Zamzam water is the water of the Well of Zamzam, which sits inside Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, a few metres from the Kaaba. Pilgrims have drunk from it for thousands of years, and Muslims all over the world still ask for a bottle when someone comes back from Hajj or Umrah. This guide covers what Zamzam water is, the story of the well, what the Prophet ﷺ said about it, how to drink it, and how to keep and share it at home.
What is Zamzam water?
Zamzam is the spring that Muslims believe appeared for Hajar and her son Isma’il in the valley of Makkah. It has never been a lake or a river. It is a single well, and the water drawn from it is what people mean when they say Zamzam. For a Muslim it is one of the most meaningful drinks there is, and it is the one thing pilgrims almost always carry home.
The story of the well
The story is told in Sahih al-Bukhari, in the long narration from Ibn Abbas. Ibrahim ﷺ left Hajar and the infant Isma’il in a barren valley with a little food and water. When it ran out, Hajar ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa looking for help. After the seventh time, the angel Jibril struck the ground with his heel, and water came out. That run between Safa and Marwa is the origin of the sa’i that pilgrims perform in Hajj and Umrah.
According to the early Sirah accounts of Ibn Ishaq, the well was later buried and then dug out again by Abd al-Muttalib, the grandfather of the Prophet ﷺ, shortly before the Prophet’s birth. It has been in continuous use ever since.
What the Prophet ﷺ said about Zamzam
Two narrations are quoted most often. The first is reported in Sunan Ibn Majah from Jabir: the water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for. A number of scholars, including al-Albani, graded it authentic. The second is in Sahih Muslim, from Abu Dharr, where the Prophet ﷺ said of Zamzam: it is blessed, it is food that nourishes.
Muslims often read the first narration as an encouragement to drink with a clear intention and a sincere dua, and that is the usual practice. If you want to follow a specific method, ask your local scholar.
What are the benefits of Zamzam water?
The benefits in the narrations above are spiritual and tied to the intention of the person drinking. We do not make medical claims for Zamzam water, and nothing here replaces advice from a doctor. If you are drinking it for a particular need, the tradition is to name that need in your dua.
How to drink Zamzam water
Say Bismillah and drink in a few sips rather than all at once. Anas reported that the Prophet ﷺ breathed three times while drinking, in Sahih Muslim. Many people drink with the intention of something specific, then finish with Alhamdulillah and a dua.
Ibn Abbas also reported that the Prophet ﷺ drank Zamzam while standing, in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, so you will see pilgrims drink it standing at the Haram. At home, most people sit. Scholars discuss the etiquette in detail, so go with what your own scholar recommends.
Is there a Zamzam dua?
There is no single fixed wording that every scholar accepts. A dua that begins by asking for beneficial knowledge is attributed to Ibn Abbas and is widely shared online, but scholars differ on whether it is authentic, so we do not print it as a settled text. The simplest and safest practice is to ask Allah for what you need in your own words. If you want a collection of authentic supplications to learn from, see our Dua & Namaz books.
Keeping and sharing Zamzam water at home
Store Zamzam water like any other drinking water: somewhere cool, out of direct sunlight, and check the container for any use-by information. Many families pour a small amount into a larger jug so more people can have some, and others drink it on its own. Both are common. It also pairs naturally with dates, and our Dates & Food range is a good place to start for Ramadan or a gift box.
Buying Zamzam water in the UK
Darussalam UK sells original Zamzam water from Makkah in a 5 litre container, delivered across the UK. It works for a family home, for sharing after Hajj or Umrah season, or as a gift. Smaller bottles are sold out at the moment. If you are preparing for a trip yourself, see our Hajj and Umrah range.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Well of Zamzam?
It is inside Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, a few metres from the Kaaba.
Can I mix Zamzam water with normal water?
Yes. Many people mix a little into a larger jug of water to share it among more people.
Does Zamzam water go off?
Treat it like any bottled drinking water. Keep it sealed, cool and out of sunlight, and check the container for use-by information.
Can I buy Zamzam water in the UK?
Yes. Darussalam UK sells Zamzam water from Makkah in a 5 litre container with delivery across the UK.
Is it the same as ordinary spring water?
No. Zamzam is the water of one specific well in Makkah and has a particular religious significance, which is why Muslims value it.
