Zamzamwater

Zamzam is the well Allah opened for Hājar and Ismā‘īl in Makkah, and it has never dried since. Its blessing is established in authentic hadith. In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ said of it to Abu Dharr, who had lived on nothing else for many days: “It is blessed; it is food that satisfies.” In other narrations of the same story, from al-Tayalisi and al-Bazzar, the words “and a cure for illness” are added, and the scholars generally accepted this wording.

The famous hadith “Zamzam water is for whatever it is drunk for” — recorded by Ibn Majah and Ahmad from Jabir — has a disputed chain. Ibn al-Qayyim and al-Albani considered it hasan; al-Nawawi and Ibn al-Jawzi considered it weak. Even those who weakened it accepted its meaning in practice, because of the authentic texts on Zamzam’s blessing and because the Salaf drank it with intentions: Ibn ‘Abbas is reported to have asked Allah for beneficial knowledge, wide provision and cure from every disease when drinking it, and Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned drinking it for various needs and finding benefit.

For ruqyah, Zamzam is simply the best water to recite over and drink — the same practice as any recited water, with the added blessing of the well itself. It is not a requirement; those who cannot get it lose nothing by using ordinary water.

1. 1

   Get genuine Zamzam

   Real Zamzam is drawn only in Makkah. Get it from Hajj and ‘Umrah pilgrims (each may bring back a sealed 5-litre bottle from Jeddah or Madinah airport), from the sealed bottles sold in the Haram area, or from an established supplier who can show a chain back to Saudi distribution. Be wary of unbranded jerry cans at high prices, “Zamzam” from bulk online sellers, and anyone claiming special healing versions. If in doubt, ordinary water recited over is better than fake Zamzam.

2. 2

   Face the qiblah and say Bismillāh

   The Prophet ﷺ drank Zamzam standing, so both standing and sitting are fine. Say “Bismillāh”, and if you wish face the qiblah, as some of the Salaf did.

3. 3

   Make your intention and du‘ā

   Bring to mind exactly what you are drinking it for: cure from what you are suffering, protection from sihr and the evil eye, ease of your affair. Then ask Allah for it in your own words. You may use the du‘ā attributed to Ibn ‘Abbas: “O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, abundant provision, and cure from every disease.” Do not attribute this du‘ā to the Prophet ﷺ; it is a supplication of a Companion.

4. 4

   Recite over it if you are using it for ruqyah

   Treat it as recited water: recite al-Fātiḥa, Āyat al-Kursī, the last two verses of al-Baqarah, the three Quls and the verses of sihr, blow lightly, and close the bottle.

5. 5

   Drink your fill, and use it on the body

   It is from the Sunnah to drink deeply of Zamzam. Drink a glass morning and evening, and pour a little over the head or the site of pain. Some also mix a small amount into a larger amount of ordinary recited water to make it go further; the recitation is the main thing, so this is fine.

6. 6

   Store it well

   Zamzam keeps for a long time in a sealed, clean container out of the sun. Do not leave it uncovered or in a hot car.

How often / how long

Drink it daily while it lasts, particularly during a ruqyah plan. There is no fixed number of days. When it runs out, continue with ordinary recited water — the ruqyah is not interrupted.