Question:

What do the scholars and experts of shari’ah say regarding Zamzam? Can this be drunk with the intention of gaining blessings and shifa?

Answer:

It is permissible to drink zamam water with the intention of gaining blessings and cure. Imam Ibn Maja, Imam Ahmad, Imam Al-Daraqutni, Imam Hakim, Imam Ibn Abi Shayba and Imam Bayhaqi in ‘Al-Sunan’, have all narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Zamzam water is for what it was drunk.” Imam Bayhaqi also narrated this in ‘Shu’b al-Iman’ from Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar.

There are great blessings in the water of Zamzam and it is also a means of cure. Imam Al-Daraqutni and Imam Hakim have narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abas the same hadith with the additional words that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The water of Zamzam is for what it was drunk. If you drink it seeking health, Allah will give you health. If you drink it to satisfy your hunger, Allah will satisfy your hunger. If you drink it to quench your thirst, Allah will quench it. Zamzam is a well made by Jibrail. He struck his foot on it and water gushed forth, by which Allah quenched the thirst of Ismail.”

A similar hadith has been narrated by Imam Daylami from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas with the additional wordings, “If you drink it seeking protection, Allah will protect you.” Imam Hakim, Imam Bayhaqi, Imam Mundhiri, Imam ibn ‘Ayni, Imam Dimyati have ranked this hadith as sahih. Hafiz Ibn Hajar has ranked this as hasan.

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr al-Ghifari has narrated that the Prophet ﷺ stated regarding the water of Zamzam: “It is blessed and it is a nourishing food.” Imam Tayalisi has narrated this with the additional wording, “It is a cure for the sick.”

And Allah ﷻ knows the best

This fatwa is written by Dr Hafiz Muhammad Munir Al-Azhari