6
THE WELL OF ZAMZAM
By Ninie G. Syarikin
I've heard about that legend
since a very long time ago.
I couldn't really imagine
its existence and substance.
What I knew then
that people from all over
surface of the earth
sought that sacred water.
Zamzam!
The first time I tasted it
was in a very tiny cup
given by my pilgrim neighbor
who just came back from Makkah.
We would sit in a circle,
pricking our ears
to the many enchanting stories
about the Holy Land
and the zamzam well.
Zamzam
Water so clear and unique
that I hoped by drinking it,
I would be able to go there one day.
Imagine, when many years later,
I finally set foot
in the well compound,
underground.
Full of imaginations and expectations.
Throngs of women,
patiently awaiting their turn,
as though it didn't appear to matter
if they had to wait forever
to reach the well,
with their hands holding
bottles or containers to fill.
And once they got to the water faucets;
Subhanallah! Glory be to God!
They seemed to be in ecstasy,
each hurriedly filling the chained cup,
then drinking from it
like they had been stranded
in the desert for a decade.
They filled their containers
one, two, three. And then,
as if they couldn't get enough
to devour the zamzam,
they poured out the water
on their heads, which flowed
all over their faces and bosoms,
while I was observing all of this
in amazement.
Those women looked like
they were waking in a dream.
And, indeed!
Zamzam is a dream water,
streaming from ‘firdaus.’
Then I directed my sight to
the source of water,
the well of zamzam.
There, I noticed a few loners
standing close to the green glass
which circled and covered the well.
Seemingly touching and rubbing it
with all their hearts.
Yet, I couldn't see their faces.
Curious,
I came to approach them silently.
Slowly and softly,
I was hearing sounds of sorrow,
which I was trying hard to comprehend,
yet to no avail.
Were they crying?
Grieving?
Lamenting?
Moaning?
Mourning?
Sobbing?
Wailing?
Or, weeping?
Through the edges of my eyes,
I peeped how tears were
rolling down their cheeks.
Wahai!
Were they expressing
happiness and gratitude
of finally arriving here?
Or, were they manifesting
their love and loss for Hajar and Ismail?
So passionate was their emotion,
that I was convinced,
had that well been opened,
those loners would've plunged
wholeheartedly into
the depth of the water.
Astaghfirullah!
To Allah we seek pardon and protection
from excessive fanaticism!
I, too, felt overwhelmed and
started feeling wetness in my eyes.
I was deeply moved by the scene,
but was equally bewildered,
then quickly left,
lest I would change my mind.
I left them with their own thoughts,
then walked out in awe.
The water of zamzam
seemed to be continuously flowing
from the womb of Mother Earth.
Everywhere throughout the Masjidil Haram,
huge water containers and cups were
served for the pilgrims and worshippers.
Water tanks and faucets always
stood ready for ablutions.
Regardless of its never-ending consumption,
the well of zamzam didn't seem likely
to dry up.
Then I went to Madinah.
I saw convoys of trucks
with their gigantic water tanks,
carrying and distributing zamzam
at the Masjid An-Nabawi.
There,
that sacred water seemed to be
similarly overflowing,
it made me wonder if the well actually
had moved to Madinah from Makkah;
as well as some doubts lingering
in my mind,
if the water was simply local water.
To satisfy my curiosity,
I questioned another pilgrim,
which he answered
assuringly and believingly:
"The well of zamzam,
the well of miracles.
The one and only
for humanity."
However,
I opted to settle my doubts
in technology:
the underground pipes
from Makkah to Madinah.
Endlessly, I witnessed pilgrims
carrying big plastic containers,
and cheerfully filling them with zamzam
to take to their home countries.
I knew that later they would proudly
share with their neighbors,
each given a very tiny cup,
and that heavenly water would be
sipped and savored little by little,
with hopes and expectations flaring up
that someday,
everyone would visit that well of miracles
in the Holy Land.
Then,
each of those pilgrims would sit
in the middle of a circle
in his or her village,
and would be telling
all the stories and wonders of the hajj
to the pricking ears.
I was soon awakened from the film
I had been watching before me.
I was shocked to find that
fewer pilgrims were at the water faucets.
It seemed that everyone was
withdrawing from the scene,
perhaps to catch their buses and
planes home.
Immediately, I reached my containers
and headed to a water faucet,
and had my fill.
I was taking my time,
as those pilgrims were thinning
and enjoying as much as I could,
to breathe in the breeze of zamzam.
Me, too!
I am going to share this precious water
with my loved ones at home,
while reciting to them:
"The well of zamzam,
the well of miracles.
The one and only
for humanity."
NGS
Washington, DC, Thursday, December 31, 1998
GLOSSARY:
1. Zamzam: A well rewarded to Hajar and Ismail after Hajar ran to and fro in
search of water for her baby Ismail, when they were left in the desert. It is
about 150 meter southeast of the Ka’bah.
2. Firdaus: An Indonesian word for paradise.
3. Wahai: An exclamation of wonder in Indonesian or Malay language,
both for happy and sad feelings, equivalent with 'oh,' 'lo' or 'hi,' used to
show surprise or call attention to something or someone.
4. Astaghfirullah: An Arabic expression, which means 'I seek pardon from
Allah.'
5. Masjidil Haram: The huge mosque which surrounds the Ka'bah, which is
a large cube, a cement block structure the size of a tiny house, covered
by black velvet cloth with gold thread scriptures, situated in the city of
Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It is the center of direction for prayer for the
Muslims all over the world, five times every day.
6. Masjid An-Nabawi: The Prophet Muhammad's mosque with green
minarets, located in the tranquil city of Madinah, Saudi Arabia.