Friday Sermon Script: Conserving Water, an Islamic Teaching to Protect Life

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, the Honoured of the scholars and the workers, and the Exalter of their ranks in this world and on the Day of Judgement. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, the Protector of the righteous, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger, the best example of Allah and His truthful, trustworthy Messenger, and upon his family, companions, and sincere followers.

Afterwards, fear Allah, O believers, so that you may succeed, and listen to the call of your Lord: ‘O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.’

Honoured Friday congregation members,

One day, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) met a companion of the Prophet, named Sa’ad. The Prophet happened to pass him while he was performing wudhu (ritual ablution). As Sa’ad was using water for the ablution, the Prophet (PBUH) noticed something unusual and immediately questioned him.

‘Who is being wasteful with water, O Sa’ad?’ said the Prophet. Sa’ad, confused by the question, asked in return, ‘Is there such a thing as wastefulness in wudhu, O Prophet?’

The Prophet replied, ‘Indeed, do not be wasteful with water in wudhu, even if you are by a flowing river.’

This Hadith can be found in several collections of Hadith, such as Ibn Majjah, Musnad Ahmad, and Musnad al-Bayhaqi. Although considered da’if (weak) by some, this Hadith serves as a reference for scholars to avoid excess during wudhu, with some scholars even stating that excessive use of water during ablution is makruh (disliked).