adams flickr screen
zam zam water - sufficient for 2 ++ million pilgrims in hajj! 18ft x 12ft x 5ft
ABOUT HISTORY OF ZUMZUM.
www.iccservices.org.uk/news_and_events/updates/zamzam_stu...
In Zum Zum there lies a sign for those who seek the truth about Islam, and the truthfulness of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him); of Allah, the Creator of the laws of hydraulics and ground-water flow and the well of Zum Zum.
About 4,000 years ago, a young infant was crying for water and rubbing his feet in the sands of a desolate valley, where stands today the magnificent house of God, the Ka'aba, and the city of Makkah. His mother was running in between the nearby hills known as Safa and Marwa in search of water, possibly to ask for water from a passing caravan. All of a sudden, she saw water gushing out under the feet of her infant son. This was the beginning of the famous well of Zum Zum that continues to flow even today.
The infant was Ismael and his mother Hajira, wife of Ibrahim. At that time, these two were the only habitants of the valley of Makkah, described in the Holy Quran as a valley without a blade of grass. They were left in the then barren valley by Hazrat Ibrahim under the command of Allah who had a great designs for the place. They were the first citizens of Makkah, the most revered place and seat of the religion of Islam. Makkah, today, is a city with more than a million people and the well of Zum Zum is located in the heart of the city.
The well of Zum Zum is the oldest flowing well in the world and is located right in the Mutaf (circling area around the Ka'aba), about 150 feet from Baitullah Sharif and towards eastern the side. As she was trying to contain the newly-appeared spring, Hajira said "Zum Zum" meaning "stop" or "hold on." Since then, this water has been flowing and carries the name of Zum Zum.
After being in use for many centuries, it disappeared after the Bani Jurham, a tribe of Makkah in whom Ismael was married, filled it up with soil before leaving Makkah. It remained obliterated and untraced for quite a few centuries till its location was disclosed in a dream to Abdul Mutallib, the grandfather of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in the first half of the 6th century AD, that is about 540 AD. Hazrat Abdul Mutallib, in spite of opposition from the local leaders and chieftains of Makkah, excavated the ground with the help of his only son, Haris, till he found the well (in all, he was blessed with ten sons, but nine were borne after the rediscovery of Zum Zum).
The well's dimension of 18ft x 12ft x 5ft of water depth was measured in 1971 by Tariq Hussain, a Pakistani chemical engineer who was then working with the Saline Water Desalination Corporation at the Jeddah plant. He was assigned to take a water sample from the well of Zum Zum for chemical and biological examination, and to disprove the claim of an Egyptian doctor that the water of Zum Zum is contaminated with sewage leakages from Makkah's sewage system. The dimensions measured by Tariq Hussain in 1971 are the same to which the well was excavated by Hazrat Abdul Mutallib, and has remained unaltered for 1,400 years.
The city of Makkah is located in a valley with hard, granite mountains on all sides, and the Haram Sharif (Masjid-ul-Haram) located at its lowest point. There is about 50 to 100ft deep sandy silt formation underlain by igneous rocks. The well of Zum Zum is located in this sand/silt formation and its water level is about 40 to 50ft below the natural ground level.
The source of the well of Zum Zum has been traced to an aquifer extending out to the hills of Taif. This was accidentally discovered in June 1982, while a tunnel on the Safa side of Haram Sharif was being excavated. While excavating the tunnel roof, water profusely started flowing, so much so that the contractor was confronted with a difficult situation. At the same time, the flow into the Zum Zum well turned slack and for the first time in 1,400 years, the well almost ran dry. His Majesty, King Fahad of Saudi Arabia, immediately appointed a committee to look into the matter that included Dr Adnan Niazi, professor of Geo-Physics at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
The water tests showed that the tunnel water and the water in the well of Zum Zum were the same and therefore it was confirmed that the tunnelling operation had ruptured the aquifer bringing water to the well. Immediate repairs were undertaken and as the rupture was closed, the Zum Zum flow was restored. A visit to the tunnel saw almost a flood coming out of the ruptured roof of the tunnel in the month of Ramzan in (June) 1982.
Before discussing the well of Zum Zum any further, the ground-water theory and equations that govern its flow into a well have to be discussed to provide a basis to the readers for comparing the hydraulics of the Zum Zum well with the ground-water theory. There are two types of wells, namely open and deep wells (also called tube wells)
Open wells are hand-dug wells in a shallow water table and can be up to 10 to 15ft in diameter. The depth generally is less than 100ft and the sides, if not by rocks, are held by loosely-joined bricks or stone masonry to allow the water to percolate into the well. The bottom is loaded with gravel to stop sand boil in case of high discharge and high draw in the well level.
The main disadvantage of such a well is low discharge, about 0.1 cubic ft per second or 45 gallons per minute or less, since higher discharge will cause higher draw in the well, causing sand boil in the bottom, muddy discharge and ultimately well failure due to collapse of the well sides.
Deep wells penetrate deep into aquifers and are machine-bored. If bored in solid rocks, they are without screen and if in alluvium or fine sand, a screen is provided to hold the formation. These wells are 12 to 15 inches in diameter and operate for high discharges up to three cubic ft per sec (1,326 gallons per minute).
The well of Zum Zum used to have a manual system of drawing water, till the early 1950s. In those days, the peak discharge drawn during Haj season would just suffice the number of Hajis not exceeding a hundred thousand.
Today, Hajis exceed 2.2 million and in addition, the Zum Zum water is being pumped to Masjid-i-Nabvi in Madina through a 450km-long pipeline from Makkah. The installed pump capacity today is 3 cft/sec (1,350 gallon/minute).
The well of Zum Zum has been in operation since the last 1,450 years at a stretch. Till an electric motor and pump was installed in the late 1940s or the early 50s, the discharge never exceeded 0.05 cft/sec (about 22.5 gallons per minute). The discharge from the well since then is on a constant rise with an increase in number of Hajis. It has now reached 3cft/sec (1,346 gallons per minute) and runs constantly for hours per day, and sometimes without stopping for days.
It must be mentioned here that in 1968, as a result of a high-intensity storm during the Haj season, the Baitullah got flooded and the water level stood at the door sill of the Ka'aba, about 7ft above the ground. The basement of Haram Sharif was flooded and about 30 Hajis died by drowning. It was then thought by the authorities that since the run-off has entered the Zum Zum well, it should be cleaned. Therefore, after the water in the Mutaf was pumped out, high-discharge pumps (up to 4cft/sec, i.e. 1,800 gallons/min) were installed to remove the accumulated water in the well.
The idea was to use these pumps to dry out the well, and then allow it to be filled by pure Zum Zum filtering through the sand. It is on record that even 4cft/sec pumps could not lower the water level in the well. After it was observed that there was no sign of the well drying up, the attempt was abandoned after a few hours of pumping.
The Zum Zum well testifies what the blessed Prophet (Peace be upon him) said that when the spring appeared under the feet of the infant Ismael, his mother, Hazrat Hajira, while trying to contain the water with her hands, said "Zum Zum." Had she not said this, with Allah's mercy this water would have sufficed the whole of humanity.
Today, Zum Zum water is supplied to 2.2 million Hajis during the Haj season and to Madina. All the laws of hydraulics and ground-water flow have failed in the case of Zum Zum, a living miracle in witness to the truth of Islam. Zum Zum tastes slightly different from fresh water due to the presence of calcium and magnesium salts. These salts help to take away the feeling of tiredness and refresh its users. It is a common for returning Hajis who take Zum Zum to their places to find it fresh on its use even after many years.
There is no other well in Makkah valley with the same characteristics as Zum Zum. Few wells that exist have a very small discharge with typical desert characteristics.
Any open well in the world, after a few years, suffers from the growth of algae, making water unpalatable and causing taste and odour problems. Here, Zum Zum has been operational for fourteen centuries without any biological or algae growth, and remains in use without any kind of treatment (recently chlorination is being done by Saudi authorities).
In Zum Zum there lies a sign for those who seek the truth about Islam, and the truthfulness of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him); of Allah, the Creator of the laws of hydraulics and ground-water flow and the well of Zum Zum.
zam zam water - sufficient for 2 ++ million pilgrims in hajj! 18ft x 12ft x 5ft
ABOUT HISTORY OF ZUMZUM.
www.iccservices.org.uk/news_and_events/updates/zamzam_stu...
In Zum Zum there lies a sign for those who seek the truth about Islam, and the truthfulness of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him); of Allah, the Creator of the laws of hydraulics and ground-water flow and the well of Zum Zum.
About 4,000 years ago, a young infant was crying for water and rubbing his feet in the sands of a desolate valley, where stands today the magnificent house of God, the Ka'aba, and the city of Makkah. His mother was running in between the nearby hills known as Safa and Marwa in search of water, possibly to ask for water from a passing caravan. All of a sudden, she saw water gushing out under the feet of her infant son. This was the beginning of the famous well of Zum Zum that continues to flow even today.
The infant was Ismael and his mother Hajira, wife of Ibrahim. At that time, these two were the only habitants of the valley of Makkah, described in the Holy Quran as a valley without a blade of grass. They were left in the then barren valley by Hazrat Ibrahim under the command of Allah who had a great designs for the place. They were the first citizens of Makkah, the most revered place and seat of the religion of Islam. Makkah, today, is a city with more than a million people and the well of Zum Zum is located in the heart of the city.
The well of Zum Zum is the oldest flowing well in the world and is located right in the Mutaf (circling area around the Ka'aba), about 150 feet from Baitullah Sharif and towards eastern the side. As she was trying to contain the newly-appeared spring, Hajira said "Zum Zum" meaning "stop" or "hold on." Since then, this water has been flowing and carries the name of Zum Zum.
After being in use for many centuries, it disappeared after the Bani Jurham, a tribe of Makkah in whom Ismael was married, filled it up with soil before leaving Makkah. It remained obliterated and untraced for quite a few centuries till its location was disclosed in a dream to Abdul Mutallib, the grandfather of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in the first half of the 6th century AD, that is about 540 AD. Hazrat Abdul Mutallib, in spite of opposition from the local leaders and chieftains of Makkah, excavated the ground with the help of his only son, Haris, till he found the well (in all, he was blessed with ten sons, but nine were borne after the rediscovery of Zum Zum).
The well's dimension of 18ft x 12ft x 5ft of water depth was measured in 1971 by Tariq Hussain, a Pakistani chemical engineer who was then working with the Saline Water Desalination Corporation at the Jeddah plant. He was assigned to take a water sample from the well of Zum Zum for chemical and biological examination, and to disprove the claim of an Egyptian doctor that the water of Zum Zum is contaminated with sewage leakages from Makkah's sewage system. The dimensions measured by Tariq Hussain in 1971 are the same to which the well was excavated by Hazrat Abdul Mutallib, and has remained unaltered for 1,400 years.
The city of Makkah is located in a valley with hard, granite mountains on all sides, and the Haram Sharif (Masjid-ul-Haram) located at its lowest point. There is about 50 to 100ft deep sandy silt formation underlain by igneous rocks. The well of Zum Zum is located in this sand/silt formation and its water level is about 40 to 50ft below the natural ground level.
The source of the well of Zum Zum has been traced to an aquifer extending out to the hills of Taif. This was accidentally discovered in June 1982, while a tunnel on the Safa side of Haram Sharif was being excavated. While excavating the tunnel roof, water profusely started flowing, so much so that the contractor was confronted with a difficult situation. At the same time, the flow into the Zum Zum well turned slack and for the first time in 1,400 years, the well almost ran dry. His Majesty, King Fahad of Saudi Arabia, immediately appointed a committee to look into the matter that included Dr Adnan Niazi, professor of Geo-Physics at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
The water tests showed that the tunnel water and the water in the well of Zum Zum were the same and therefore it was confirmed that the tunnelling operation had ruptured the aquifer bringing water to the well. Immediate repairs were undertaken and as the rupture was closed, the Zum Zum flow was restored. A visit to the tunnel saw almost a flood coming out of the ruptured roof of the tunnel in the month of Ramzan in (June) 1982.
Before discussing the well of Zum Zum any further, the ground-water theory and equations that govern its flow into a well have to be discussed to provide a basis to the readers for comparing the hydraulics of the Zum Zum well with the ground-water theory. There are two types of wells, namely open and deep wells (also called tube wells)
Open wells are hand-dug wells in a shallow water table and can be up to 10 to 15ft in diameter. The depth generally is less than 100ft and the sides, if not by rocks, are held by loosely-joined bricks or stone masonry to allow the water to percolate into the well. The bottom is loaded with gravel to stop sand boil in case of high discharge and high draw in the well level.
The main disadvantage of such a well is low discharge, about 0.1 cubic ft per second or 45 gallons per minute or less, since higher discharge will cause higher draw in the well, causing sand boil in the bottom, muddy discharge and ultimately well failure due to collapse of the well sides.
Deep wells penetrate deep into aquifers and are machine-bored. If bored in solid rocks, they are without screen and if in alluvium or fine sand, a screen is provided to hold the formation. These wells are 12 to 15 inches in diameter and operate for high discharges up to three cubic ft per sec (1,326 gallons per minute).
The well of Zum Zum used to have a manual system of drawing water, till the early 1950s. In those days, the peak discharge drawn during Haj season would just suffice the number of Hajis not exceeding a hundred thousand.
Today, Hajis exceed 2.2 million and in addition, the Zum Zum water is being pumped to Masjid-i-Nabvi in Madina through a 450km-long pipeline from Makkah. The installed pump capacity today is 3 cft/sec (1,350 gallon/minute).
The well of Zum Zum has been in operation since the last 1,450 years at a stretch. Till an electric motor and pump was installed in the late 1940s or the early 50s, the discharge never exceeded 0.05 cft/sec (about 22.5 gallons per minute). The discharge from the well since then is on a constant rise with an increase in number of Hajis. It has now reached 3cft/sec (1,346 gallons per minute) and runs constantly for hours per day, and sometimes without stopping for days.
It must be mentioned here that in 1968, as a result of a high-intensity storm during the Haj season, the Baitullah got flooded and the water level stood at the door sill of the Ka'aba, about 7ft above the ground. The basement of Haram Sharif was flooded and about 30 Hajis died by drowning. It was then thought by the authorities that since the run-off has entered the Zum Zum well, it should be cleaned. Therefore, after the water in the Mutaf was pumped out, high-discharge pumps (up to 4cft/sec, i.e. 1,800 gallons/min) were installed to remove the accumulated water in the well.
The idea was to use these pumps to dry out the well, and then allow it to be filled by pure Zum Zum filtering through the sand. It is on record that even 4cft/sec pumps could not lower the water level in the well. After it was observed that there was no sign of the well drying up, the attempt was abandoned after a few hours of pumping.
The Zum Zum well testifies what the blessed Prophet (Peace be upon him) said that when the spring appeared under the feet of the infant Ismael, his mother, Hazrat Hajira, while trying to contain the water with her hands, said "Zum Zum." Had she not said this, with Allah's mercy this water would have sufficed the whole of humanity.
Today, Zum Zum water is supplied to 2.2 million Hajis during the Haj season and to Madina. All the laws of hydraulics and ground-water flow have failed in the case of Zum Zum, a living miracle in witness to the truth of Islam. Zum Zum tastes slightly different from fresh water due to the presence of calcium and magnesium salts. These salts help to take away the feeling of tiredness and refresh its users. It is a common for returning Hajis who take Zum Zum to their places to find it fresh on its use even after many years.
There is no other well in Makkah valley with the same characteristics as Zum Zum. Few wells that exist have a very small discharge with typical desert characteristics.
Any open well in the world, after a few years, suffers from the growth of algae, making water unpalatable and causing taste and odour problems. Here, Zum Zum has been operational for fourteen centuries without any biological or algae growth, and remains in use without any kind of treatment (recently chlorination is being done by Saudi authorities).
In Zum Zum there lies a sign for those who seek the truth about Islam, and the truthfulness of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him); of Allah, the Creator of the laws of hydraulics and ground-water flow and the well of Zum Zum.