by Cherryl Floyd-Miller

Created on: May 27, 2008

Imagine the value of water that has special healing properties because it contains a higher concentration (200 mg) of calcium, magnesium salts and fluorides.

Imagine that same water is free of biological contaminants and can both quench thirst and satisfy hunger.

For those who practice Islam, there is a special kind of water believed to contain all of these these properties. According to Islamic belief, the water comes from a famous well that is not more than five feet deep in al Masjid al-Haram, a sacred mosque in Mecca.

As the tradition goes, Haajra (Hajar or Hagar), second wife, after Sara, of Ibrahim (Abraham) and mother of Ismaa'eel (Ishmael), was trying to find water for her son in the hot, dry valley of Mecca. She ran back and forth between two wells seven times and could not find water. When she realized there was no water to be found, she climbed to the top of Mount al-Safaa and prayed to Allah for help. Allah sent Jabreel (Gabriel), who struck the earth and made water appear.

In another version of the story, water suddenly appeared at the feet of Ishmael and Hajar surrounded the water source with sand and stones. Still another version reveals Gabriel scraping the ground with his heel or brushing it with the tip of his wing and sprouting water.

The name itself is thought to have come from Hajar herself. Islamic beliefs teach that Hajar uttered the words "Zam Zam" to stop the well from flowing too abundantly when the water finally came.

Because Zam Zam water is said to strengthen the heart and calm the soul, many practicing Muslims seek the water when they are on Hajj, the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. Many who encounter Zam Zam during Hajj, take the precious liquid back with them as gifts to their respective countries or dip their pilgrimage garments in Zam Zam. Visitors to the mosque who consume Zam Zam water are encouraged to drink the liquid until they are full and rub it over their faces, heads, hands and feet.

Additionally, the original journey of Hajar has become an important focus of commemoration during Hajj. Men are required to run seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa before drinking Zam Zam water.

The magic and the mystery of Zam Zam water seems to rest on the fact that it heals whatever the person ingesting it drinks it for. If there is an ulcerated eye, then it cures the ulcer. If the body's problem is a gastrointestinal infection, the infection disappears. So it has to be taken and given with extreme sincerity.

Even the Qu'ran speaks about

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