil to de area of present-day Mecca, der he lef dem alone insyd de desert. Na dem narrate say na de two dey suffer severely from thirst. Insys sam versions of de story Hajar dey walk back den forth between de two hills of Safa den Marwah in search of water.De story of de appearance of de well either dey involve de infant Isma'il dey scrape de ground plus ein feet wey water dey spring out anaa God send Gabriel (Jibra'il) wey consequently open up de well dey use a variety of methods wey dey depend on de narration.[5][3][6] De wealth of mystic discourses dey discuss de history of de well be from de Abbasid era den largely extra-Quranic, as de well no be referred to directly by de Quran.[7]

According to Islamic tradition, na Ibrahim rebuild a shrine dem call Arabic: بيت ٱللَّٰه, romanized: Baytu 'l-llah, lit. 'House of God' near de site of de well. A building dem first supposedly construct by Adam, wich Muslim tradition dey regard as de origin of de Kaʿba.Na de well be meant e dry up (possibly as punishment) during de settlement of de tribe of de Jurhum, wey initially dem mean dem migrate go de area from Yemen. Insyd sam narrations wey focus on de objects dem deposit insyd Zamzam de well simply dry up, then prior to de Jurhum be forced make dem led Mecca secof God expel dem for dema misdeeds dema leader bury sacred objects from de Kaʿba insyd de location of Zamzam. Insyd odas, dem focus on de well einself, na de objects be placed insyd Zamzam einself, plus de well ultimately be buried by de leader of de Jurhum.[6][8]

Traditional rediscovery

According to traditional Muslim accounts, ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, grandpoppie of Muhammad, be responsible for de rediscovery of de well. Na he purportedly get a divine precognition about de well for sam point insyd ein life. Na a common narrative wey Ibn Ishaq relay via Ibn Hisham dey involve four dreams, de first three dey concern mysterious objects dem call Arabic: طيبة, romanized: Ṭayba, Arabic: برة, romanized: Barra den Arabic: المضنونة, romanized: al-Maḍnūna na he mean make he dig for, de fourth then names Zamzam. Oda accounts dey omit de third dream wey dey name Arabic: المضنونة, romanized: al-Maḍnūna.Dey follow ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ein precognitions make he dig, na dem claim say na he find a number of artefacts: golden gazelle figurines, armour, den chaw specimens of a type of sword dem call Arabic: السيف القلعى, romanized: as-Sayf al-Qalaʿī, lit. 'Qalaʿī sword' . Ibn Saʿd dey relay two separate traditions wey dey regard de discovery of a well by ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, one wey dey involve Zamzam ein discovery den water disputes among de Quraysh, de oda dey involve de series of dreams den said artefacts buh neither water nor de name Zamzam.[9][8]

Hawting ein analysis dey argue dat de oral traditions wey dey surround de Arabic: بئر الكعبة, romanized: Biʾru 'l-Kaʿba, lit. 'Well of the Kaʿba', a dry well insyd de Kaʿba dem repute na dem dey use am as de treasury of de Kaʿba den as a place give religious offerings insyd pre-Islamic Mecca den Zamzam merge for sam point plus stories wey dey concern de former be adapted make e feature de latter.[10]

Subsequent history

Commentators of de Abbasid-era mystic discourses wey dey surround de well, like na al-Masʿūdī expand on dese extra-Quranic accounts. Dem further connect de site to Zoroastrianism via wat dem interpret e be Zoroastrian religious artefacts dem uncover by ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib in combination plus dema etymological analyses. Ultimately dey argue dat secof de well ein history supposedly be related to (wat dem perceive say e be) de true religion of de people of Iran, na dem understand den frame de Islamisation of Iran as a rediscovery.[8]

De domed building wey dey cover Zamzam wich na dem destroy insyd 1803 (D) den Zamzamis in front of de Domes of Drinking (P) c. 1718
Building wey dey cover Zamzam (3) insyd 1888

Technical information

Na dem expand de well of Zamzam by hand over de years, wey ebe about 30 m (100 ft) deep den 1.08 to 2.66 m (3 ft 7 in to 8 ft 9 in) in diameter. E dey tap groundwater from de wadi alluvium den sam from de bedrock. Historically na dem dey draw water from de well via ropes den buckets, buh since 1964 de well ein opening einself dey insyd a basement room inaccessible to de public, wer e fi be seen behind glass panels. Two electric pumps, wey dey operate alternately, move de water 5 km (3 miles) southwards for a pace of between 11 den 18.5 litres (2½ den 4½ gallons) per second to de King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Zamzam Water Project insyd Kudai. Na dem gbele de center open insyd September 2010 wey dey cost 700 million Saudi Riyal make dem construct wey e be operated by de National Water Company of Saudi Arabia.

Hydrogeologically, de well dey insyd de Wadi Ibrahim (Valley of Abraham). De upper half of de well dey insyd de sandy alluvium of de valley, dem line plus stone masonry except for de top metre (3 ft) wich get a concrete "collar". De lower half dey insyd de bedrock. Between de alluvium den de bedrock be a 1⁄2-metre (1 ft 8 in) section of permeable weathered rock, dem line plus stone, den ebe dis section wey dey provide de main water entry into de well. Water insyd de well dey cam from absorbed rainfall insyd de Wadi Ibrahim, as well as run-off from de local hills. Since de area cam turn more den more settled, na water from absorbed rainfall for de Wadi Ibrahim decrease.

Zamzam water be colourless den odorless, buh get a distinctive taste, plus a pH of 7.9–8, wey so e be slightly alkaline.[11]

Mineral concentration

as dem report by researchers at King Saud University[12]

mineral concentration
mg/L oz/cu in
style="text-align:right;"|133 7.7×10−5
style="text-align:right;"|96 5.5×10−5
style="text-align:right;"|38.88 2.247×10−5
style="text-align:right;"|43.3 2.50×10−5
style="text-align:right;"|195.4 0.0001129
style="text-align:right;"|163.3 9.44×10−5
style="text-align:right;"|0.72 4.2×10−7
style="text-align:right;"|124.8 7.21×10−5
style="text-align:right;"|124.0 7.17×10−5
style="text-align:right;"|835 0.000483

Safety of Zamzam water

According to de SGS, dem dey test de Zamzam Well on a daily basis, insyd a process wich dey involve de taking of three samples from de well. Drm then dey examine dese samples for de King Abdullah Zamzam Water Distribution Center insyd Mecca, wich be equipped plus advanced facilities.[13]

Na de Zamzam well be recently renovated insyd 2018 by de Saudi authorities. De project involve cleaning of de areas around de Zamzam well by removing de debris of concrete den steel dem use insyd de old cellar of de Grand Mosque.[14][15][16][17] During Ramadan, dem dey test 100 samples every day make dem ensure de water be good quality.[17]

Historical controversy

Na Cholera epidemics den de Hajj cam turn an issue of debate since an 1866 International Sanitary Conference insyd Istanbul. Na de conference however identify British steam-ships wey dey transport Indian Muslims to de Hajj as mainly responsible for de globalisation of cholera. De Ottoman state consequently institute a quarantine system wey dey use de Red Sea make dem protect public health. Na Britain try make dem undermine dis system insyd de coming decades dem dey fear public backlash insyd India den restrictions for ein ability make dem engage insyd free trade.

Na de first controversy wey dey surround de safety of water from de Zamzam Well begin insyd 1883. Insyd 1881, na James Zohrab, British Consul insyd Jeddah send samples of water, wich he allege e be Zamzam water, to Edward Frankland, wey publish ein findings insyd 1883. Na Frankland claim de water from de well be six times more contaminated by animal waste dan sewage insyd London. Na he dey argue say secof dem simply dey bury human waste insyd de ground insyd Mecca, na de groundwater cam turn highly contaminated den a source of cholera. Dis situation, couple plus de city ein visitors from all around de Muslim world, dem mean make e spread de disease effectively thru out am. He ultimately call for de closure of Zamzam as a public health measure make e protect de people of Asia den Europe.

BBC allegation den responses

Insyd May 2011, na a BBC London investigation allege wat water dem take from taps wey dem connect to de Zamzam Well contain high levels of nitrate den arsenic for levels three times de legal limit insyd de UK, na de same levels dem find insyd illegal water dem purchase insyd de UK.[18]

Saudi Arabian authorities dema response

Na de Saudi authorities reject de BBC dema claim wey dem say de water be fit give human consumption. Na an official from de Saudi Arabian embassy insyd London state say 'water from de Zamzam well no be contaminated wey e be fit for human consumption. Genuine Zamzam water no dey contain arsenic'.[19] Na de presido of de Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), Zuhair Nawab, state dat dem dey test de Zamzam Well on a daily basis, insyd a process wey dey involve de taking of three samples from de well.[13]

Na de BBC article concentrate on bottled water wey be supplied by individuals rather dan de Presidency of de Two Holy Mosques' Affairs, according to Fahd Turkistani, advisor to de General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection. Na Turkistani state dat de Zamzam water pollution fi be cause by unsterilized containers dem use by illegal workers wey dey sell Zamzam water for Makkah gates.[13]

Council of British Hajjis

Insyd de same month dat na dem release de BBC report, de Council of British Hajjis later declare say na ebe safe drinking Zamzam water, wey dey contradict de BBC report. Na de council note dat de Government of Saudi Arabia no dey allow de export of Zamzam water for resale. Na dem sanso state dat na ebe unknown whether de water dem dey sell insyd de UK be genuine den dat people for no buy am den make dem report de sellers to de Trading Standards if dem see am for sale.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Zamzam Studies and Research Centre". Saudi Geological Survey (in Arabic). Archived from the original on June 19, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hughes, Thomas Patrick (1885). Dictionary of Islam : Being a Cyclopaedia of the Doctrines, Rites, Ceremonies, and Customs, Together With the Technical and Theological Terms, of the Muhammadan Religion. Forgotten Books. p. 701. ISBN 978-0-243-60987-1. OCLC 1152284802.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chabbi, Jacqueline (2002). Peri Bearman; Thierry Bianquis; C. Edmund Bosworth; E.J. van Donzel; Wolfhart Heinrichs; H. A. R. Gibb (eds.). The encyclopaedia of Islam. Vol. XI. Leiden: Brill. pp. 440–441. ISBN 90-04-16121-X. OCLC 399624.
  4. ↑ George, Sale (1734). The Koran: commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammad (1st ed.). London: F. Warne and Co. p. 118. OCLC 61585803.
  5. ↑ Mahmoud Ismael Shil and 'Abdur-Rahman 'Abdul-Wahid. "Historic Places: The Well of Zamzam". Archived from the original on February 23, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hawting, G. R. (1980). "The Disappearance and Rediscovery of Zamzam and the 'Well of the Ka'ba'". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. 43 (1): 44–54. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00110523. ISSN 0041-977X. JSTOR 616125. S2CID 162654756.
  7. ↑ Chabbi, Jacqueline (2002). Peri Bearman; Thierry Bianquis; C. Edmund Bosworth; E.J. van Donzel; Wolfhart Heinrichs; H. A. R. Gibb (eds.). The encyclopaedia of Islam. Vol. XI. Leiden: Brill. p. 441. ISBN 90-04-16121-X. OCLC 399624.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Chabbi, Jacqueline (2002). Peri Bearman; Thierry Bianquis; C. Edmund Bosworth; E.J. van Donzel; Wolfhart Heinrichs; H. A. R. Gibb (eds.). The encyclopaedia of Islam. Vol. XI. Leiden: Brill. p. 442. ISBN 90-04-16121-X. OCLC 399624.
  9. ↑ Hawting, G. R. (1980). "The Disappearance and Rediscovery of Zamzam and the 'Well of the Ka'ba'". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. 43 (1): 44–47. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00110523. ISSN 0041-977X. JSTOR 616125. S2CID 162654756.
  10. ↑ Hawting, G. R. (1980). "The Disappearance and Rediscovery of Zamzam and the 'Well of the Ka'ba'". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. 43 (1): 52–54. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00110523. ISSN 0041-977X. JSTOR 616125. S2CID 162654756.
  11. ↑ Alfadul, Sulaiman M.; Khan, Mujahid A. (October 12, 2011). "Water quality of bottled water in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A comparative study with Riyadh municipal and Zamzam water". Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A. 46 (13). Taylor & Francis: 1519–1528. Bibcode:2011JESHA..46.1519A. doi:10.1080/10934529.2011.609109. PMID 21992118. S2CID 21396145.
  12. ↑ Nour Al Zuhair, et al. A comparative study between the chemical composition of potable water and Zamzam water in Saudi Arabia. KSU Faculty Sites, Retrieved August 15, 2010
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Kingdom rejects BBC claim of Zamzam water contamination". Arab News (in English). 2011-05-08. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  14. ↑ "Sacred Zamzam well to go under renovation". Dhaka Tribune. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  15. ↑ "Zamzam project to be ready before Ramadan". Saudigazette (in English). 2018-02-03. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  16. ↑ "Zamzam well to be renovated before Ramadan". Arab News (in English). 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "100 samples of Zamzam water tested everyday". Saudigazette (in English). 2018-05-19. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  18. ↑ Lynn, Guy (May 5, 2011). "Contaminated Zamzam holy water from Mecca sold in the UK". BBC News. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  19. ↑ "'No arsenic in genuine holy water', Saudis say". BBC News. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  20. ↑ "Zam Zam Water Is Safe, UK". Medical News Today (Press release). Council of British Hajjis (Pilgrims). 13 May 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
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