PROPHET ISHMA'IL AND THE ZAM ZAM WELL

One day the Holy Prophet Ibrahim (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to Mecca with his wife Harija and his son Prophet Isma'il (peace be upon him) who she suckled. They put the child down close by the spot where the Ka'bah now stands.

In those days, Mecca was uninhabited and had no water. The Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) put a bag of dates and skin full of water next to them and went away. Harija ran after him and said "Ibrahim! Where are you going? Why have you left me in the wilderness where no-one will take pity on us? There is nothing here to eat and drink!"

She repeated this several times; but Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) did not listen to her voice. Then she asked him, "Has God commanded you to do this?" He replied, "Yes". "Then God will cause no harm to me" said Harija, and she turned back.

When Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) got out to sight, he faced towards Mecca and prayed: 'O Lord! Grant that some men may feel compassionate towards them, and give them all sorts of fruit so that they may be thankful."

After this, the mother of Prophet Isma'il (pbuh) began to suckle her child. She drank water out of the water skin until it was emptied. Soon after, her son felt thirsty. She could not bear to see him in such a plight. Harija ran seen times from the hill of Safa to Marwa in search of water. As she was about to start the eighth trip, she noticed the child. Desperate with thirst, he was crying and kicking the ground. Lo and behold, water gushed forth miraculously from the earth in the form of a fountain, to save Prophet Isma'il (pbuh) from suffering the tortures of thirst. So Harija drank the water and suckled her child.

This well is called the well of Zam Zam. Today all who participate in the Hajj run seven times between the two mountains of Safa and Marwa and drink water from the well, remembering the story of Prophet Isma'il and his mother. Some even believe that the waters have miraculous powers so they bring the water home for the sick to drink.

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS

One day, a dying dog approached a follower of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). The man couldn't find any way of getting water for the dog - in the desert, wells dry up quickly. Then he noticed a small pool of muddy water nearby. He tore his shirt, soaked it in the water, put the dog on his lap and moistened its mouth with a wet cloth.

Another Arab, seeing this, went to the Prophet and said, "One of your followers has touched a filthy animal, a dog; he shouldn't be allowed back here again."

Mohammed (pbuh) asked him, "What was he doing to the dog?"

"I don't know, but I saw him wetting its mouth with a torn piece of cloth dipped in muddy water," replied the man.

"He is a better Muslim than you are, because he is kind to animals," said the Prophet.