In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind

Radio Islam Green Muslims Series: Scientific Wonders of the Quran: WATER — PART 2

Water is essential in Islam. Besides being crucial for survival, water is needed to purify ourselves for prayer and important rituals. In Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:6), Allah SWT instructs us to purify ourselves with water in wudhu when we intend to offer Salah. Our Salah is not accepted if we do not purify ourselves according to the manner that has been prescribed. Allah, Most Generous and Kind, says that we may perform Tayammum by using clean earth to rub our faces and hands to purify ourselves in the absence of water. Alhamdulillah, many of us are blessed to have access to water for wudhu.

Water is also used for Ghusl (major spiritual purification), such as when entering into Ihram for Hajj or Umrah or bathing the deceased before burial. Sub’haanAllah! Water is central to our practice of Islam.

Just think for a moment. We need water to purify ourselves. To offer one of the five pillars of Islam, the Salah (prayer), to worship Allah SWT, many of us use water that we have access to directly from a tap. How easy Allah SWT has made it for us! Alhamdulillah!

Ponder on this. Salah is the basis of our faith and a means by which we will enter Jannah (Paradise) by the Will of Allah. May Allah SWT grant us all Janaatul Firdous Ameen.

We need water to purify ourselves for salah. Water is the first step towards salah and, thus, a step towards paradise (Figure 2)! That alone should make any Believer value and appreciate water incredibly highly.

Figure 2: Water – A stepping stone to paradise

Allah is Al-Hakeem, The All-Wise, and He knows why He has given water such elevated status for us as Believers. We should also elevate the status of water, place immense value in it and use it with the utmost care and respect. It is through Allah’s Infinite Mercy that He gives us access to water, which is essential to our faith, again and again:

“By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again” (At-Tariq 86:11)

Allah SWT tells us about His blessings in water and uses the parable of water reviving dead Earth to remind us of how he will bring us back to life on the Day of resurrection:

“Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the Earth, and the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allah sends down from the sky and make earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving (living creatures) of all kinds that he has scattered therein, and in veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the Earth, are indeed Aayat (proofs), evidence and signs, etc. for people of understanding. (Al-Baqarah, 2:164)

“And Who sends down (rain) from the sky in due measure, then We revive land therewith, and even so you will be brought forth (from the graves)” (Az-Zukhruf 43:11)

The miracle of these verses relate to the fact that from modern science, we know that beneath the ‘dead’ ground, there are millions of bacteria that lay dormant in the absence of rain. These bacteria come alive with the rain, produce nitrogen (fertiliser), and through this, Allah SWT makes dormant seeds sprout beneath the ground, then roots spread down and provide a habitat for other small insects and plants (Ahmed 2010).  This is so easy for Allah! How, then, can we have doubt in Allah’s ability to resurrect us on the Day of Judgement, as he has promised?

“Verily, this (Quran) is the Word that separates (the truth from falsehood, and commands strict laws for mankind to cut the roots of evil)” (At-Tariq 86:13).

May Allah SWT grant us to meet Him in the most beautiful state of purification, where we will be granted paradise for obeying the Commands of Allah as per the Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), Ameen.

During the holy month of Ramadaan, after a day of fasting, is it the greatest blessing to be able to break our fast with pure, clean water. SubhanAllah! It is the most incredible feeling to quench the thirst with water, miraculous, perfect and sacred creation of Allah Most High. I’m sure many of us appreciate water much more during the blessed month.

Many hearts are open to giving charity and helping those who are less fortunate during Ramadaan.

Nabi (SAWS) said: “The most virtuous charity is that you satisfy a hungry stomach” (Bayhaqi, Shu’ab al-iman)

Water is foundational in undertaking this virtuous act of feeding someone, including the production, processing and preparation of food. Even if you do not have much to give, water can increase your ability to do so.  Nabi (peace and blessing be upon him) encouraged us to help those in need by saying:

“When you prepare some broth (soup), add more water and be thoughtful for your neighbours.” (Muslim)

May this knowledge bring us closer to Allah SWT, and may we appreciate all the simple pleasures, such as clean water, that He has bestowed upon us. Ameen

And Allah SWT knows best.

Author: Dr Rashieda Davids

References:
Ahmad, Yusuf Al-Hajj, 2010. Scientific Wonders on the Earth and in Space. Darussalam. ISBN:978-603-500-042-0

ibn Yusuf Mangera, Abdur-Rahman, 2005. Provisions for the Seekers. A Manual of Prophetic Hadiths with Commentary. The Zãd al-Talibin of Shaykh Ashiqilahi Al-Bulandshehri. A translation and commentary by Abdur-Rahman Ibn Yusuf. ISBN: 978-0-9728358-8-6