Dr Muhammad Umar Riaz Abbasi: Until we actually stop to think about it, it can be easy to take the natural resource that is water for granted. While we do not tend to see or
realize just how much water we waste on a daily basis; it is still something very valuable to life and something that many people around the world are lacking in and praying for. n today’s convenient world, we often don’t think twice before wasting water on unnecessary things such as washing our cars or just running the tap waiting for the correct temperature. When we run a long bath, flush the toilet, excessively wash dishes, brush our teeth or spend extra time in the shower just because we feel like it – it can be easy to forget about those who are in desperate need for something we all too often waste.
As one of the most important elements in nature, water is needed and required for almost all life and everything that we do relies upon this wonderful element.Water is a valuable resource in both life and in the ways of Islam, and as such, it is considered a great charitable act in Islam to give water to another living thing on earth. Such act is greatly rewarded and brings us closer to Allah SWT. A living thing can be another human being, an animal or even a plant; these are all Allah SWT's reations.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) once narrated:“The best form of charity is to give someone water.”Another way we tend to waste water is in the performing of wudhu (ablution); it is not necessary to overuse water during the performance of ablution, so long as what you are using is sufficient enough to complete the necessary ghusl (Bath).There are many ways in which we can save water in our daily routines, such as using a small bucket of limited water in which to perform ablution with, or turning the tap off whilst brushing our teeth -along with many other ways we can look into recycling water.
“… And waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters.” – The Holy Qur’an (7:31)
The simple act of giving someone water is highly rewarded in Islam, so imagine the reward for giving the use of a water source? This is regarded as sadaqah jaariyah and its rewards will benefit the giver even after their demise – so long as others continue to benefit from this given source of water.
Such an act of giving can be done by way of donating towards our water and sanitation projects. These allow us to dig wells for those in need and provide water pumps where needed. Even if a bird drinks from this source of water, the giver will benefit and receive a blessing for it. Giving access to water and sanitation can help save lives. Our water campaign aims to deliver water sources to those in need, and include anything from hand pumps to digging a well to building a water purification plant; your donation goes towards making a huge difference for someone in need. The first Muslims lived in a desert, so they were very concerned about water conservation. The Noble Qur’an mentions the Arabic word for water (Ma’) 63 times. Imagine, each Prophet (may Allah bless them all) has an intimate story with water. Prophet Adam (Peace be upon him) was made from water. Allah took a handful of the dust of the earth and mixed into it the colors, white, black, yellow and red. That is the reason why men are born different colors. When Allah mixed the dust with water, it turned into potter's clay that makes a sound. It was fermented and had a smell. Iblis passed by, wondering what was going to be made of that clay. From the clay Allah created Adam. He molded his form with His own hands and blew His spirit into him. Adam's body quivered as life was imbued into it. “Verily His Command, when He intends a thing is only that He says to it, "BE!" and it is!” (Qur’an, Surah Yasin, 36:82).
Allah the Almighty declared: “Verily the likeness of Jesus, in Allah's Sight is the likeness of Adam, He created him from the dust then He said to him. “Be!" — and he was.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-‘Imran, 3:59).Prophet Ayoub (Peace be upon him) was cured by water. Almighty Allah also instructed: "Remember Our slave Job, when he invoked His Lord saying: "Verily! Satan has touched me with distress (by losing my health) and torment (by losing my wealth)! *Allah said to him: “Strike the ground with your foot: This is a spring of water to wash in and cool and a refreshing drink. *And We gave him back his family, and along with them the like thereof as a Mercy from Us, and a reminder for those who understand.” (Qur’an Surah Saad, 38:41-43) Prophet Ismail (Peace be upon him), son of Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) is linked to the holy Zamzam spring. Ibn Abbas narrated: "The first lady to use a girdle was the mother of Isma'il. She used a girdle so that she might hide her tracks from Sarah (by dragging it). Ibrahim brought her and her son Isma'il while she was suckling him to a place near the Kaba under a tree on the spot of Zamzam at the highest place in the mosque. During those days there was nobody in Mecca, nor was there any water so he made them sit over there and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates and a small water skin containing some water and set out homeward.” Water is discussed literally hundreds of times in the hadith, the documented sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad. Water conservation was explicitly encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, especially while washing even when taken from a large river.
‘By means of water, we give life to everything.’ (Surah Al-Anbiya’, 21:30) Imagine, water is so precious, it is considered a fundamental human right. This is so that the caliph Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) bought a well exclusively for the Muslims in Madinah, and it was free for all. The first priority is to quench the thirst of humans, the second one the animals, and in third the crops. Islamic law sets punishments for those who do harm by polluting the water. To stay healthy each
person needs about 55 gallons of water each day to clean, cook and drink. Some people do not get even that while other people consume ten times this amount every day.
