There was no water in the desert of Mecca. No one had lived there until God created Zamzam for the sake of Isma'il. Consequently, a tribe from Yemen by the name of "Jurhum" got settled there because of the water. Gradually, Mecca became residential and civil. In 1126/1714-5, Qubbat al-'Abbas, which used to be in the form of square, was reconstructed as an octagon. As time went on, it was no longer used as a place for giving water to pilgrims, so people kept the Qur'ans and books endowed for students who study religious sciences. In 1259/1843-4, a complete library was established there which was expanded afterwards. Today, this library is known as Maktabat al-Haram al-Makki al-Sharif.

The original spring of Zamzam is positioned on the direction of al-Hajar al-Aswad. The average consumption of Zamzam water by Ka'ba pilgrims is 10 thousand cubic meters per day. Zamzam (Arabic: زمزم) is a sacred prominent well located in al-Masjid al-Haram, 21 meters far from East of the Ka'ba. According to hadiths, Zamzam, which originally was a spring, was a miracle of Allah for Isma'il (a). The Holy Prophet (s) regards it curative and superior to any kind of water found on earth.The first construction around Zamzam to provide water for pilgrims was built in the sahn (courtyard) of Masjid al-Haram between the Eastern Rukn and Maqam Ibrahim by 'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib. It was named Siqayat al-'Abbas. Later in 65/684, when expanding Masjid al-Haram, Siqayat al-'Abbas was moved to the East of haram. A wooden dome was built on it and its name was changed into Qubbat al-'Abbas.

amzam is holy water believed by Muslim to have remedial power for all kinds of diseases. It contains In the Old Testament, Bi'r Shaba' is the name of the place where this event happened for Hajar and Isma'il. Recommendation of Tahnik with the water of Zamzam (An Islamic tradition that is when the baby is born, one pushes baby's palate by his finger. In hadiths, it is recommended to perform this tradition by making the finger wet with Zamzam water). With the help of the signs, Abd al-Mutalib found the spot. He called on his son Harith and they both started to search for the hidden well by digging the ground up to the point where Ismael had dug the well and had put stones around it. There, they could find water.

Required Cookies & Technologies

In 1374/1954-5, a building was constructed on Zamzam at the same time with installing a water pump over the well. Since this building hampered people from circulating Ka'ba, it was destroyed in 1383/1963-4. The whole establishment was moved underground with links of two rows of stairs to enter and exit. Due to these refinements, the new location of Zamzam well was five meters under the surface of al-Masjid al-Haram, and its one-meter opening was expanded into a five-meter one. Also its depth became 30-40 meters. Water of Mecca had been provided by Zamzam well. Afterwards, other wells were constructed in and around Mecca. Water of Zamzam well had always been significant and sacred in the eyes of Meccans. Using Zamzam water, they would perform ablutions for their corpses. Currently, water of this well is accessible to pilgrims of the Ka'ba through piping. Pilgrims often take the water to their countries as souvenir. Since the ancient times, people of Mecca had always been viewing Zamzam's water as a sacred water and used it to perform ablution for their corpses and other uses such as drinking. O God! Grant me beneficial knowledge and extensive sustenance and healing for any disease and pain through the bless of this water" In 1964 Mr.Akoo renovated his residential dwelling into a new and improved Zam Zam Retail store, this being a consolidation of the two small stores.