Centuries later, Nahr Zubaydah still tells story of water, faith and service to Hajj pilgrims

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2026) The historic pools and reservoirs along Darb Zubaydah, the ancient Hajj route from Iraq to Makkah, still reflect the remarkable Islamic water engineering that turned a harsh desert journey into a safer passage for pilgrims by collecting and storing rainwater and floodwater.

According to SPA, the pools of Darb Zubaydah represented a unique humanitarian and engineering achievement in Islamic history, helping pilgrims and caravans travel through a route where thirst had once been one of the greatest dangers.

The system was not merely a chain of water points, but a carefully planned network of pools, reservoirs, dams and filters designed to collect floodwater, store rainwater and settle sediment so that cleaner water could remain available for travellers.

Darb Zubaydah, also known as the Zubaydah Trail, was one of the most important pilgrimage and trade routes of the Abbasid era, linking Kufa in present-day Iraq with Makkah and serving pilgrims coming from Iraq and other regions towards the holy sites.

The route is associated with Zubaydah bint Jaafar, wife of Abbasid Caliph Harun Al-Rashid, who is remembered in Islamic history for supporting water projects, wells, reservoirs and facilities for pilgrims.

Her name became linked in the Muslim world with Nahr Zubaydah, a symbol of service to pilgrims and water management in the holy places.

According to SPA, the pools varied in shape, including circular and rectangular designs, and were equipped with filters to settle sediment and dams to collect floodwater, showing the advanced understanding of water preservation in Islamic civilization.

These pools and reservoirs served as vital rest stations for pilgrims and caravans, offering water and relief during long journeys across difficult desert terrain.

Many of their features remain visible today, preserving their unique architectural character and telling the story of a civilization that linked faith with public service, engineering and care for pilgrims.

UNESCO also describes the pools, canals, wells, dams and reservoirs along Darb Zubaydah as an outstanding example of architectural and water management technology, reflecting human ingenuity in serving the Hajj journey.