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AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS
ABSTRACT
Water conservation is embedded in Islam: it is quite common to find
both in the Quran and the Sunnah statements and teachings defining a
correct use of water.
Since religion still exerts a very big influence on society and because
water plays an extremely pivotal role within Islam, awareness
campaigns and water conservation programmes based on religious
principles have proved very useful, beneficial and cost effective in
different areas of the Muslim world.
INTRODUCTION
Water is a pivotal issue in Islam, non surprisingly since it is a religion
that originated in the Arabian peninsula, a desert area, and it spread
mainly to other arid or semi-arid territories. Scarcity has always
influenced the perception of water by Muslims and it has,
accordingly, shaped their behaviors and customs. In the last decade
Islam and Islamic principles have been used to influence and improve
people’s concern on the subject of water.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relation between water and
Islam and to see to what extent and how religion can influence
people’s awareness on water issues by giving examples of awareness
campaigns carried out in some areas of the Muslim world. This paper
is based on first hand material collected during research periods spent
in Syria at the end of 2002, in the Palestinian territories in 2003 and
during a more recent trip to Jordan. There are frequent references on
second hand sources too.
WATER IN ISLAM
There is not a monolithic perception of water in Islam. The vision
Muslims have of water has been influenced by different factors and
several conditions throughout time and space. In the following
paragraphs we tried to analyze the relation between water and Islam
by providing some examples.
One of the most famous verses pertaining to water is taken from the
Sura of the Prophets and it states “We made from water every living
thing” (21:30). But this is not the only Ayah (verse) where the word
Mā’ (water) appears since it occurs more than sixty times in the
Quran. Several other words related to the semantics of water and
hydrology, such as rivers, sea, fountains, springs, rain, hail, clouds
and winds, are also frequent (Abdel Haleem, 1989).
The theme of water in the Quran is dealt both on a symbolic and on a
practical level.
The way to perform ablution is not the only practical teaching related
to water in the Quran since we find other verses pertaining to water
distribution or condemning wastefulness. References to water in the
most sacred book for Muslims are also very material and linked to
every day life: water is sent by God so that men can drink it or grow
agricultural products. God also created seas and rivers so that they
could be used by men for transportation. (Haddad, 2001)
Water in the Sunnah
Other teachings linked to water can be found in the Sunnah
(Statements or practices undertaken or approved by the Prophet
considered as legally binding precedents).
Offering water to the thirsty has always been a duty to be fulfilled and
it is perceived as a meritorious act. It is actually one of the primary
principles of Sharaitic law. Denying water to someone asking for it is
condemned by the Prophet as one of the most ignominious acts to
perform (Abdel Haleem, 1989).
The main reason why Islam and Islamic principles have been used as
a vehicle in several awareness campaigns in predominantly Muslim
states since the 1990s is because they can easily reach all strata of
society. Furthermore since these principles derive from divine law
they might have a stronger appeal on population. Even the less
educated ones that might not have a proper ecological education have
a knowledge of Quranic and Sharaitic principles because the
importance of Islam goes well beyond a mere religious environment
and it exerts a very big influence on everyday life in Muslim society.
An interesting example that shows how Islam and water issues are
greatly interlocked is the fact that the water awareness campaign by
WEDO, a Palestinian NGO, has been named “Zam Zam” like the
water spring in Mecca, where Hagar and Ishmael quenched their thirst
after wandering in the desert for days on end. Any Muslim, upon
hearing the name Zam Zam would associate it with water thus making
the main focus of this campaign easily understandable.
CONCLUSIONS
Water conservation is grounded in Islam. Islamic principles and
ethics, in fact, have always advocated a good conduct towards the
environment and respect for the natural resources.
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