The Re-digging of Zamzam
حفر بئر زمزم
c. 550 CE
ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, directed by a dream, re-dug Zamzam and recovered the Jurhumite hoard; Quraysh’s challenge ended in arbitration confirming the well to him.
At a glance
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In time
In space
Map: Natural Earth, public domain · places and route from the graph
Overview
Abd al-Muttalib dug the well of Zamzam guided by a dream; in it he found the Jurhumites' buried treasures — he struck the swords into a door for the Ka'ba, and established Zamzam water for the pilgrims.
The story
Abd al-Muttalib was commanded in a dream to dig Zamzam, and its place was described to him; he dug and found in it the things the Jurhumites had buried when they fled into exile — swords, coats of mail and two gazelles of gold 1.
He struck the swords into a door for the Ka'ba and set the two gazelles in the door, and established the watering of pilgrims from Zamzam 1.
Quraysh's dispute
When the well of Zamzam appeared, Quraysh disputed with Abd al-Muttalib saying "share us in it"; he said: that I will not do. They would not leave him until they took him to judgment before a priestess of Banu Sa'd — and on the road God showed them what moved them to assign Zamzam to Abd al-Muttalib alone 1.
For young visitors
A dream came to Abd al-Muttalib showing him the place of the buried well of Zamzam; he dug it and restored its water for the pilgrims.
Connections
- Had participant
- Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim
- Occurred at
- Mecca
People and things also explored
ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib’s Vow and the LotThe Recovery of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib’s RightsThe Year of the Elephant and the Prophet's birthBanu HashimQurayshal-Abbas ibn Abd al-MuttalibAbu LahabAbu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib
Sources
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “The Re-digging of Zamzam”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/redigging-of-zamzam/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-12.