Wasteful
Use of Water in Masājid and Madāris
The water available at Wuḍū spots in
Masājid and Madāris is classed as Waqf; rulings are different for this water
and that for our domestic water. Those who splash water badly at Wuḍū spots of
Masājid or wash their organs more than three times purposelessly during Wuḍū
due to ignorance or carelessness must ponder following blessed Fatwa, tremble
with the fear of Allāĥ عَزَّوَجَلَّ
and repent of doing so in the future. A'lā Ḥaḍrat Imām-e-Aĥl-e-Sunnat Imām
Aḥmad Razā Khān عَلَيْہِرَحْمَۃُالرَّحْمٰن
says, "To use more than required amount of Waqf water in Wuḍū is Ḥarām
unanimously, as permission has not been granted for spending it more than
required and water in Islamic Madāris is of the same kind which is reserved for
those who perform Shar'ī Wuḍū."
(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyaĥ
(Jad īd), pp. 658, vol. 1)
Dear Islamic brothers! One who does
not prevent himself from wasting water should use his own water e.g. he may
perform Wuḍū by his domestic water. Allāĥ عَزَّوَجَلَّ
forbid, it doesn't mean that there is no binding on wasting one's own water.
Rather one must learn Shar'ī Wuḍū by exercising intensively at home so that he
may not commit a Ḥarām by wasting water at Masjid.
Seven
Guidelines by A'lā Ḥaḍrat to Avoid Wasteful Use of Water
1. Some people overfill the handfuls.
The overflowed amount goes waste. Care must be taken in this regard.
2. The handful does not always have to
be filled to the top with water; one must think as to for what purpose he is
taking the water. For instance, only half a handful of water is needed for
sniffing into the nose, then what is the purpose of taking full handful; a full
handful is not needed even for rinsing the mouth.
3. Nozzle of ewer should be moderate in
size i.e. neither so narrow to ooze water late nor so wide to splash water more
than requirement. To know its difference, if Wuḍū is made using a bowl,
excessive water will be consumed. Similarly wide tap will cause excessive
consumption. If ewer has wide nozzle, take care and do not pass full jet,
instead set thin stream. (Similar precautions should be adopted while opening
the taps).
4. Moisten the organs by wet hand
before washing, as then, water flows swiftly and small (quantity of water) does
the function of large. In winter season specially, this act is more desirable
as it has been observed that the flowing water leaves some spaces dry due to
skin dryness.
5. If there are hairs on wrists, these
should be trimmed away as they need more water. Shaving these render them
harder; hence trimming via a machine is better as it removes properly and the
best and Aḥsan (preferred) one is Nūraĥ (a type of hair removing powder) as its
application in such organs is proven from Sunnaĥ. Umm-ul-Muminīn Ḥaḍrat
Sayyidatunā Umm-e-Salamaĥ رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی
عَنْہَا says, "Whenever Rasūlallāĥ صَلَّى
اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم used Nūraĥ, He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
would apply it to his blessed Sitr with his own blessed hands and it was
applied to other parts of the blessed body by the chaste wives رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُنَّ."
(Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp.
226, vol. 4, Hadīš 375)
If one does not do so, moisten such
hairs before washing so that they get flattened. If water flowed in the roots
of erected hair and didn't flow over the hair tip, Wuḍū will not be valid.
6. While using a ewer for Wuḍū, the
stream of water should be moved from the nails towards the elbows / ankles
constantly so that all parts are washed only once in one go, otherwise the slow
movement of the organ will result in water being poured on the same spot
several times (which will result in a sort of wastage).
7. Some people pour water from the
nails towards the elbows (or toes to the ankles) and then keep flowing the
water as they bring it back to the nails to start a second wash and then bring
it back (with the water still flowing) for a third wash whereas in fact this
results in washing the organ five times instead of three. Instead of this, the
jet of water should be stopped when it reaches the elbows or ankles, it should
be resumed from nails again. Washing from nails towards elbows/ ankles is
Sunnaĥ and not the reverse one (To wash from elbows/ankles towards nails is not
Sunnaĥ).
A comprehensive saying is that one
should be moderate. Imām Shāfi'ī رَحْمَةُاللّٰہِتَعَالٰیعَلَیْہِ
has very rightly said, "With moderation, a little is sufficient but
without moderation, even ample amount of water does not suffice."
(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyaĥ
(Jad īd), pp. 765-770, vol. 1)
Fourteen
Madanī Pearls to Avoid the Wasteful Use of Water
1. Ask repentance (towards Allāĥ عَزَّوَجَلَّ) for unlawful wastage done in the past and
make every possible effort to avoid it in the future.
2. Think and plan well for arrangements
that may lead to performing of Wuḍū and Ghusl according to Sunnaĥ with minimum
consumption of water. Make yourself fear the fact that the accountability of
each drop and even a tiny particle will be held on the Day of Judgement.
3. While doing Wuḍū, turn the tap on
carefully. During Wuḍū, keep one hand on the tap as long as possible and keep
turning the tap off when water is not needed.
4. Less water is consumed in doing Wuḍū
with ewer as compared to tap. Perform Wuḍū by using loṭā if possible. If one
cannot avoid use of tap, he can wash easily-washable organs with ewer, if
possible. Using tap for Wuḍū is permissible; however, one should take measures
to get rid of wastage.
5. Make the habit of turning the tap
off perfectly so that not a single drop of water leaks during Miswāk, mouth
wash, gargling, nose wash, Khilāl of beard and fingers of hand / foot and Maşḥ
(moistening).
6. During winters specially, avoid
draining cold water present in pipe line for receiving hot water while
performing Wuḍū/Ghusl or washing clothes/utensils. Cold water may be collected
in some tub.
7. While making foam from soap for
washing of hands / face, make careful use of water. For example, for washing of
hands, a few drops of water may be taken in handful for making foam of soap.
Opening of tap with soap in hand may cause wastage of water.
8. After use, soap should be placed in
a soap holder that contains no water. Deliberately placing of soap in water
will cause wastage of soap by softening. Don't place/leave soap on surface of
wash basin as, otherwise, soap will be dissolved and wasted due to presence of
water over there.
9. Do not put to waste water left in
glass after drinking or left in a jug after dining. Instead pour it back into
cooler etc.
10. It has become a norm nowadays to
spoil a lot of water during washing of fruits, clothes, utensils, floors or
even a tea cup or tea spoon. This is very sorrowful situation.
11. In most of the homes, lights and
fans remain 'On' uselessly throughout day and night. Make a habit to turn
lights and fans 'Off' as soon as requirement is over. All of us should fear
from accountability in Hereafter and should refrain from wastage.
12. Use a ewer in latrine as using a
shower for purification consumes plentiful water and also contaminates the
feet. Everybody should sprinkle some water on edges of W.C. after passing urine
and also pour some water into the hole of W.C. from some height (protecting
clothes from splashing of dirty water). اِنْ
شَاءَاللّٰہُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ fouling smell and growth of germs will
reduce. Using a flush tank for this purpose consumes plentiful water.
13. If a tap drips, take immediate
actions to rectify the fault; otherwise wastage of water will continue.
Sometimes taps of Masājid / Madāris are found dripping continuously and no body
bothers. The managing committee should take remedial actions promptly as per
their responsibility for the sake of betterment in the Hereafter.
14. Be extra careful to make full use of
each food grain and each drop during eating, taking tea or beverages, cutting
fruits etc. Special care should be taken not to waste a single drop or piece
when drinking, slicing fruits etc. and to ever single bit.
Yā Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ
of Muṣṭafā صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ
وَسَلَّم! Enable us to keep Wuḍū all the time by performing Shar'ī Wuḍū
avoiding wastage.
اٰمِيْن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الْاَمِيْن صَلَّى
اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْبِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ
تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد
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