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> The History of Sa’i, Zamzam Water, Mecca,
and Ka’bah |
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| The History of Sa’i,
Zamzam Water, Mecca, and Ka’bah |
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Since he was young, Ibrahim always
sought a personal relationship with his creator.
He believed that there is only one God. He left
his native city (Ur) in Mesopotamia after voicing
opposition to his people's polytheistic beliefs,
and eventually settled in Egypt with his family.
Later, he escorted one of his wives, Hajar, and
their infant son Ishmail, to a deserted valley in
Arabia and left them there, trusting in God's promise
to care for them.
Hajar, concerned about feeding her baby, began searching
the surroundings for food and water. She saw a water
spring around Marwah hill from the distance. But
by the time she got there, there was no water. Again,
she saw a water spring around Safa hill, but by
the time she got there, there was no water either.
She ran from Safa to Marwah back and forth for 7
times in searching for water. Finally;p she collapsed
beside Ishmail and prayed to ALLAH for deliverance.
Ishmail struck his foot on the ground and this caused
a spring of water to gush forth from the earth.
Hajar and Ishmail were saved.
Now Hajar and Ishmail had a secure water supply
they were able to trade water with passing traders
for food and supplies. In time, the traders decided
to settle in the little valley, and eventually the
settlement grew into the city of Mecca.
Years later, Ibrahim returned. When Ishmail was
about 13 years old, he and Ishmail constructed the
Ka’bah, an empty cube-shaped building, as
a place dedicated for the worship of the one God.
Eventually, Mecca became an important trading post
by the time of Prophet Muhammad, 2500 years later.
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| Note |
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The act of Hajar running from
Safa to Marwah back and forth for 7 times,
is one of the principal rites of Hajj and
is called sa’i. |
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The spring which miraculously gushed forth
at Ishmail's feet never stops gushing and
continuously gushing for thousands of years
up to now, called Zamzam water. |
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