Drinking Zamzam Water while Standing
Source: Silsilat ul-Hudaa wa
Noor – the Series of Guidance and Light - Tape no. 133
Question #14: “Is it from the sunnah to
drink zamzam water while standing?”
Shaykh
al-Albaani (rahimahullaah) answers:
“Now, the Messenger (of Allaah)
(sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) drank zamzamwhile standing, and at the
same time it is known that he prohibited drinking while standing. It is not
clear here that the Messenger (‘alayhi ssalaam) drank while standing for the
purpose of legislating (this from Allaah). Despite that, they will tell you
that the sunnah for drinking zamzam water in particular is
that it is drunk while standing. Then this was conveyed – from
drinking zamzam (while standing) at the place of zamzam –
to faraway countries where the water is transported, such that the one who
Allaah decreed for him to make Hajj comes with zamzam and wants to
give those present the water to drink, and each one stands up and drinks while
standing! Why? Because the Messenger drank while standing… But was it clearly
distinguished to you that he had the intention to make this a special ruling
for zamzam??
If we supposed that yes there is a
special ruling (for drinking zamzam water while standing at the place
of zamzam), but what about in every country of the world
when zamzam is brought to you, you stand up and drink standing, while
we know that the Messenger had prohibited drinking while standing?
So it is true that the Messenger
drank (zamzam) while standing, but what is apparent is that he did so due to
the severe crowdedness, as I say with regard to some narrations from the
Companion (Qudaamah bin) ‘Abdillaah al-‘Aamiree that he saw the Messenger
(‘alayhi ssalaam) during Hajj walking with the people around him, and there was
no driving away nor (saying) ‘please make way, please make way’[1]… The Messenger – the leader of mankind –
was there with the people around him, and no one was saying ‘make way for the
Messenger!’ (‘alayhi ssalaam); there was no driving away and (saying) ‘go
there,’ nor (saying) ‘please make way, please make way.’ No. So when the
Messenger wanted to drinkzamzam, the people were completely overcrowded around
him. If he wanted to drink according to the sunnah (i.e., drink
sitting) which he had established, they could trample him down until they would
crush him, because although those around him were seeing him, the big crowd
that was behind them could still rush over him. Therefore, when the
Messenger drank zamzam while standing, firstly it is not clear that
there was an intention of legislating, and secondly what is apparent is that he
did that due to the crowdedness and never for anything else. So the fundamental
principle with regard to zamzam water, like all waters, is that it is
drunk while sitting unless there is an Islamically legislated excuse.”
[1] Saheeh at-Tirmithee #903
