Prayer for Drinking Zam-Zam Water, and a Brief Story of the Emergence of the Source of Water in Masjidil Haram

Dream - Zam-Zam water is water taken from the Zam-Zam well in Masjidil Haram, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Zam-Zam water has a significant spiritual value for Muslims because it is believed to be holy water that comes from a blessed source by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala.

Based on the beliefs of Muslims, the Zam-Zam well emerged as a result of the miracle of Prophet Ibrahim and his son, Prophet Ismail. When Prophet Ibrahim left his wife, Siti Hajar, and his son in the desert of Makkah, they experienced a shortage of water. Siti Hajar searched for water for her son and ran back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa for help. Allah then sent the Angel Jibril to bring out water from underground, and that became the Zam-Zam well.

Zam-Zam water has a significant meaning in the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage. During the pilgrimage to Masjidil Haram, Muslims often drink Zam-Zam water and bring it home as a souvenir. Many Muslims believe that Zam-Zam water is blessed, can cure diseases, and those who drink it will have their prayers granted.

Zam-Zam water is also believed to have better health qualities than regular water because it contains natural minerals and essential elements that are beneficial to the human body.

In order for the benefits of Zam-Zam water to work effectively, it is recommended to recite the prayer for drinking Zam-Zam water.

So, how do we recite the prayer for drinking Zam-Zam water? Just take a look at the prayer below as summarized by Dream from reliable sources.

A Brief History of the Emergence of Zam-Zam Water

The term Zam-Zam comes from the Arabic word which means abundant. This word is taken from the statement of the angel Jibril when Zam-Zam water gushed abundantly.

Zam-Zam water emerged from the story of Prophet Ibrahim and his wife, Siti Hajar, and their infant son, Ismail. They were on a journey while their food and drink supplies ran out.

Then Prophet Ibrahim went to find food while Siti Hajar stayed with her crying baby due to thirst. Unable to bear seeing her baby cry, Siti Hajar tried to find water by running from the hills of Safa to Marwa. After running back and forth between the two hills seven times, there was a command from Allah SWT to strike the small foot of baby Ismail. With the permission of Allah, the small foot of Prophet Ismail struck the ground and a refreshing spring of water emerged. Until now, that spring is called Zam-Zam water, which always flows and never dries up. 

In the Quran, Surah Ibrahim, verse 37, Allah says:

رَبَّنَآ اِنِّيْٓ اَسْكَنْتُ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِيْ بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِيْ زَرْعٍ عِنْدَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِۙ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ فَاجْعَلْ اَفْـِٕدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِيْٓ اِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُمْ مِّنَ الثَّمَرٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُوْنَ

Rabbana inni askantu min dhurriyyati biwadin gairi zar'in 'inda baitikal-muḥarram(i), rabbana liyuqīmus-ṣalāta faj'al af'idatam minan-nāsi tahwī ilaihim warzuqhum minaṣ-ṣamaraati la'allahum yasykurūn(a).

Meaning: "Our Lord, indeed I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House (Baitullah) which is honored, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful."

Benefits of Zam-Zam Water According to the Intention of the Drinker

There are many benefits and virtues of Zam-Zam water. This has been explained in the Quran and hadith. One of the special qualities of Zam-Zam water is that it is the greatest gift that Allah has given to Prophet Ismail and his mother, through the prayer of Prophet Ibrahim alaihissalam.

Some people believe that the benefits of Zam-Zam water depend on the intention of the drinker. There is a hadith that supports this belief. From the companion Jabir bin Abdillah radhiyallahu 'anhu, the Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

مَاءُ زَمْزَمَ لِمَا شُرِبَ لَهُ

Meaning: "Zam-Zam water is according to what it is intended for." (HR. Ahmad 14849, Ibn Majah 3178, and has been graded as good by Syuaib al-Arnauth)

This hadith is also supported by other hadiths. Ibn Abbas radhiyallahu 'anhu, when drinking Zam-Zam water, would pray, "O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, abundant provision, and a cure for every disease." (HR. Abdurrazaq 9112). Then Allah SWT granted his prayer.

Besides that, there is another story about the prayer of Ibn Mubarok when drinking zam-zam water. Ibn Mubarok was a hadith scholar during the Tabi’it Tabi'in era. When drinking zamzam water, he said, "O Allah, indeed the Messenger of Allah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, 'Zam-zam water is beneficial according to the intention when drinking it. Therefore, O Allah, I drink this so that I will not be thirsty on the Day of Judgment.'" (Mu’jam Ibnul Muqri’)

The author of the book Mustadrak, Imam Hakim An-Naisaburi, said that when he drank zam-zam water, he prayed to Allah SWT to be given the ability to produce good and beneficial writings. Allah granted this wish by giving many monumental works from al-Hakim, including the book al-Mustadrak ‘ala Shahihain.

There are still many stories that prove the benefits of zam-zam water depending on the intention of the person drinking it. However, of course, everything is the will of Allah SWT and the good intention and piety of those who drink it.

Prayer for Drinking Zam-Zam Water that Needs to be Known

In order to get the desired benefits, Sahabat Dream needs to recite a prayer when drinking zam-zam water. This prayer should be recited before drinking the water believed to be holy. Here is the prayer when drinking zam-zam water:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: "مَاءُ زَمْزَمَ لِمَا شُرِبَ لَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنِّي أَشْرَبُهُ لِتَغْفِرَ لِي وَلِتَفْعَلَ بِي كَذَا وَكَذَا فَاغْفِرْ لِي أَوْ افْعَلْ"

Allahumma innahu balaghani, anna rasulallaha shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam qola, ma’u zamzama lima syuriba lahu, allahumma wa inni asyrabuhu litaghfiralii walitaf’alabii kadza wa kadza faghfirli awif’al

Meaning: "O Allah, indeed it has reached me that the Messenger of Allah SAW said, 'Zam-zam water is (beneficial) for what it is drunk for. O Allah, indeed I drink it so that You may forgive me and do this (fulfill this need) for me, so forgive me or do it.'"

After reciting this prayer, you can drink zam-zam water with the intention and belief that this water is blessed and holy.

That is the complete prayer when drinking zam-zam water, along with a brief history and benefits for the drinker. The history of the appearance of zam-zam water is an important part of the religious tradition and worship of Muslims. Every year, pilgrims who perform Hajj and Umrah come to the Masjid al-Haram to visit this well, drink zamzam water, and bring it home as a souvenir.