Question Summary:
We are going to Makkah Insha’Allah and someone at work (non Muslim), have asked me to bring back some zam zam water for them. Is it permissible for them to consume the zam zam water?

Question Detail:

We are going to Makkah Insha’Allah and someone at work (non Muslim),  have asked me to bring back some zam zam water for them. Is it permissible for them to consume the zam zam water?

Answer :

Assalāmu `alaikum Warahmatullāhi Wabrakatuh,
Zam-zam water is one of the many signs of Allah Ta’ala. Zam-zam enjoys a lot of virtues and blessings. Below are some virtues:
 
1.      Zam-zam water is from jannah (paradise).
2.      Zam-zam is the best water on earth.
3.      Zam-zam is a cure for every sickness.
 
Sayyiduna Ibn Abbās رضي الله تعالى عنهreports that Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلمmentioned:
 
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم خير ماء على وجه الأرض ماء زمزم فيه طعام الطعم وشفاء السقم
The best water on the surface of this world is zam-zam. In it is food for the hungry and cure for the sick. (Tabarāni)
 
Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلمused to fill Zam-zam in water bags and sprinkle over the ill and give them to drink.
 
4.      The blessed saliva of Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلمis mixed in Zam-zam. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbās رضي الله تعالى عنهreports that Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلمrelates that Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلمcame to the well of Zam-zam so we drew out a bucket of water. Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلمdrank some water and spat out some back in the bucket. We poured the bucket back into the well. (Ahmad)
 
5.      Sayyiduna Jabir رضي الله تعالى عنهreports that Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid:
جابر بن عبد الله يقول سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم : يقول ( ماء زمزم لما شرب له )
 
Zam-zam is for what it is drank. (i.e. whatever intention/dua is made when drinking Zam-zam it will be fulfilled). (Ibn Majah)
 
6.      Drinking a lot of Zam-zam is a sign of Imān and disliking Zam-zam is a sign of hypocrisy.
 
عن ابن عباس رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم: قال ( إن آية ما بيننا وبين المنافقين أنهم لا يتضلعون من زمزم )
Sayyiduna Ibn Abbās رضي الله تعالى عنهrelates that Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلمmentioned:
“The difference between us and the hypocrites is that they do not drink a lot of Zam-zam. (Ibn Majah)
 
(Taken from the book Fadhlu Ma’iz Zam-zam).
 
 
Despite all these virtues of Zam-zam it is permissible for non-Muslims to drink of it. Upto one year after the conquest of Makkah Mukarramah non-Muslims were permitted to go for hajj and umrah. It is obvious that they too used to drink Zam-zam water.
 
(Kitābul Fatāwā 4/82)
 
One should explain them that this is sacred water hence it should be respected and used accordingly.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Ishaaq E. Moosa
Benoni.
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net