Islam Encourages Water Conservation and Charity of Water
Special Article to Commemorate World
Water Day (March 22)
By
Aadil Affan, New Age Islam
22 March
2022
March 22 is celebrated globally as the World Water Day. Water is the most precious blessing on the planet, and the most important necessity of human life since the world was created. It is an essential element for the continuation of life for all living creatures and plants. In fact, water is at the core of sustainable development and it is critical for socio-economic development, energy generation, food production, healthy ecosystems, and for human survival itself. With the impact of climate change on the earth, we are seeing such extremes of weather throughout the world which require water conservation, but we never realize how much water we waste on a daily basis; we unnecessarily use water for washing our vehicles, taking long baths, flushing the toilet, excessive washing of dishes, brushing our teeth or spending extra time in the shower just because we feel comfortable, while a large number of people around the world do not have easy access to water or they simply struggle for it.
We send down purifying water from the sky. (Al-Furqan25:48)
-----
As we know
that four things are considered among the basic elements of the universe and
all other elements come under these. They are fire, earth, air, and water.
These are divided into two major groups: living things and non-living objects.
Apart from water, other three elements can only create non-living objects, but
they can’t form living bodies. It is only the fourth element that is water
which can form living bodies. If there is no water, this universe will have
only and only inanimate objects and no living thing can be imagined, that is
why it is rightly said that “Water is life.” And the Holy Qur’an mentions, “We
created every living thing by water” (30: Al Anbiya). Leonard da Vici said,
“Water is the driving force for all nature.”
Water
Crisis and Challenges
• 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed
drinking-water services. (WHO/UNICEF 2019)
• Almost 2 billion people depend on health
care facilities without basic water services (WHO/UNICEF 2020)
• Over half of the global population or
4.2 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services. (WHO/UNICEF 2019)
• 297,000 children under five die every
year from diarrhoeal diseases due to poor sanitation, poor hygiene, or unsafe
drinking water. (WHO/UNICEF 2019)
Now we need
to ponder how much water we waste on a daily basis, while Islamic teachings pay
special attention to preserving and using the water judiciously and, it
strongly prohibits to waste or use anything excessively. As Allah says in the
Holy Qur’an, “And do not waste excessively, Allah does not love the
wasters.” (31: Al ‘Aaraf). A large number of communities that do not have
access to clean water face unimaginable hardships, with women and children
walking for hours to collect even a little water. Water scarcity has damaged
the standard of living for inhabitants of the Middle East as well.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also
Read: Water As A Central Mercy In Islamic Beliefs And
Scriptures
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Islam
encourages to give water as a charity. Because of desertification and water
crisis the Arabian Peninsula is faced with a major problem which is also
leading to huge environmental challenges. How important water is can be
understood that once the Prophet was asked, “Which charity is the best?” He
replied, “Water” (Abu Dawūd). There is also a prophetic tradition that
highlights the value of water. It goes like, “A little dog in need of water was
given assistance by a man who descended to the bottom of a pit with great
difficulties, held his shoe with his mouth to fill it with water and then made
the little dog drink it. Because of this noble work, the man was awarded divine
favour “Jannah”.
Worshippers make an offering at the Tirta Empul Temple on May 6, 2013 in
Bali, Indonesia. They believe that water from the spring is holy and has the
healing power.
-----
The charity
of water saves lives, which is hugely appreciable, and it is considered a big
charitable act in Islam to give water to other living things on earth. Such an
act is greatly rewarded and it brings us closer to Almighty Allah. Talks about
rain, fountains, and rivers pour through the pages of the Qur’an as a symbol of
Allah’s benevolence to human beings. Allah says, “And whoever saves one
life, it is as if he had saved all of mankind.” (32: Al Maidah) Imagine
this every single time that the water you gifted saves someone’s life. It is as
if you have saved all of mankind. Hence, this precious and most valuable
natural resource must be used with respect and the highest degree of
responsibility, and in an equitable manner both individually and collectively.
----
Aadil
Affan is a Research Scholar, JMI New Delhi
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-environment/water-conservation-charity/d/126622
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism