Khutbah: The Virtue of Giving Water and the Prohibition of Its Waste

The Virtue of Providing Water and the Prohibition of Excess in Its Use Praise be to Allah, the Self-Sufficient, the Generous, who "sent down water from the sky, and valleys flowed with their capacity" [1]. We praise Him and give thanks to Him. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner; He made the sending down of rain and the growing of crops a sign of His Lordship, which necessitates His sole Divinity, with no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. May Allah send prayers, blessings, and peace upon him, upon his family, his companions, and his followers until the Day of Judgment. As for what follows: I exhort myself and you, O servants of Allah, to the fear of Allah, the Most High. He, the Exalted and Majestic, says: "And We have made from water every living thing; then will they not believe?" [2]. From this, it is obligatory to give thanks for this blessing from the Bestower of blessings, the Most High. Although one of the greatest ways to give thanks for it is to give in charity what remains of it and to offer it as a gift, and that is a great cause for averting calamity, as in the hadith of Sa'd ibn Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: "I said: O Messenger of Allah, which charity is the best?" He said: "Providing water" [3]. It is narrated in the hadith: "Whichever Muslim provides water to a Muslim who is thirsty, Allah will give him to drink from the Sealed Nectar" [4]. How could it be otherwise? A man entered Paradise because of a dog he gave water to! So how much more so for the children of Adam, and how much more so for a Muslim? [5]. Among the greatest endowments are water endowments. Perhaps many of us have heard of the blessing of the Well of Zubayda, and therein is a lesson. Zubayda is: Umm al-Aziz bint Ja'far ibn Abi Ja'far al-Mansur, the wife of Harun al-Rashid (may Allah have mercy on them). The origin of this well is from the Wadi Nu'man east of the Holy Mosque of Mecca, to the left of the route from the Holy Mosque of Mecca to Ta'if. Its traces remain to this day on the slopes of those mountains, for after her Hajj in the year 186 AH, she (may Allah have mercy on her) realized the extent of the difficulties that pilgrims face on their way to Mecca due to the shortage of water, and what they suffer from as a result of carrying water skins in terms of fatigue and exhaustion, and many of them died because of that. So Zubayda decided and ordered the digging of water channels connected to rainwater outlets. She bought all the lands in the valley, abolished the farms and palm trees, and ordered that a channel be cut for the water in the mountains. After she ordered the keeper of her funds to assign the most skilled engineers and workers to construct this well, the keeper of her funds confided to her the magnitude of the costs that this project would entail. She said to him: "Work, even if each stroke of the axe costs you a dinar" [6]. Al-Yafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) described (the Well of Zubayda) in the eighth century, saying: "Its traces are still present and include a great and wondrous construction, which is a delight to see on the right of the one going from Mecca to Mina. It has a precise structure in the mountains, and description falls short of describing its beauty. Water descends from it to a place deep underground with many stairs, and one cannot reach its bottom except by descending like a well. And because of its darkness, some people are frightened when they descend into it alone during the day, let alone at night." End of quote [7]. As researchers say: due to natural factors, the Well of Zubayda was subjected to disconnection. In the era of King Abdulaziz (may Allah have mercy on him), a special administration was established to manage the well, named (the Well of Zubayda), which fully supervised the well and its private wells and their restoration. Sheikh Abdullah al-Dahlawi, by order of King Abdulaziz (may Allah have mercy on them), in the year 1346 AH, restored the Well of Zubayda for several years. Then its distribution began in small channels to the neighborhoods of the Holy Mosque of Mecca. And thus this well continued towering and strong for more than 1200 years until recently, until it was replaced by large desalination stations through the praiseworthy efforts of the Saudi state, due to the scarcity of water in it and the destruction of most of its channels due to urban development in the Holy Mosque of Mecca. Research and studies continue to revive (the Well of Zubayda), as the "King Abdulaziz Foundation" coordinates in its studies with several entities related to the water wealth in the region of the Holy Mosque of Mecca [8]. You can imagine, O blessed brother, how many long centuries passed and millions of pilgrims, Umrah performers, and travelers benefited from that huge water endowment. O brothers: And because of the great status of water, the Sharia prohibited the sale of surplus water. It was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: "Muslims are partners in three things: in pasture, water, and fire" [9]. It was said in "Awn al-Ma'bud, Commentary on Sunan Abi Dawud": "The intended meaning is waters that did not come into existence through the effort and work of anyone, such as well water, and that were not stored in a vessel or a pond or a stream taken from a river. And al-Kala' is: the vegetation, whether wet or dry." End of quote [10]. It was narrated in Sahih Muslim that "the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited the sale of surplus water" [11]. Al-Khattabi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Its meaning is what remains after his need, the need of his family, his livestock, and his crops." End of quote [12]. The hadith indicates the prohibition of selling surplus water. It is apparent—and the statement is that of the author of *Awn al-Ma'bud*—that there is no difference between water located in public land or in owned land, whether it is for drinking or for other purposes, whether for the needs of livestock or crops, and whether it is in a desert or elsewhere [13]. The charity of water is not limited to providing drinking water only, or to distributing bottled water, which is a great good; but it also includes contributing to the digging of wells in areas in need, and this is among the ongoing charities. Al-Dhahabi—may Allah have mercy on him—mentioned from Ibn Shaqiq who said: "I heard Ibn al-Mubarak, and a man asked him about an ulcer that had appeared on his knee since seven years ago, and he had treated it with various treatments, and I consulted the doctors, but I did not benefit from them. So he said to him: 'Go and dig a well in a place in need of water, for I hope that a spring will emerge there, and it will stop the blood from you.' So the man did so, and he was cured" [14]. Among the charities of water that people overlook is paying the bill of a needy person, or participating in filling the water tanks of your neighbors in residential buildings. How many men, children, and women will benefit from this through drinking, ablution, bathing, purification, and many other benefits [15]. I say this and I seek forgiveness from Allah... The Second Sermon Praise be to Allah alone, and may Allah send prayers, peace, and blessings upon the one after whom there is no prophet. And after that: O my brothers: While discussing the virtue of providing drinking water and its endowments, we must beware of a widespread phenomenon among us, much to our regret, which is: extravagance in the use of water. Drinking some from a bottle and leaving the rest is extravagance. Leaving the tap running strongly and wasting a quantity of water is extravagance, especially in the bathrooms of our mosques and our homes. Indeed, not utilizing the leftover water from some washing areas, I fear, is extravagance; so what about what is more severe? We all see the arid regions of the world and how they suffer from water scarcity. Blessings that are neglected are feared to be lost. And it has come in the hadith specifically regarding water: From Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As—may Allah be pleased with them both—"That the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by Sa'd while he was performing ablution, and he said: 'What is this extravagance, O Sa'd?' He said: 'Is there extravagance in ablution?' He said: 'Yes, even if you are on a flowing river'" [16]. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen—may Allah have mercy on him—said: "Let us know that the excessive use of water in ablution or bathing falls under the saying of Allah Almighty: 'And do not be extravagant, for He does not love the extravagant' [17]. For this reason, the jurists—may Allah have mercy on them—said: It is disliked to be extravagant, even if it is on a flowing river; so how much more so if it is on machines that extract water? The result is: that extravagance in ablution and other than ablution is among the blameworthy matters." End of quote [18]. And may Allah send prayers, peace, and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his companions. [1] [Ar-Ra'd: 17].

فضل سقيا الماء والنهي عن الإسراف فيه الحَمْدُ للهِ الغَنِيِّ الكَرِيمِ ﴿ أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌ بِقَدَرِهَا ﴾ [1] نحمده ونشكره، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ؛ جَعَلَ إِنْزَالَ المَطَرِ وَإِنْبَاتَ الزَّرْعِ دَلِيلاً عَلَى رُبُوبِيَّتِهِ المُسْتَلْزِمِ لِأُلُوهِيَّتِهِ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ؛ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ؛ صَلَّى اللهُ وَسَلَّمَ وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْهِ وعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَأَتْبَاعِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ، أَمَّا بَعْدُ: فَأُوصِي نَفْسِي وَإِيَّاكُمْ -عِبَادَ اللهِ- بِتَقْوَى اللهِ تَعَالَى، يقول جل وعلا: ﴿ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴾ [2] ، ومن هنا كان لزامًا شكر هذه النعمة من المنعم المتفضِّل سبحانه، ومع أنّ من أعظم شكرها التصدُّق بما فَضُلَ منها وإهداؤها فذاك سبب عظيمٌ لدفع البلاء، ففي حديث سَعْد بْن عُبَادَةَ -رضي الله عنه- قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ: « سَقْيُ الْمَاءِ » [3] . وروي في الحديث: « أَيَّمَا مُسْلِمٍ سَقَى مُسْلِمًا عَلَى ظَمَأ سَقَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الرَّحِيقِ الْمَخْتُومِ » [4] . كيف لا؟ ورجل دخل الجنة بسبب كلبٍ سقاه! فكيف ببني آدم وكيف بمسلمٍ إذًا؟ [5] . ومن أعظم الأوقاف أوقاف الماء ، ولعل الكثير منا سمع عن بركة عين زبيدة وفيها عبرة وزبيدة هي: أمة العزيز بنت جعفر بن أبي جعفر المنصور، زوجة هارون الرشيد رحمهم الله، وأصل هذه العين من وادي نعمان شرق مكة المكرمة يسار المتّجه من مكة المكرمة إلى الطائف. فلاتزال آثارها إلى اليوم على سفوح تلك الجبال، إذ بعد حجّها عام 186هـ، أدركت -رحمها الله- مدى الصعوبات التي تواجه الحجاج خلال طريقهم إلى مكة من نقص المياه، وما يعانونه من جرّاء حملهم لقرب الماء من تعب وإرهاق، وكان الكثير منهم يموتون جرّاء ذلك، فقرّرت زبيدة وأمرت بحفر قنوات مائية تتصل بمساقط المطر، فاشترت جميع الأراضي في الوادي، وأبطلت المزارع والنخيل، وأمرت بأن تُشقّ للمياه قناة في الجبال. وبعد أن أمرت خازن أموالها بتكليف أمهر المهندسين والعمال لإنشاء هذه العين، أسرّ لها خازن أموالها بعظم التكاليف التي سوف يكلفها هذا المشروع، فقالت له: " اعمل ولو كلفتك ضربة الفأس دينارًا " [6] . وقد وصف اليافعي -رحمه الله- (عين زبيدة) في القرن الثامن فقال: " إن آثارها باقية ومشتملة على عمارة عظيمة عجيبة مما يتنزه برؤيتها على يمين الذاهب إلى منى من مكة ذات بنيان محكم في الجبال تقصر العبارة عن وصف حسنه، وينزل الماء منه إلى موضع تحت الأرض عميق ذي درج كثيرة جدًا، لا يوصل إلى قراره إلاّ بهبوط كالبئر، ولظلمته يفزع بعض الناس إذا نزل فيه وحده نهارًا فضلاً عن الليل ". اهـ [7] وكما يقول الباحثون: بسبب العوامل الطبيعية فقد تعرّضت عين زبيدة للانقطاع. وفي عهد الملك عبد العزيز -رحمه الله- أُنشئت إدارة خاصة لإدارة العين سُمّيت ( عين زبيدة ) تشرف إشرافًا كاملاً على العين والآبار الخاصة بها وترميمها. وقد قام الشيخ عبد الله الدهلوي بأمر من الملك عبد العزيز رحمهم الله سنة 1346 هـ بعمارة عين زبيدة لعدة سنوات. ثم بدأ توزيعها في مجارٍ صغيرة إلى أحياء مكة المكرمة، وهكذا استمرت هذه العين شامخة قوية لأكثر من 1200 سنة إلى عهد قريب، إلى أن استُعيض عنها بمحطات التحلية الضخمة بجهود مشكورة من الدولة السعودية، وذلك بسبب شحّ المياه فيها وتدمير أغلب قنواتها بسبب التطوّر العمراني في مكة المكرمة. وما زالت الأبحاث والدراسات مستمرة لإنهاض (عين زبيدة) فـ "دارة الملك عبد العزيز" تنسق في دراساتها مع عدة جهات ذات علاقة بالثروة المائية في منطقة مكة المكرمة [8] . ولك أن تتخيل -أخي المبارك- كيف مضت قرون طويلة وملايين الحجاج والمعتمرين والمسافرين ينتفعون من ذلك الوقف المائي الضخم. أيها الإخوة: ولعظم أمر الماء حرَّمت الشريعة بيع ما يفضل من الماء، فقد جاء عن النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قوله: « الْمُسْلِمُونَ شُرَكَاءُ فِي ثَلَاثٍ: فِي الْكَلَإِ وَالْمَاءِ وَالنَّارِ » [9] . قال في " عون المعبود شرح سنن أبي داود ": " الْمُرَاد الْمِيَاه الَّتِي لَمْ تَحْدُث بِاسْتِنْبَاطِ أَحَد وَسَعْيه كَمَاءِ الْآبَار، وَلَمْ يُحْرَز فِي إِنَاء أَوْ بِرْكَة أَوْ جَدْوَل مَأْخُوذ مِنْ النَّهر، وَالْكَلَأ: وَهُوَ النَّبَات رَطْبه وَيَابِسه " اهـ [10] . وجاء في صحيح مسلم « أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ بَيْعِ فَضْلِ الْمَاءِ » [11] . قال الخطَّابي رحمه الله: " معناه ما فضل عن حاجته وحاجة عياله وماشيته وزرعه " اهـ [12] . والحديث يدلُّ على تحريم بيع فضل الماء، والظاهر -والقول لصاحب عون المعبود- أنه لا فرق بين الماء الكائن في أرض مباحة، أو في أرض مملوكة، وسواء كان للشرب أو لغيره، وسواء كان لحاجة الماشية أو الزرع، وسواء كان في فلاة أو في غيرها [13] . وصَدَقة الماء لا تقتصر على السُّقيا فقط، أو على توزيع قوارير من المياه المعبَّأة، وهذا خيرٌ كثيرٌ؛ ولكن تشمل أيضًا المساهمة في حفر الآبار في الأماكن المحتاجة، وهذا من الصَّدَقات الجارية. وقد ذكر الذهبي -رحمه الله- عن ابنِ شَقِيْقٍ قال: " سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ المُبَارَكِ، وَسَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ عَنْ قُرْحة خَرَجتْ فِي رُكبَتِهِ مُنْذُ سَبْعِ سِنِيْنَ، وَقَدْ عَالَجتُهَا بِأَنْوَاعِ العِلاَجِ، وَسَأَلْتُ الأَطِبَّاءَ، فَلَمْ أَنْتَفِعْ بِهِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ: اذْهَبْ فَاحفِرْ بِئْراً فِي مَكَانِ حَاجَةٍ إِلَى المَاءِ، فَإِنِّي أَرْجُو أَنْ يَنبُعَ هُنَاكَ عَيْنٌ، وَيُمْسِكَ عَنْكَ الدَّمَ. فَفَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ، فَبَرَأَ " [14] . ومن صدقات الماء التي يغفل عنها الناس دفع قيمة فاتورة محتاج، أو المشاركة في ملء خزَّان جيرانك في العمارات السكنية، فهذه كم سينتفع منها من رجال وأطفال ونساء من شرب ووضوء واغتسال، وتطهُّر وفوائد كثيرة [15] . أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله .... الخطبة الثانية الحمد لله وحده، وصلى الله وسلم وبارك على من لا نبي بعده، وبعد: أيها الإخوة: ومع الحديث عن فضل سقيا الماء وأوقافه فإنه يجب أن نحذر من ظاهر منتشرة عندنا للأسف الشديد وهي: الإسراف في استعمال الماء؛ فشرب شي من العلبة وترك باقيها إسراف، وترك الصنبور يصب بشدة وإهدار كمية من الماء إسراف خاصة في دورات مياه مساجدنا وبيوتنا، بل عدم الاستفادة من بقايا الماء من بعض المغاسل أخشى أنه إسراف فكيف بما هو أشد، وكلنا يرى مناطق الجفاف في العالم وكيف يعانون من شح المياه، والنعم التي تهمل يخشى من ضياعها وقد جاء في الحديث بما يخص الماء بالذات: عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ -رضي الله عنهما- "أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَّ بِسَعْدٍ وَهُوَ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَقَالَ: « مَا هَذَا السَّرَفُ يَا سَعْدُ؟ » قَالَ: أَفِي الْوُضُوءِ سَرَفٌ؟ قَالَ: «نَعَمْ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ عَلَى نَهْرٍ جَارٍ» [16] . قال الشيخ ابن عثيمين رحمه الله: "ولنعلم أن الإكثار من استخدام الماء في الوضوء أو الغسل داخل في قول الله تعالى: ﴿ ولا تسرفوا إنه لا يحب المسرفين ﴾ [17] ولهذا قال الفقهاء رحمهم الله: يكره الإسراف ولو كان على نهر جار، فكيف إذا كان على مكائن تستخرج الماء؟ فالحاصل: أن الإسراف في الوضوء وغير الوضوء من الأمور المذمومة " ا. هـ [18] . وصلِّ اللهم وسلم وبارك على نبينا محمد، وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين. [1] [الرعد: 17].