The Endless Well

This is a true story inspired by real events found in the noble Quran and Sunnah. Anything in the story other than the references recorded below, is a mere elaboration without any historical records or reports. The elaborated part of the story must not be interpreted as adding anything to the original source. It is merely an attempt to give the reader an opportunity to better understand the context of the events, whilst remaining within the spirit of the original source. Details of these real events are recorded in the following verses of the noble Quran and the Hadith accounts below.

Allah Almighty refers to how Murshidah Sayyidah Haajrah (RA) climbed Mount Safa and Mount Marwah in her time of need, and reminds mankind that these are from His symbols, in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verse 158:

Indeed (the Mounts of) Safa and Marwah are from the symbols of Allah (Almighty);

Then whosoever performs the pilgrimage of the House (of Allah Almighty) or Umrah, there is no culpability upon them when you revolve around them (as part of your worship);

And whoever volunteers for (the achievement of) betterment, then indeed Allah (Almighty) shall be the Patron of Gratitude and the Omniscient.

It is recorded in Riyadh Al Saliheen 1867, Book 18, Hadith 60 – reported by Murshid Imam ibn Abbas (RA), that the last and final Prophet Muhammad ﷺ reiterated the above events in the following manner:

“(Prophet) Ibraheem (AS) brought (Prophet) Ismaeel (AS) and his mother, while she was breastfeeding him, to a place near (where) the Ka'bah (now stands), under a tree on the spot (where eventually would emerge the Well) of ZamZam, at the highest place in (what would become) the Masjid. In those days, there was no human being resident in Makkah, nor was there any water. So, he made them sit over there (pointing to the exact spot where the family sat) and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates and a small waterskin containing some water, and set out homeward.

(Prophet) Ismaeel's (AS) mother (Murshidah Sayyidah Haajrah (RA)) followed him saying: ‘O Ibraheem! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is there anything (to eat or drink, or provision for our sustenance)?’ She repeated that to him many times, but he did not look back at her. Then she asked him: ‘Has Allah Almighty commanded you to do so?’ He said: ‘Yes.’ (Murshidah Sayyidah) Haajrah (AS) said: ‘Then He (Allah Almighty) will never neglect us.’

She returned while Prophet Ibraheem (AS) proceeded onwards. Having reached the Thaniya, where they could not see him, he faced (the direction of the) Ka'bah, raised his both hands and supplicated. This is recorded in the noble Quran at Surah Ibraheem (14), Verse 37:

“O our Sustainer, indeed, I have settled some of my offspring, in a valley which is not cultivated (with any food), but it is near to Your sanctified house; O Our Sustainer, (in order that) prayers may be established there, make the hearts of mankind incline towards them (and that place); and give them nourishment from the fruits (of Your provision) so that they may become eternally grateful.”

Riyadh Al Saliheen 1867, Book 18, Hadith 60 (continued)

Prophet Ismaeel's (AS) mother went on suckling the baby Prophet Ismaeel (AS) and drinking from the water that she had. When the water in the waterskin had all been used up, she became thirsty, and her child also became thirsty. She started looking at her baby Prophet Ismaeel (AS), frowning in distress. She left him, for she could not endure looking at him, and found that the mountain of Al Safa was the nearest mountain to her on that land. She stood on it and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody.

Then she descended from Al Safa, and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress and trouble until she crossed the valley and reached Al Marwah Mountain where she stood and started looking, expecting to see somebody, but she could not see anybody. She repeated that (running between Al Safa and Al Marwah) seven times.

When she reached Al Marwah (for the last time), she heard a voice and she exclaimed: ‘Shshs!’ (silencing herself) and listened attentively. She heard the voice again and spoke aloud (to herself): ‘O (whoever you may be)! You have made me hear your voice; have you any relief for me?’ And behold! She saw an Angel at the place of ZamZam, digging the Earth with his heel (or with his wing), until water flowed out from that place. She started to make something like of a basin around it, using her hands in this way and began to fill her waterskin with water with her hands, and the water was flowing out until she had scooped some of it.”

Holy Prophet ﷺ further said: “May Allah Almighty bestow His Mercy on the mother of Prophet Ismaeel (AS)! Had she not hastened (to restrain the flow of water from the well of), ZamZam would have been an uncontrollable stream (flooding the entire surface of the Earth).”

Holy Prophet ﷺ further added: “Then she drank (water) and fed her child. The Angel said to her: ‘Do not be afraid of being neglected, for this is the site on which the House of Allah Almighty will be built by this boy and his father, and Allah Almighty will never neglect its people.’ The (place of the) House of Allah Almighty (the Ka'bah) at that time was on a high place resembling a hillock, and when torrents came, they flowed to its right and left. She continued living in that way until some people from the tribe of Jurham passed by her and her child. As they were coming through that way in that manner, they descended to the lower part of Makkah; they saw a bird that had a habit of flying around water and not leaving it. They said: ‘This bird must be flying over water, though we know that there is no water in this valley.’ They sent one or two messengers who discovered the source of water and returned to inform them of the water. So, they all came towards the water.”

Holy Prophet ﷺ added: “Prophet Ismaeel's (AS) mother was sitting near the water. They asked her: ‘Do you allow all of us to stay with you?’ She replied: ‘Yes, but you will have no right of ownership over the water.’ They agreed to that.”

Holy Prophet ﷺ further said: “Prophet Ismaeel's (AS) mother was pleased with the whole situation as she used to love the company of the community. So, they settled there, and later on they sent for their families who came and settled with them.”