9
edits
Zamzam Well: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
→Introduction
| [checked revision] | [checked revision] |
No edit summary |
m (→Introduction) |
||
| (4 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=2|Content=2|Language=3|References=2}} | {{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=2|Content=2|Language=3|References=2}} | ||
[[File:Zamzam water.jpg|right|thumb|350px]]The '''Well of Zamzam''' (زمزم) is a well located within the Masjid al-Haram in [[Mecca]], | [[File:Zamzam water.jpg|right|thumb|350px]]The '''Well of Zamzam''' (زمزم) is a well located within the Masjid al-Haram in [[Mecca]], Saudi Arabia, 20 meters (66 feet) east of the [[Kaaba|Ka'aba]],<ref name="Saudi Geological Survey">[http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fclassic-web.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20050205152331%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.sgs.org.sa%2Findex.cfm%3Fsec%3D311%26page%3D&date=2011-05-07 <!-- http://classic-web.archive.org/web/20050205152331/http://www.sgs.org.sa/index.cfm?sec=311&page= -->Zamzam Studies and Research Centre] - The Saudi Geological Survey Website</ref> the holiest place in [[Islam]]. The well is 35 meters deep and topped by an elegant dome.<ref name="S. H. A. Careem">S. H. A. Careem - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2005/01/30/fea36.html|2=2011-05-07}} The miracle of ZamZam] - Sunday Observer, January 30, 2005</ref> | ||
Millions of Muslims visit the well each year while performing the [[Hajj]] or Umrah pilgrimages, in order to | Millions of Muslims visit the well each year while performing the [[Hajj]] or Umrah pilgrimages, in order to drink its water and, in many cases, to take home some of its water for distribution among friends and relatives, believing the well (and the water which it pumps) to be miraculous.<ref name="S. H. A. Careem"></ref> | ||
However, in May 2011, a BBC investigation found that genuine [[Zamzam]] water taken from the well contained arsenic levels three times the legal limit, something which could contribute to increasing people's risk of cancer. In addition to the dangerous arsenic levels, the holy water contained high levels of nitrate and potentially harmful bacteria.<ref>Guy Lynn - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13267205|2=2011-05-07}} Contaminated Zam Zam holy water from Mecca sold in UK] - BBC News, May 5, 2011</ref> | However, in May 2011, a BBC investigation found that genuine [[Zamzam]] water taken from the well contained arsenic levels three times the legal limit, something which could contribute to increasing people's risk of cancer. In addition to the dangerous arsenic levels, the holy water contained high levels of nitrate and potentially harmful bacteria.<ref>Guy Lynn - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13267205|2=2011-05-07}} Contaminated Zam Zam holy water from Mecca sold in UK] - BBC News, May 5, 2011</ref> | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
The ''Well of Zamzam'' is a well located within the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, | The ''Well of Zamzam'' is a well located within the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 20 meters (66 feet) east of the [[Kaaba|Ka'aba]],<ref name="Saudi Geological Survey">[http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fclassic-web.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20050205152331%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.sgs.org.sa%2Findex.cfm%3Fsec%3D311%26page%3D&date=2011-05-07 <!-- http://classic-web.archive.org/web/20050205152331/http://www.sgs.org.sa/index.cfm?sec=311&page= -->Zamzam Studies and Research Centre] - The Saudi Geological Survey Website</ref> the holiest place in [[Islam]]. The well is 35 meters deep and topped by an elegant dome.<ref name="S. H. A. Careem">S. H. A. Careem - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2005/01/30/fea36.html|2=2011-05-07}} The miracle of ZamZam] - Sunday Observer, January 30, 2005</ref> | ||
Millions of Muslims visit the well each year while performing the [[Hajj]] or Umrah pilgrimages, in order to drink its water and, in many cases, to take home some of its water for distribution among friends and | Millions of Muslims visit the well each year while performing the [[Hajj]] or Umrah pilgrimages, in order to drink its water and, in many cases, to take home some of its water for distribution among friends and relatives.<ref name="S. H. A. Careem"></ref> | ||
==Zamzam== | ==Zamzam== | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
===Pre-Islamic History=== | ===Pre-Islamic History=== | ||
Safa and Marwa are two mounts located in Mecca. Tawaf, the circumambulation between Safa and Marwa, was once a [[ | Safa and Marwa are two mounts located in Mecca. Tawaf, the circumambulation between Safa and Marwa, was once a [[Pagan Origins of Islam|pagan]] ritual<ref>"''Narrated 'Asim: '' | ||
''I asked Anas bin Malik: "Did you use to dislike to perform Tawaf between Safa and Marwa?" He said, "Yes, as it was of the ceremonies of the days of the Pre-lslamic period of ignorance, till Allah revealed: 'Verily! (The two mountains) As-Safa and Al-Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. It is therefore no sin for him who performs the pilgrimage to the Ka'ba, or performs 'Umra, to perform Tawaf between them.' " (2.158)''" - {{Bukhari|2|26|710}}</ref> now associated with Islam, the Zamzam well, and the pilgrimage to Mecca. | ''I asked Anas bin Malik: "Did you use to dislike to perform Tawaf between Safa and Marwa?" He said, "Yes, as it was of the ceremonies of the days of the Pre-lslamic period of ignorance, till Allah revealed: 'Verily! (The two mountains) As-Safa and Al-Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. It is therefore no sin for him who performs the pilgrimage to the Ka'ba, or performs 'Umra, to perform Tawaf between them.' " (2.158)''" - {{Bukhari|2|26|710}}</ref> now associated with Islam, the Zamzam well, and the pilgrimage to Mecca. | ||
The Islamic beliefs in regards to its history is expounded upon by the Saudi Geological Survey | The Islamic beliefs in regards to its history is expounded upon by the Saudi Geological Survey website: | ||
{{Quote||According to Arab historians, the Zamzam Well, except for a few periods when it became dry or was buried under sand, has been in use for around 4000 years. The well marks the site of a spring that, miraculously , had issued forth from a barren and desolate wadi (non perennial stream) where the Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him-pbuh), under Allah's command, had left his wife Hajar and their infant son Ismail (pbuh). In her desperate search for water, Hajar ran seven times back and forth in the scorching heat between the two hills of Safa and Marwa to provide water for Ismail (pbuh), who was dying of thirst. Allah, in His mercy, sent the Angel Gabriel, who scraped the ground, causing the spring to appear. On finding the spring, and fearing that it might run out of water, Hajar enclosed it in sand and stones. The name Zamzam originates from the phrase Zomë Zomë, meaning ‘stop flowing’, a command repeated by Hajar during her attempt to contain the spring water. The area around the spring, which was later converted to a well, became a resting place for caravans, and eventually grew into the trading city of Makkah, birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).<ref name="Saudi Geological Survey"></ref>}} | {{Quote||According to Arab historians, the Zamzam Well, except for a few periods when it became dry or was buried under sand, has been in use for around 4000 years. The well marks the site of a spring that, miraculously , had issued forth from a barren and desolate wadi (non perennial stream) where the Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him-pbuh), under Allah's command, had left his wife Hajar and their infant son Ismail (pbuh). In her desperate search for water, Hajar ran seven times back and forth in the scorching heat between the two hills of Safa and Marwa to provide water for Ismail (pbuh), who was dying of thirst. Allah, in His mercy, sent the Angel Gabriel, who scraped the ground, causing the spring to appear. On finding the spring, and fearing that it might run out of water, Hajar enclosed it in sand and stones. The name Zamzam originates from the phrase Zomë Zomë, meaning ‘stop flowing’, a command repeated by Hajar during her attempt to contain the spring water. The area around the spring, which was later converted to a well, became a resting place for caravans, and eventually grew into the trading city of Makkah, birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).<ref name="Saudi Geological Survey"></ref>}} | ||
| Line 113: | Line 113: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[bg:Кладенецът Замзам]] | [[bg:Кладенецът Замзам]] | ||
[[Category:Hygiene]] | |||
[[Category:Locations]] | |||
[[Category:Pre-Islamic Arabia]] | |||
[[Category:Sacred history]] | |||
[[Category:Miracles]] | |||
[[Category:Ritual]] | |||