The Gift of Clean Water: Why building a Water Well is a lasting form of Sadaqah Jariya.
Around 70% of the people in Pakistan do not have clean water to use. Not having access to clean water is the root cause of many diseases spreading in Pakistan at a fast pace. Providing clean water to the people is a great virtue for Muslims and holds immense significance. In Islam, charitable acts like building a water well is Sadaqah Jariya
By building a water well, you offer a continuous source of life to communities in need. It’s a form of Sadaqah Jariyah that keeps giving, long after the initial act of charity.
In this blog, we will discuss how donating to clean water is a powerful and lasting form of charity in Islam.
What Islam says about Sadaqah Jariya?
Sadaqah Jariya is a form of charity that benefits the donor even after his death. Building water wells is one of the best charities a Muslim can do. This not only helps those in need but it also benefits the donor for the years to come.
“O son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink and you gave Me not to drink. He will say: O Lord, how should I give You to drink when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: My servant So-and-so asked you to give him to drink and you gave him not to drink”. Hadith 18, 40 Hadith Qudsi
The above-mentioned verse is enough to explain the significance of giving water to a thirsty person. As Muslims, it is our responsibility to quench the thirst of our people. This can be done through different ways and building a water well through charity is one of them.
How building a Water Well is a Sadaqah Jariya?
In Islam, there are different types of Sadaqah Jariya but providing water to the needy is one of its best forms. When you donate your money for the cause of building a well, you will get rewards till its last drop. Moreover, for this act of charity ALLAH (SWT) will reward you even after your death.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:
“The best charity is giving water to drink”. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3684)
Building a Water Well as a Sadaqah Jariya for your Loved Ones:
Building a well does not only act as Sadaqah Jariya for yourself but it can also be a Sadaqah Jariya for your loved ones. You can use your charity to build well with the intention of lasting rewards for your loved ones. It can be anyone, your father, mother, daughter, sister, or anyone you love. You can also build a well in the name of your loved ones who left this world.
Thus, building a well can be beneficial not only for yourself but also for your family or friends, living or dead.
The Importance of building a Water Well in Islam:
During the time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the residents required clean water. At that time there was only one well of clean water, and its owner charged a huge amount from people to use it.
When the Holy Prophet (PBUH) found out about it, he asked if someone could buy the well so that people could use its water for free. Hazrat Usman (RA) bought that well and made it free for everyone to use.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) appreciated that act of generosity of Hazrat Usman (RA) and said: “Whoever digs a well will receive a reward every time any being, whether human, bird, or beast, drinks from it.” (Sahih Bukhari).
This shows that building a well and helping the people in getting clean water is one of the noble acts. Moreover, it is a source of receiving immense blessings and rewards from Allah (swt).
The Water Crisis and the Need of Clean Water Projects:
According to the United Nations Development Program, 27.1 million people in Pakistan do not have access to clean water. Another research done by Water Help states that one in ten people in Pakistan are deprived of safe drinking water.
The unsafe water in Pakistan gives birth to several dangerous diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and hepatitis A. Around 53,000 children die every year due to diarrhea caused by the consumption of dirty water.
In these circumstances, building a water well charity project is a critical intervention. As it can save thousands of lives and improve the health of the people.
How building a Water Well can solve other Social Problems:
Building a water well can help solve many problems existing in society. People having access to clean water near their homes can use their time in other productive things.
Children can go to school instead of going to far places in search of water, women can look after their homes and families better if they get access to clean water easily. In short, the lifestyle of the people can be improved to a greater extent just by having clean water to use.
Donate your Zakat and Sadaqah to Water Well Projects:
Zakat and Sadaqah are the two best charities in Islam that can be used to help the less fortunate people in the community. Zakat is an obligatory charity while Sadaqah is a non-obligatory charity. However, the rewards of both are huge.
You can use your Zakat and Sadaqah money to build a water well in areas where there is no clean water. This is the best use of your charity money as it helps in quenching the thirst of the people.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:
“The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be their charity” (Hadith, Tirmidhi).
Hence, providing clean water to your Muslim brothers and sisters with your charity will not only benefit them but it will also benefit you on the Day of Akhirah.
Benefits of building a Water Well with Charity:
Using your Zakat and Sadaqah for building a well is beneficial in so many ways. Below are some of the benefits of donating money for building a water well:
- Providing water to those in need is the biggest charity. Donating to build water wells is the Sadaqah E Jariya that benefits the donor in this world and hereafter.
- Accessibility of clean water protects the people from various harmful and contagious diseases.
- In rural areas people have to walk to distant areas in search of water, building a water well can give them easy access to clean water.
- It saves the lives of people by protecting them from deadly diseases.
- The person who helps in building a well gets closer to Allah (swt).
Conclusion:
We as Muslims are blessed enough to have the opportunity of using our money in clean water projects as Sadaqah Jariya. We have the option of using our Zakat and Sadaqah for this noble purpose. With our charity, we can initiate this cause that will act as a Sadaqah Jariya for us and will benefit us and the generations to come.
By donating to build a water well through charity you will not gift your people clean water to use but it is a lasting charity that will continue to benefit you in both worlds. Your donation no matter how small or big can save people from dying because of thirst.
Donate now and support our cause of saving lives through providing clean water.
