Jami' al-Saghir / Jam' al-Jawami' (al-Suyuti) 4-910b

Translation

Machine translation, not reviewed

"From 'Abd Allah ibn Zurayr al-Ghafiqi, he said: I heard 'Ali ibn Abi Talib narrating the story of Zamzam, saying: 'While 'Abd al-Muttalib was sleeping in al-Hijr, he was approached and told: 'Dig the Mudnunah.' He said: 'And what is the Mudnunah?' Then it departed from him. When the next day came, he returned to sleep in the same place, and he was approached and told: 'Dig Tibah.' He said: 'And what is Tibah?' Then it departed from him. When the next day came, he returned to his bed and slept, and he was approached and told: 'Dig Zamzam.' He said: 'And what is Zamzam?' It said: 'It will neither run dry nor be blocked.' Then it described its location to him, and he rose to dig where it had described. The Quraysh said to him: 'What is this, O 'Abd al-Muttalib?' He said: 'I have been commanded to dig Zamzam.' When it was uncovered and they saw the silt, they said: 'O 'Abd al-Muttalib, we have a share in it with you, for it is the well of our father Isma'il.' He said: 'It is not yours; I have been singled out for it over you.' They said: 'Will you judge between us?' He said: 'Yes.' They said: 'Between us and you is the soothsayer of the Banu Sa'd ibn Hudhaym, who was among the nobles of Syria.' 'Abd al-Muttalib rode with a group of the sons of his father, and from each clan of the branches of the Quraysh a group rode. At that time the land was barren wilderness between the Hijaz and Syria. When they were in a desert of those lands, the water of 'Abd al-Muttalib and his companions ran out until they were certain of destruction. Then they asked the people for water, and they said: 'We cannot give you water, for we fear the same fate that has befallen you.' 'Abd al-Muttalib said to his companions: 'What do you think?' They said: 'We see nothing but that we follow your opinion.' He said: 'I see that each one of you should dig his own grave. Whenever one of you dies, his companions shall put him in his grave, until the last of you is left, and his companion will bury him. The loss of one man is easier than the loss of all of you.' They did so. Then he said: 'By Allah, if we cast ourselves into death, we will not wander in the land seeking. Perhaps Allah, may He be exalted, will give us water.' He said to his companions: 'Set off.' They set off, and he set off. When he sat upon his she-camel and it rose with him, springs of sweet water gushed forth beneath its hoof. He made it kneel, and his companions made their mounts kneel. They drank, drew water, and gave to drink. Then they called to their companions: 'Come to the water, for Allah has given us drink.' They came, drew water, and gave to drink. Then they said: 'O 'Abd al-Muttalib, by Allah, it has been decided in your favor. The One who gave you water in this wilderness is the One who gave you Zamzam. Go, for it is yours, and we will not dispute with you.'"

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