The Well of Zamzam is a lasting miracle

1 / 2
The old rails and bucket of the Zamzam well preserved in a museum. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 01 August 2020
Follow

The Well of Zamzam is a lasting miracle

  • For thousands of years, thirsty pilgrims have relied on the blessed source for drinking water and spiritual inspiration

JEDDAH: It is one of the most enduring miracles of Islam, representing God’s mercy. The Well of Zamzam first sprang 5,000 years ago under the feet of the Prophet Ismael after his mother Hagar, the second wife of Ibrahim, ran seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwah looking for water to save her thirsty son.

The name of the well comes from the phrase Zome Zome, meaning “stop flowing,” a command repeated by Hagar as she attempted to contain the spring water.

The well’s ever-clean water has no moss, insects, fungus, or any other impurities. It contains a higher level of natural minerals than normal desalinated water. For this reason, it has a distinct, heavy taste.

Pilgrims are always keen to drink from the well and carry bottles filled with the water to their homelands since it is believed to be a natural source of healing for the sick, according to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).




The Zamzam water bottling plant in Makkah. (SPA file photo)
​​​​​​

The development and maintenance of the Well of Zamzam has been of major importance, with the water source protected for centuries in many ways.

As the main source of water for visitors to Makkah in ancient times and for present-day pilgrims, the well has never stopped generating the blessed water for Muslims, except for a short period of time.

Throughout the ages, the well was guarded by Abd Al-Muttalib bin Hashim, grandfather of Prophet Muhammad, then by many Muslim caliphs up until modern times, when it fell under the protection of Saudi kings starting with the founder of current Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz.

In the past, the holy well was protected in a primitive way, but during the late King Abdullah’s reign, a great leap was taken with regard to developing the way the well was maintained. He changed the methods of filling and distributing water across the Two Holy Mosques.

He also started the King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Zamzam Water Project (KPZW) in 2013.

With the increasing number of visitors coming for Umrah and Hajj, the demand for Zamzam water also rapidly increased. This necessitated more development for the well.

The construction cost of the project amounted to more than SR700 million ($187 million).




Chinese blue-and-white porcelain sealed Zamzam water bottle from the 19th century. (Khaliili Family Trust)

The project did away with many of the old unprofessional methods related to pumping, filtering, distributing and filling the water, replacing these with the newest, safest technologies.

In the past, the water used to be bottled manually in different-sized containers, without following an authorized bottling process, resulting in unwanted water pollution.

With this new project, however, there are two main sizes of authorized containers — 5 and 10 liters — in which the water is treated, bottled, stored, and distributed efficiently.

Before the end of the Hajj or Umrah journey, visitors make sure to get a bottle or two of Zamzam water before they leave, which in previous years used to result in chaos and unorganized queues. Today, the project allows water containers to be distributed to pilgrims inside buses or in airports in order to save time and prevent crowding.




Water distribution centers have been placed in various corners of the Makkah Grand Mosque for easy access to worshippers.
 

Inside the Two Holy Mosques, the water is provided in coolers that undergo a daily cleaning and filling process.

The online purchase of Zamzam water is a part of the National Water Company’s project, which was initiated following the suspension of sales as a precaution during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Zamzam water is now distributed via the Saudi electronic business platform HNAK, which offers home delivery service as well.

Extraction, pumping and continued surveillance of storage and pipelines are achieved through the optical fiber technology of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition network.

With all these technologies, the quality of Zamzam water’s natural minerals is preserved and sustained according to meticulous research carried out to determine the most suitable methods of pumping and filtering.




Volunteers distribute bottled Zamzam water to pilgrims inside a bus. (AN file photo)

To prevent all the characteristics of Zamzam water from being affected by any external natural contaminations, the Zamzam Studies and Research Center has applied rigorous quality control.

“In order to be able to manage the Well of Zamzam in a sustainable manner, we need to have a full understanding of the environmental and hydrogeological setting of this holy well and the sources of water reaching it, including water conductors in the area,” Samer Showman, president of the research center, told Arab News.

“We need to see how the water is being stored and how fast it is moving and the types of minerals it extracts through its journey between the rocks to understand what characterizes the fingerprint of Zamzam water.

“We have linked the mathematical model with a rainfall data network and rainfall stations in a different part of the aquifer to determine the exact volume and quantity of water that can be extracted throughout the year in Wadi Ibrahim,” he added.

Showman said that a special laboratory for Zamzam water in Makkah tracks and tests different samples of the water, which are analyzed on a weekly basis to maintain water quality.


Kingdom adds 5,969 architectural heritage sites to national register

Updated 9 sec ago
Follow

Kingdom adds 5,969 architectural heritage sites to national register

  • Total is now 34,171, reflecting the cultural richness, diversity of all regions
  • Initiative aims to protect heritage sites from encroachment or neglect and ensure their preservation for future generations

RIYADH: The Heritage Commission has registered 5,969 new architectural heritage sites in the National Register of Architectural Heritage, bringing the total to 34,171.

These sites reflect the richness and diversity of architectural heritage across the Kingdom’s regions, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The newly registered sites are: 3,893 in Asir, 761 in Qassim, 499 in Baha, 483 in Makkah, 258 in Riyadh, 60 in Hail, eight in Jazan, four in Jouf, and three in the Eastern Province.

The commission said its registration efforts are ongoing and cover all regions. The process is based on heritage regulations and follows a board decision authorizing the commission’s CEO to register sites.

The initiative aims to protect heritage sites from encroachment or neglect and ensure their preservation for future generations, the SPA reported.

Registering new sites is part of a broader effort to identify, document and manage cultural sites. The sites are added to digital maps for easier management, protection and preservation. A comprehensive database is being built, including documentation and photographic archives.

The commission encouraged citizens and enthusiasts to report urban heritage sites through its reporting platform, X account, or regional branches. It also praised public awareness and participation in preserving national heritage.

Last week, the commission also announced the addition of 744 new archeological sites to the National Antiquities Register, raising the total to 10,061.

The new archeological sites are distributed as follows: Riyadh (253), Madinah (167), Najran (86), Tabuk (72), Asir (64), Qassim (30), Jazan (23), Eastern Province (13), Hail (13), Makkah (11), Jouf (10). and Northern Borders (2).


Saudi royal reserve tightens entry, picnic rules

Updated 33 min 30 sec ago
Follow

Saudi royal reserve tightens entry, picnic rules

  • Updates aim to protect the environment, vegetation, and wildlife while encouraging ecotourism through public excursions and outdoor activities
  • Visitors can access the reserve daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with prior authorization via the authority’s website

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority has updated entry and picnic regulations for the Al-Suman and Al-Dahna areas within the location. 

The updates aim to protect the environment, vegetation, and wildlife while encouraging ecotourism through public excursions and outdoor activities.

Visitors can access the reserve daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with prior authorization via the authority’s website, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently. 

Permit requests must be submitted at least two days in advance and include visitor details, companion information, vehicle type, and a commitment to follow environmental rules. 

Registered residents of administrative centers within the reserve are exempt from this requirement, the SPA added. 

The authority stressed the importance of complying with regulations, including bans on hunting, wood gathering, open fires, driving over vegetation, littering, noise, visual pollution, and any other harmful activities. 

These measures aim to limit environmental damage, especially in ecologically rich areas showing notable recovery in recent years. 

The update aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals for royal reserves and the Saudi Green Initiative, which seeks to protect recent environmental gains and promote wildlife and plant growth in thriving basins and meadows.


How Saudi child life specialists are supporting young patients

Updated 17 min 33 sec ago
Follow

How Saudi child life specialists are supporting young patients

  • Emerging field focuses on welfare of children undergoing medical treatment
  • Specialists aim to reduce anxiety by using play, educating patients

RIYADH: When a 9-year-old boy recovering from a kidney transplant refused to turn on the lights or speak to anyone, a child life specialist entered his room and comforted him by playing in the dark. Weeks later, she watched him take his first steps to recovery, both physically and emotionally.

Raghad Al-Salamah, among the first Saudis to work in the child life field, said the genre plays an important role in preparing children and families for the experience of hospitalization.

She told Arab News: “The main focus of child life is helping families and children cope with their hospitalization and cope with their negative experiences.”

Child life specialists provide support tailored to the child’s age and emotional needs, aiming to reduce anxiety through preparation and play-based methods.

Their work includes explaining medical procedures in ways children can understand while creating a more supportive environment in clinical settings.

Al-Salamah said that, over time, the effect of child life services becomes visible in how children approach their treatment.

She said: “I see the impact during hospitalization: I see that in their eyes, I see how they are, how excited they are I’m here, and how they are coping with their illness … And how they are taking their medication, going through their procedure.

“Sometimes they are doing some procedure with no sedation. So, I really see the impact in the eyes of children and their families.”

Al-Salamah added that some families and healthcare providers still confused the role of child life specialists with other professions in the hospital.

She added: “Some of the families, and healthcare providers, don’t understand what child life is and what it’s doing, so they always mix us up with a play therapist or with a social worker or even with a psychologist.”

Child life specialist Raghad Al-Salamah from Abdulrahman’s Oasis speaks with Arab News. (Screengrab)

She explained how specialists work to educate children about the treatment they will receive, helping them cope with any difficulties. 

A study titled “Reducing Anesthesia and Healthcare Cost Through Utilization of Child Life Specialists in Pediatric Radiation Oncology” found that the presence of certified child life specialists reduced the need for anesthesia by 16 percent among children undergoing radiotherapy.

Another study, “Benefits of a Family-Centered Approach to Pediatric Induction of Anesthesia,” found that when a family-centered model including child life specialists was used, the need for sedation before procedures dropped from 41 percent to 13 percent.

Al-Salamah said she was drawn to the field to prioritize children’s experience in healthcare, adding: “I always was concerned, and had questions regarding the child who had the diagnosis and would live his life with the diagnosis.

“I was always focusing on educating the children and preparing them for their diagnosis and what they would be going through while they were here in the hospital.”

Expanding the role of child life specialists, Al-Salamah said, could strengthen the overall hospital experience for patients and healthcare teams.

“Most hospitals need to begin integrating child life specialists into their programs,” she said. “It has an impact not only on the children, but also on their families and the healthcare teams. It helps everyone in the hospital.”

While child life remains relatively new in Saudi Arabia, the field is gradually being integrated into pediatric care.

Fadi Munshi, executive director of Abdulrahman’s Oasis, the child life foundation in the Kingdom, said that at the early stages of implementation, many people, including healthcare staff, were unfamiliar with its role.

Munshi told Arab News: “We had to raise awareness and explain how emotional and psychological safety support can make a big difference in a child’s healing.”

Munshi said the response from institutions had been encouraging, and added: “Today, two main hospitals have child life teams, and staff often say they cannot imagine going back. Doctors, nurses and families all notice how children are more relaxed and cooperative during procedures.

“Their experience during the hospital stay is more positive, which eventually helps everyone in the healthcare system.”

He said some hospitals had already made significant progress in implementing these services, while others were continuing to build awareness and training capacity.

“We hope that every hospital in the future (can have these services) and this is one of our main goals: that every single child in Saudi Arabia in every hospital can have this care in the future,” Munshi said.

He added that many families had reported improvements in how their children handled their treatment, and said: “Families often tell us their child is less afraid, more comfortable. They ask specifically for the child life team to be present during some stressful painful procedures.”

Fahd Al-Thunayan, the chairman of Abdulrahman’s Oasis, said child life services played a vital role in improving hospital environments for young patients.

He told Arab News: “Everyone knows the fear and anxiety that comes with entering a hospital — how much more (is it) for a child who doesn’t understand many things?”

Child life specialists help create a more humane treatment environment, he said, using various methods to ease pain and provide emotional support.

He added: “The result is a child who is more comfortable, cooperative and less stressed, which reflects positively on faster recovery and better quality of life in the hospital.”

Al-Thunayan said the foundation continues to support efforts aimed at expanding access to the services across the Kingdom, and added: “We aspire for every hospitalized child to have access to child life specialists who support them psychologically and socially, just as they are treated physically.”


Najran’s Al-Manjam Village showcases centuries of mudbrick heritage

Updated 55 min 5 sec ago
Follow

Najran’s Al-Manjam Village showcases centuries of mudbrick heritage

  • 7 tall buildings for meetings, storage, horses
  • Site has stood for over 300 years, says official

Riyadh: Located on the northern bank of Wadi Najran, the historic village of Al-Manjam showcases distinct mud architecture and is a key cultural landmark in the region.

The village features seven towering mudbrick palaces, each from four to seven stories high. These buildings include a mosque, horse stables, majlises (meeting rooms), grain storage areas, and upper balconies.

The site is enclosed by a thick mud wall with three main gates, preserving its historical significance, according to a recent Saudi Press Agency report. 

Rashid Al-Manjam, the village’s supervisor, said the site has stood for over 300 years and has undergone restoration over the past two decades, transforming it into a heritage destination for history enthusiasts and tourists.

Each building reflects distinct architectural styles and functions. The Al-Mashoulq structure has sloping angles and a low roof, while the Al-Murabba and Al-Qasaba buildings are circular that narrow at the top, often constructed on corners for defense.

The Al-Muqaddam, a three-story building with an inner courtyard, serves as both a majlis and storage area.

Constructed from local materials including mud, palm fronds, tamarisk and sidr wood, these buildings illustrate a sustainable relationship with the environment. 

Al-Manjam said that ongoing preservation efforts align with Saudi Vision 2030. 

The aim is to revive national heritage, empower local communities, and transform heritage villages into tourist destinations, thereby strengthening cultural identity and contributing to the national economy, he said.


KSrelief extends support to 4 nations in need

Updated 53 min 14 sec ago
Follow

KSrelief extends support to 4 nations in need

RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief continues to make a significant global impact by providing critical assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

The agency recently distributed 1,600 food baskets to displaced people in the South Jazirah district of Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State, benefiting 9,709 families.

KSrelief also distributed 1,250 food baskets to displaced families in the Shikan locality, North Kordofan State, benefiting 8,092 individuals.

In Chad, the agency delivered 125 tonnes of dates as a gift from Saudi Arabia, in the presence of Chad’s Minister of Social Action, Solidarity and Humanitarian Affairs Zara Issa, in N’Djamena.

Acting Charge d’Affaires at the Saudi Embassy in Chad Mohammed Al-Salem praised KSrelief’s humanitarian and relief efforts around the world, highlighting the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities.

In the Syrian Arab Republic, KSrelief distributed 10,382 cartons of dates in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, benefiting thousands of families.

Recently, KSrelief signed a cooperation agreement with the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage to establish four water desalination stations in Khan Younis and the Central Governorate of the Gaza Strip.

The project includes four desalination stations with a production capacity of 10–12 cubic meters per day, installation works, and four solar power systems with 7 kilowatt capacity each. It is expected to benefit 300,500 individuals.

The agreement is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to support the water and sanitation sector and ease the suffering of the Palestinian people amid the humanitarian crisis.