The Promise At Zamzam
The well of Zamzam, which disappeared when the Arabs
placed idols at the Ka'bah, remained buried under the sand.
Thus, for many years the people of Quraysh had to fetch their
water from far away. One day 'Abd al-Muttalib was very tired
from doing this and fell asleep next to the Ka’bah. He had a
dream in which he was told to dig up Zamzam. When he woke
up he was puzzled because he did not know what Zamzam
was, the well having disappeared many years before he was
born. The next day he had the same dream, but this time he
was told where to find the well.
'Abd al-Muttalib had one son at that time, and together
they began to dig. The work was so difficult that ‘Abd al-
Muttalib made an oath to Allah that if one day he were to have
ten sons to help him and stand by him, in return he would
sacrifice one of them in Allah's honor. After working for three
days they finally found the well of Zamzam. Pilgrims have
been drinking from it ever since. The years passed by and 'Abd
al-Muttalib did have ten sons. They grew into fine, strong men
and the time came for him to keep his promise to Allah. He
told his sons about the promise and they agreed that he had
to sacrifice one of them To see which one it would be, they
decided to draw lots, which was the custom of Quraysh when
deciding important matters. 'Abd al-Muttalib told each son to
get an arrow and write his own name upon it and then to bring
it to him. This they did, after which he took them to the Ka'bah
where there was a man whose special task it was to cast
arrows and pick one from among them. This man solemnly
proceeded to do this. On the arrow he chose was written the
name of 'Abd Allah, the youngest and favorite son of 'Abd al-
Muttalib. Even so, the father took his son near the Ka'bah and
prepared to sacrifice him.
Many of the Quraysh leaders were present and they became
very angry because 'Abd Allah was very young and much loved
by everyone. They tried to think of a way to save his life.
Someone suggested that the advice of a wise old woman who
The well of Zamzam, which disappeared when the Arabs
placed idols at the Ka'bah, remained buried under the sand.
Thus, for many years the people of Quraysh had to fetch their
water from far away. One day 'Abd al-Muttalib was very tired
from doing this and fell asleep next to the Ka’bah. He had a
dream in which he was told to dig up Zamzam. When he woke
up he was puzzled because he did not know what Zamzam
was, the well having disappeared many years before he was
born. The next day he had the same dream, but this time he
was told where to find the well.
'Abd al-Muttalib had one son at that time, and together
they began to dig. The work was so difficult that ‘Abd al-
Muttalib made an oath to Allah that if one day he were to have
ten sons to help him and stand by him, in return he would
sacrifice one of them in Allah's honor. After working for three
days they finally found the well of Zamzam. Pilgrims have
been drinking from it ever since. The years passed by and 'Abd
al-Muttalib did have ten sons. They grew into fine, strong men
and the time came for him to keep his promise to Allah. He
told his sons about the promise and they agreed that he had
to sacrifice one of them To see which one it would be, they
decided to draw lots, which was the custom of Quraysh when
deciding important matters. 'Abd al-Muttalib told each son to
get an arrow and write his own name upon it and then to bring
it to him. This they did, after which he took them to the Ka'bah
where there was a man whose special task it was to cast
arrows and pick one from among them. This man solemnly
proceeded to do this. On the arrow he chose was written the
name of 'Abd Allah, the youngest and favorite son of 'Abd al-
Muttalib. Even so, the father took his son near the Ka'bah and
prepared to sacrifice him.
Many of the Quraysh leaders were present and they became
very angry because 'Abd Allah was very young and much loved
by everyone. They tried to think of a way to save his life.
Someone suggested that the advice of a wise old woman who