62. THE STORY OF THE RE-EXCAVATION OF ZAMZAM
Abdul-Muttalib said, “While I was sleeping in my room, someone came to me, saying, “Dig Teebah.” I said, “What is Teebah?” Then he went away. The next day, I retired to my bed and while I was sleeping, he came to me saying, “Dig Barrah.” I said, “What is Barrah?” Then he left me and on the next day, I retired to my bed and while I was sleeping, he came to me and said, “Dig Al-Madnoonah.” I asked, “What is Al-Madnoonah?” Then he left me and on the following day, I retired to my bed and while I was sleeping, he came to me and said, “Dig Zamzam.” I asked, “What is Zamzam?” He replied, “It will never be depleted, nor will its water decrease. It is to provide water for the Hajj pilgrims. It is between the blood and the entrails, where the white-footed raven raps, near the ants’ nest.” He said, “When he had made its situation clear to me and directed me to its location I knew that he had spoken the truth.” He then took his adze and accompanied by his son, Al-Harith Ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib – who was his only son at that time – and he dug until he found what had been concealed, upon which he called out, “Allahu Akbar!” Immediately, Quraish realized that he had found what he was looking for.” Ibn Ishaq said, “This is what was conveyed to me on the authority of ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) regarding Zamzam.” He added, “And I have heard one who spoke regarding ‘Abdul-Muttalib saying that it was said to him when he ordered the digging of Zamzam,
Then call for sweet water, not muddy,
To provide water for Allah’s Hajj pilgrims in every place,
That no person needs fear, as long as it lasts.
He said, “When this was said to ‘Abdul-Muttalib, he came out to Quraish and said, “Do you know that I was ordered to excavate Zamzam?” They said, “Was it made clear to you where it was?” He said, “No.” They said, “Then return to your bed where you saw what you saw and if it is the truth from Allah, he will make it clear to you, but if it is from Shaitan, he will not return to you.” So he returned home and slept and someone came to him and it was said to him, “Excavate Zamzam; if you excavate it, you will not regret it. It is an inheritance from your illustrious forefather. It will never be depleted, nor will its water decrease and it will provide water for the mass of pilgrims. It is like a shying ostrich and it is not shared. Let a person vow (to water them with it) and it will flow generously. It will be an inheritance and firm covenant. It does not belong to some, as you know; and it is between the blood and the entrails.
And Ibn Ishaq and others mentioned that during the time of ‘Abdul-Muttalib, there were many wells in Makkah prior to the appearance of Zamzam. Ibn Ishaq enumerated them, named them and mentioned their locations in Makkah, along with the names of those who dug them. Then he said, “Then Zamzam eliminated all of the wells and all of the people turned to it because of its location in the Sacred Mosque and its superiority over waters, for it was the well of Isma‘eel, son of Ibraheem (peace be upon them both). Banu ‘Abd Manaf vaunted their superiority over all of Quraish and all of the other Arabs because of it. And it has been confirmed in Saheeh Muslim in a hadeeth relating the story of how Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) embraced Islam, that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said of Zamzam, “It serves as a food and it is a cure for the sick.” And in another narration, “The water of Zamzam is for whatever purpose it was drunk for.”
By Ibn Katheer
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