There is a hadith, to the effect that it encourages drinking deeply of the water of Zamzam. I hope you will mention the hadith and clarify its degree of authenticity.

The questioner : The questioner says there is a hadith that encourages drinking deeply of the water of Zamzam. I hope you will mention the hadith and clarify its degree of authenticity.

The Shaykh : I do not have the degree of authenticity of this hadith at hand right now, but the scholars say that it is recommended (sunnah) for a person to drink from the water of Zamzam and drink deeply of it. The meaning of "drinking deeply" is drinking a lot, because drinking from the water of Zamzam has a special merit. It was narrated from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) until some people used to drink it to substitute for food and drink, and they would remain for a period of time relying on it, abstaining from food and drink. Some of the scholars even went so far as to drink the water of Zamzam to strengthen themselves for memorizing knowledge. People in the age of examinations no longer go to the water of Zamzam to drink it so that they can memorize their lessons. Perhaps one can benefit from the generality of the hadith one can benefit from it in this way. It can be said that it is for drinking to satisfy hunger and thirst only. But the thing that helps students to memorize is the mindfulness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because the more a person is mindful of Allah, the better he is at preserving knowledge. In fact, if he is mindful of Allah, his knowledge increases, as Allah the Exalted said: And al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "I complained to Waki' of my poor memory, so he directed me to abandon sins. He said: Know that knowledge is light, and the light of Allah is not given to a sinner."