By Mumtaz Moosa Saley

20:10:20

Spring was supposed to be the season of coolness and beautiful scenery; however, in the last few days, South Africa has been hit by a heatwave.

I have decided to put out a challenge to my friends, family and communities to take empty bottles that you would usually throw away, wash them out,  fill them with water and freeze them. Hand out these chilled bottles to people you may encounter in need of a thirst quencher.

The idea came to me as I ran on a hot summer’s day, As per Murphy’s law, my water bottle ran dry and a gardener who saw me offered to fill my empty bottle. Eureka! The idea of the challenge was born.  Since each one of us has the ability to ease someone else burdens without breaking the bank, it is an excellent opportunity to gain aajar.

My challenge to you: simply take one bottle a day and hand the iced water to a car guard, beggars, or even to commuters who are on their way to or from work, simply leave the bottle of water outside your front gate and trust me someone who is in need will be helping themselves without much effort.

I am encouraging you to be the change, challenge your family members to gift one iced bottle of water per day for 30 days.  Together we may save a life.

Together we can be the change we want to see in the world.

Providing water not only benefits a person in the hereafter, but it also has worldly benefits.

In whatever way possible, we should seek to quench the thirst of people and animals. Providing water to the public on a hot summer day in this country or elsewhere will also be a deed that will be greatly recompensed by Allah Most High. Along with that, the wider community will be able to appreciate the beautiful teachings of the saviour of humanity, our beloved Nabī (ﷺ), who was sent as a mercy for the world.

May Allah Most High grant us the ability to engage in this meritorious act as much as possible, to secure His Mercy in this life and the hereafter. Aameen.