Some facts on this well
The well is situated on the front side of the Ka’bah that has the door, about 21 metres from the wall of the Ka’bah.
The tribe of Jurhum began living in Makkah when the well of Zam-zam was discovered by the mother of Ismail (alaihis salaam). He learnt Arabic from them and married a woman from that tribe. When the Jurhum had a fight with the Juza’ah tribe, they fled, destroying the structure of the well and concealing it. 26 centuries passed. Abdul Muttalib, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)’s grandfather found the well via a dream.
Zam-zam quenches millions every year for over 14 centuries and has never run dry.
The well pumps out between 11 to 18,5 litres of water pers second.
Water used to be drawn from the well until 1953 when electric pumps were installed.
The flow of the water comes from 3 directions: from the Hajre Aswad, Mount Abu Qubais and Mount Marwah. There are other minor sources as well.
In the time of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) there were 2 ponds, one for drinking and one for Wudhu.
The well is about 5,000 years old, one of the oldest on earth.
It is a spring from the streams of Paradise.
Now the well area has been closed and a square, marble manhole marks the spot.
As the number of people coming to Makkah increases, so too does the water rise. When they leave the water subsides.
From: Umm al-Qura, Bilal bin Ahmad
