It is related that Maulana Abdul Muttalib (AS) was told in a dream, "Unearth Zamzam - the hidden treasure of the great Shaikh." Maulana Abdul Muttalib (AS) awoke and said, "Allah make it clear to me!" He went back to sleep and was spoken to again, "Unearth Zamzam; that which doesn't dry up." Maulana Abdul Muttalib (AS) awoke again and said, "Allah make it clear to me!"

It was said to him, "Unearth Zamzam to quench the thirst of the massed pilgrims of Haj." Maulana Abdul Muttalib (AS) again awoke and said, "Allah make it clear to me!" Then it was said to him, "Unearth Zamzam; between the remains and the blood, where the crow will dig for the anthill- facing the red idols."

Maulana Abdul Muttalib (AS) went to al Masjid ul Haraam awaiting for events to unfold. As he sat there, a cow ran past followed by a group of people who were trying to slaughter her and from whom she had escaped with a little life left. She wandered into al Masjid ul Haraam and then collapsed. Her pursuers caught up, slaughtered and skinned her and took away the meat. Then a crow landed on the remains of the cow in search of an anthill.

At this point Maulana Abdul Muttalib (AS) rose and began digging at that very spot. The people of Quraysh questioned his action saying: “Why do you dig in the masjid? We do not take you to be ignorant." Maulana Abdul Muttalib (AS) answered, "I am digging a well here and will confront anyone who prevents me from doing so." So they held off because they knew of his virtue and commitment to his faith. Maulana Abdul Muttalib (AS) carried on digging until he came upon some swords and armor that had been buried in Zamzam when the well was filled in. He continued digging until he struck water; he dug deeper to make sure the flow didn't dry up.

When Quraysh witnessed this, they said, "Give us a share of what you have found." Maulana Abdul Muttalib (AS) refused claiming that this was a privilege that Allah had bestowed upon him. The tribes of Quraysh did not give up, they insisted that they go to an arbitrator. They decided on the Kahinat of Bani Saad in Shaam. A group of people from each tribe came along. On the way, the water supply was exhausted, the tribesmen gave up all hope and dug graves for themselves. At this juncture, Abdul Muttalib (AS) prayed to Allah. He mounted his camel; as the camel got up, fresh water sprang from beneath its hoof. The tribesmen were awestruck; unanimously they admitted that Allah had arbitrated between them, there was no need to go any further. Maulana Abdul Muttalib (AS) was indeed the rightful possessor of Zamzam. Allah who had bestowed on him this spring had likewise gifted him with Zamzam.

Zamzam was the well of Ismail (AS) - son of Ibrahim Nabi (AS). Allah provided him with water to quench his thirst in his infancy. When the Jurhum tribe left Mecca they buried these artifacts there, smashing the well and concealing the spot. When the Quraysh realized this was the well of their forefather Ismail (AS) and that Abdul Muttalib (AS) had been guided to it and given the honor of unearthing it and the treasures within it, their respect for him increased greatly.

When Maulana Abdul Muttalib (AS) unearthed Zamzam the Quraysh forsook all the other wells of Mecca and drew exclusively from Zamzam for its holy qualities. They drank from it and also bathed in its basin leading to the damage of the basin and the soiling of it. Maulana Abdul Muttalib (AS) then saw another vision in which he was told, "Declare that Allah has not given permission for bathers but has permitted drinking from it." So he announced this and thereafter anyone who bathed in Zamzam suffered afflictions.