Recovery of Zam-Zam
By: Muslim
"Dig sweet clarity."
"What is sweet clarity?" Abdul Mutthalib asked in wonderment.
But the image had vanished. Although he did not understand it but he felt such peace by the incidence that the next night he again slept on the same spot. The second night the vision appeared again,
“Dig beneficence." It said and disappeared again leaving the chief bewildered.
The third night a similar thing happened and the command was,
"Dig the treasure hoard!" and again there was no chance of a reply.
But the fourth night, when the directive came, "Dig Zam-zam!", Abdul Mutthalib asked, "What is Zam-zam?" and he got the answer,
"Dig her you shall not regret
For she is your inheritance
From your greatest ancestor
Dry she never will, nor fail
To water all the pilgrim throng."
The people of Makkah had forgotten about this holy water from heaven and the vision or angel was making him remember the gift of Allah. Then the speaker told him to look for a place where there was blood, dung, an ants’ nest and pecking ravens. Finally he was told to pray for clear water that would water the pilgrims throughout their pilgrimage.
The dawn was breaking as 'Abdul al-Mutthalib rose. He performed the tawaf (seven rounds of the Ka'bah). After the last round he went to the door of the Ka'bah and prayed for what he had been ordered. As he turned after finishing his prayer, he saw ravens fly down to the spot, nearly opposite to the door of the Ka'bah, where sacrifices to the idols were made. There would be blood there, and dung from the sacrificial animals…..ravens had just alighted….he went and yes! There was also an ant's nest. So this must be the place!
He went home and brought back his only son, Harith, and a pickaxe. He started digging while his son guarded him. The guarding was necessary because although he was a most loved leader, this was also sacred ground. Maybe he did not want to tell people of what he was doing until he had solid proof. The sound of the digging soon attracted the attention of the people. They gathered round in surprise at what Abdul Mutthalib was doing. Some tried to interfere but he ignored them. At last he struck the stone covering the well. The people were even more amazed. More of them came to look as Abdul Mutthalib lifted the stone. Now the onlookers realized that here was something important going on and they wanted a share in it. Abdul Mutthalib refused on the grounds that he alone had been singled out for this honorable task. They insisted, and it was agreed to consult a diviner of Bani Sa'ad. As they left Makkah Allah Ta'ala showed some signs that confirmed that He had chosen Abdul Mutthalib for the honored job.
So he continued digging and found the buried treasure….swords, armor and two deer made of gold. The treasure was a moot point. Lots were cast as was the custom as to whom it should belong. It was to be decided whether the treasure would go to the tribe, to Abdul Mutthalib personally, or to the Sanctuary. As it were, none of it went to the tribe but was divided between the latter two. The care of Zam-zam was given to Abdul Mutthalib as he was in charge of watering the pilgrims anyway.
The Vow:
When Abdul Mutthalib had been digging the Well with unapproving people all around and only one son to protect him, he had felt the shortage of sons acutely. In those times, more sons meant more power of protection from hostile groups.
He felt much honored that Allah had chosen him out of all others as the instrument to the recovery of Zam-zam. Feeling close to Allah he prayed that if He would give him 10 sons who all grew to manhood, he would sacrifice one of them to Allah.
It seemed a far off possibility to have ten sons when he made this vow. But as the years passed Allah Ta'ala did bless him with 9 more boys. The youngest of these was Abdullah. Abdullah was the most handsome and noblest of all his sons; he was also his father's favorite.
The time came when Abdul Mutthalib could no longer delay his promise to Allah as all his sons were young men now. Because he was a man of his word, it never entered his head to break his vow. So one day he gathered all his sons and told them of his pledge. All of them agreed, their fathers vow was theirs even if it meant their life was at stake. Lots were to be cast as to which of the sons was to be sacrificed. They marked their arrows for the lots and proceeded to the Ka'bah. The lots driver cast the arrows and lo! Who should be chosen but the most adored one, Abdullah!
Abdul Mutthalib and Abdullah were ready for the sacrifice but Abdullah's mother and her tribe interfered; the sons also added their voice and it was demanded that Abdul Mutthalib renounce his vow and offer expiation instead.
After a long discussion it was decided that they go and ask for a solution from a wise woman residing in Yathrib, the land of the birth of Abdul Mutthalib. Father and son set forth and found the woman in Khayber a place near Yathrib. She told them to put 10 camels besides Abdullah and cast lots between them; adding 10 more camels each time the arrow was against Abdullah until the camels were accepted and the son acquitted.
They came back to Makkah and did as they were told. The lots were cast; 10, 20, 30 camels; still the arrow chose Abdullah. At last when the number of camels rose to a 100, then only were the animals chosen. Just to be very sure in his heart, Abdul Mutthalib did this 3 times before the camels were finally sacrificed instead of his son. After this the blood-money changed from 10 camels to 100 camels in Arabia. This tradition of a deet (blood money) of a hundred camels for a human life has been kept on by Islam. This is also why our Holy Prophet sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam was called the son of the “Slaughtered Two"……once after his ancestor, Hadhrat Isma'eel alaihis salaam, and then after his father, Abdullah bin Abd al-Mutthalib.
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