Zamzam water being sold in Dhaka at sky-high prices

Muslims believe the best water in the world is the water of the Zamzam Well, located 21 metres southeast of the Holy Kaaba in Saudi Arabia. 

People from distant areas get the opportunity to drink water from this well and use it for ablution and bathing when performing Hajj or Umrah. They also bring this water for their families on their return. While pilgrims have to pay 10 Saudi riyals (Tk282) for a sealed five-litre bottle of Zamzam water, there is no charge for a small bottle or a glass of water.

However, this Zamzam water is now being sold in the capital. At least 250 small traders are doing this business in the Baitul Mukarram market area, and the lowest price is a whopping Tk3,500 per litre. Moreover, the authorities do not monitor or regulate the sale of Zamzam water.

Traders are reluctant to talk about the sale of Zamzam water in detail: how they collect it, how it is sold throughout the year, or if ordinary water is being mixed.

This undated photo shows a bottle of Zamzam water at a store in Dhaka Bangla Tribune

There are some customs for drinking Zamzam water as per Hadith; for example, facing the Qibla, saying Bismillah, drinking in three gulps, and finally saying Alhamdulillah, etc. One of the important things to do while drinking Zamzam water is to pray to Allah.

Regarding the sale of Zamzam water, Khatib of Gulistan Pir Yemeni Jame Mosque in the capital Imranul Bari Sirazi said selling Zamzam water is permissible and legal. The principle of Sharia is that the sale of any legitimately owned property is permissible and lawful. When a person receives Zamzam water as a gift, he becomes its owner. The sale of any property is legal in Sharia.

Sirazi is also the founder and Muhtamim (principal) of Markajush Sheikh Arshad Al Madani Madrasa in Dhaka.

Md Harun Mia, 65, runs a small shop on the ground floor of Baitul Mukarram market. "I sell high-quality Ihram clothes, towels, zainamaz, atar, cap, etc. In addition to this, I also sell Zamzam water. 

“There is a lot of demand for the water of the Zamzam Well, which we cannot meet. We talk to pilgrims going for Hajj and collect Zamzam water after paying them in advance.”

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He sells five-litre bottles for Tk3,600 but refused to disclose how much he pays to purchase them.

Mohammad Ullah, 40, another shopkeeper selling Zamzam water, said at least 250 traders sell Zamzam water in the Baitul Mukarram area. 

“But no one can sell it regularly. Many collect the water from the Zamzam Well with the help of Hajj pilgrims. Others collect it through various agencies. We pay them for the water, and sell it after calculating the cost and other expenses,” he said.

Some traders sell the water in retail – like in 250ml bottles at Tk300-350 – but customers do not trust the authenticity in such cases. The wholesale rate of small bottles is around Tk250, according to Mohammad Ullah.