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October 10, 2006

Saudi Arabia: Fake Muslim Water - Another Ramadan Zam Zam Scam

We reported on September 30 and earlier on the bottles of fake Zam Zam water, which always seem to appear at Ramadan. Today, Channel 5 TV news showed the offending plastic flagons of the water, made of opaque brown plastic, and styled like a Greek amphora, with round handles by the neck. These bottles' origins are still unknown. Tests on the water inside show high levels of both nitrates, and also arsenic.

The UK Food Standards agency warns people "not to buy or drink commercially available brands of Zam Zam water and to inform their Local Authority Environmental Health or Trading Standards Department if they come across Zam Zam water on sale."

"...This advice does not relate to the genuine Zam Zam water being brought into UK by returning pilgrims, as an accompanied or unaccompanied 'personal import'."

True Zam Zam water comes from only one source, a spring near Mecca in Saudi Arabia and officially, its distribution is strictly controlled. Pilgrims on Haj and Umrah regularly drink the water as it is said to possess spiritual and health-giving properties. Pilgrims are allowed to take very small amounts of this water back home with them, but never in any quantities to be commercially exploited. The maximum that any pilgrim can take away is five gallons.

The demand for Zam Zam water during Ramadan, Islam's holiest month, is high. The reason lies in its alleged special "properties" - it was drunk by Mohammed, the founder of Islam.

According to Sahih Muslim (no 2473), "the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said to Abu Dharr, who had stayed near the Ka'bah and its coverings for forty days and nights with no food or drink other than (Zamzam): "How long have you been here?" Abu Dharr said: "I have been here for thirty days and nights." The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "Who has been feeding you?" He said, "I have had nothing but Zamzam water, and I have gotten so fat that I have folds of fat on my stomach. I do not feel any of the tiredness or weakness of hunger and I have not become thin." The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Verily, it is blessed, it is food that nourishes."

As well as satisfying both hunger and thirst, it was said by the so-called "prophet" to have healing properties. He apparently said: "The best water on the face of the earth is the water of Zamzam; it is a kind of food and a healing from sickness."

The well, 35 miles deep and surmounted by a small dome, is located east of Mecca. Tradition has it that the well was placed there for the benefit of Hajira, the wife of prophet Ibrahim and her child, the future prophet Ismail, while the pair were dying of thirst in the desert.

But the exploitation of real Zam Zam water is now happening at Mecca itself, states Arab News. Gangs of mostly Bangladeshis, Burmese, Africans and now even Saudis are ripping off the faithful to make money.

The water from the Zamzam well is supposed to be free. There is no government supervision of the distribution stations where pilgrims queue to get their Zam Zam water. The station open to the general public has 14 taps, and these alone are insufficient to cope with the constant demands of pilgrims. The water from this station is free. The other station has at least 40 taps, and is not accessible to the public. Here workers from an authorized company use the 40 taps to fill bottles, which is then sold to waiting pilgrims for a small fee.

But the fraudsters arrive early in the morning to be first in line, carrying with them large drums, along with five smaller drums. They wait in line then return to their positions along the road nearby, where they fill their small drums with water from the large drum.

Pilgrims, seeing the massive queues at the official stations, are tempted to buy the water sold by the street hawkers, at a price far higher than the original Zam Zam water.

Near the station was a hidden location, where the Arab News reporter found Burmese individuals mixing normal water with Zam Zam water. Pilgrims are angry. A Jordanian pilgrim said: "You can't trust these people, they mix Zamzam with normal water. An expert will easily notice that the water has been mixed and that they have been cheated."

Another from the United Arab Emirates said: "I was once cheated by these gangs. The water they are selling is not pure Zamzam water. I am standing here in this long line to fill Zamzam water because I do not want to be cheated again....Where are the police? How could they ignore people and allow these people to cheat pilgrims?"

Where the Burmese men were filling drums with water, the ground was dirty, and a large pile of rubbish lay nearby. Mosquitoes buzzed about. The reporter asked for a 20 liter drum to be filled with Zam Zam water. This was done, for the cost of 17 Riyals ($4.53).

One of the Burmese gang said he made 1,000 to 1,200 Riyals ($267 to $320) every day. He explained: "In the last 10 days of Ramadan I make between 1,500 to 1,800 Riyals ($400 to $480) per day. This is not illegal; this is just an opportunity to make an honest living. Those that do not want to buy from us can just wait in line. Our job is to provide a quick service to pilgrims."

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at October 10, 2006 2:11 PM

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