The Zamzam Well, located 20 meters from the Kaaba, is believed to be the oldest of its kind.
Muslims believe that the arrival of Hazrat Ismail A.S. in Mecca in the year of his birth is the year in which Zamzam first appeared. The holy water fountain is approximately 4,000 years old according to the Hijri calendar.
The well is considered one of the most enduring miracles in Islam and represents the mercy of Allah Almighty. It is believed to be sacred in Islam as its origin is mentioned in important Islamic texts.
Prophet Ibrahim AS, his wife and their baby found water that was hard to come by in present-day Saudi Arabia.
The water is said to be important to more than a billion Muslims as believers believe it has healing powers in addition to its spiritual significance.
Zamzam’s name derives from the phrase Zome Zome, the words repeated by Hazrat Ibrahim’s wife while praying for freshwater. The water from this well contains a higher percentage of natural minerals and is the main reason for its different tastes.
The sacred well pumps water at a maximum flow rate of 18.5 litres per second and a minimum of 11 litres per second.
