اللَّهُمَّ إنَّا نسْألُكَ قُلُوباً أوَّاهَةً مُخْبِتَةً مُنِيبَةً فِي سَبيِلكَ. اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أسْألُكَ إيَماناً يُبَاشِرُ قَلْبِي، ويَقِيناً صَادِقاً حَتَّى أعْلَمَ أنَّهُ لا يُصيبُني إلا مَا كَتَبْتَ لي وَرِضاً مِنَ المَعيشَةِ بِمَا قَسَمْتَ لي

Ma'a (Water)

Ibn al-Qayyam wrote for Water:

Water is the essence of life, the master of all drinks, and one of the essential elements of the world. In fact, it is the primary foundation, as the heavens were created from its vapor and the earth from its foam. Allah made every living thing from water.

Water is cool and moist; it calms heat, retains bodily moisture, replenishes what is lost from the body, and thins food to facilitate its movement through the body.

The quality of water can be evaluated through ten characteristics:

1. Clarity: The water should be clear and transparent.
2. Odorlessness: It should be completely odorless.
3. Taste: It should taste pure and sweet, like the waters of the Nile and the Euphrates.
4. Weight: It should be light and have a delicate texture.
5. Source Flow: The path of the water should be clean and pure.
6. Source Distance: The source should be far from its destination, allowing it to purify as it flows.
7. Exposure to Sun and Air: The water source should be open to sunlight and wind, not hidden underground, so it can absorb the benefits of sun and air.
8. Movement: The water should flow swiftly and steadily.
9. Volume: It should be abundant enough to naturally filter out impurities.
10. Direction of Flow: Ideally, the water should flow from north to south or from west to east.

If you consider these qualities, you will find them fully realized only in the four rivers:

• The Nile
• The Euphrates
• The Sayhan
• The Jayhan

وفى "الصحيحين" من حديث أبى هُريرة رضى الله عنه قال: قال رسولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "سَيْحَانُ، وجَيْحَانُ، والنِّيلُ، والفُرَاتُ، كُلٌ من أنهارِ الجنَّة

In "Sahih Muslim," from a Hadith by Abu Huraira, the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "Sayhan, Jayhan, the Nile, and the Euphrates are all rivers from Paradise."

The lightness of water can be judged through three methods:

1. Temperature Response: Water that heats up quickly and cools down quickly is considered lighter. 
2. Weight Measurement: Water's lightness can also be measured by its weight.
3. Cotton Test: Soak two equal-weight pieces of cotton in different waters, then dry them fully and weigh again; the lighter one indicates lighter water.

Although water is fundamentally cool and moist, its properties can shift and vary due to external factors. For instance, water exposed to the north wind, while shielded from other directions, will turn cooler and gain some dryness from the north wind. This principle applies similarly to water from other directions.

Water that springs from mineral sources will reflect the nature of that mineral and affect the body in the same way. Freshwater is beneficial for both the sick and the healthy, with cold water being particularly advantageous and refreshing. However, one should avoid drinking it on an empty stomach, immediately after intimacy, upon waking from sleep, right after a bath, or after eating fruit, as previously mentioned. Drinking a small amount of water with food, when necessary, is fine; it should be sipped slowly rather than gulped, as it won't cause harm and can, in fact, strengthen the stomach, stimulate appetite, and relieve thirst.

Warm water, on the other hand, can cause bloating and counter the benefits of cold water. Stale water (left to sit overnight) is considered better than fresh.

Cold water is more beneficial internally than externally, while hot water has the opposite effect. Cold water also helps prevent blood from becoming foul, curbs vapors from rising to the head, repels rot, and is suitable for hot climates, temperaments, teeth, and seasons. However, it may harm in cases requiring warmth and digestion.

ثبت فى "الصحيحين": عن النبىِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه كان يدعو فى الاستفتاح وغيره: اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلنى من خطاياى بماءِ الثَّلْجِ والبَرَدِ

Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم made frequent supplications asking for purification from sins through “water of snow and hail,” as mentioned in both major authentic sources. This aligns with the natural properties of snow and hail water, which possess a cooling and firming effect necessary to purify the heart, offering it calmness, strength, and a sense of cleansing.

Snow inherently has a sharp, vaporous quality that is retained in its water, while hail water is considered finer and more pleasant than melted snow. As for frozen water in the form of ice, its quality varies according to its original source.

Snow and ice acquire the properties of the mountains or land upon which they fall, affecting their quality—either improving or diminishing it. It's generally advised to avoid drinking very cold water right after a bath, intimate relations, physical exertion, eating hot food, or for individuals with conditions such as cough, chest pain, liver weakness, or a naturally cold disposition.

Well and canal water: Well water is typically less refined, while canal water that remains underground often lacks freshness and vitality.

In summary, while cold water may relieve internal issues, excess cold or hot water can harm the nerves and body, where hot water calms acidic substances and cold water maintains body moisture but should be consumed with caution in certain situations and temperatures.

Rain Water :

"Rain" (غَيْثٌ) is mentioned in the Qur'an in several places, and it has a delightful sound and a pleasing essence for both the soul and body. Hearing it brings joy to the ears, and its arrival gladdens the heart. Its water is considered the best, purest, most beneficial, and most blessed of all waters, especially when it comes from thunderous clouds and gathers in mountain reservoirs. It is fresher than other waters because it hasn’t lingered on the ground to absorb its dryness or mixed with any solid impurities. This freshness makes it susceptible to quick changes and spoilage due to its delicacy and responsiveness.

Is spring rain more delicate than winter rain, or is it the opposite? There are two opinions on this matter. Those who favor winter rain argue that because the sun's heat is lower, it only draws the most delicate part of the sea water. The atmosphere is clear, free of smoky vapors and dust mixed with water, which results in rain that is pure and light, with no impurities.

Those who prefer spring rain, on the other hand, believe that warmth helps to dissipate thicker vapors, making the air lighter and more refined. This results in lighter water with fewer earthly particles, which coincides with the period of plant and tree growth, filling the air with freshness.

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ" كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَأَصَابَنَا مَطَرٌ، فَحَسَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَوْبَهُ، وَقَالَ: «إِنَّهُ حَدِيثُ عَهْدٍ بِرَبِّه"ِ (أخرجه مسلم في صلاة الاستسقاء)

Imam al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned a report from Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, who said, "We were with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when it began to rain. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, uncovered part of his garment and said,

'It has just come from its Lord.'" This recalls the Prophet’s guidance on praying for rain and seeking blessing from the first drops of rain.

Water of Zamzam:

Zamzam water is the most revered and precious of all waters, esteemed by people and considered a gift beyond measure. It is the water that Angel Gabriel (Jibril) brought forth for Ismail, according to Islamic tradition.

وثبت فى "الصحيح": عن النبىِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، أنه قال لأبى ذَرٍّ وقد أقام بين الكعبة وأستارِهَا أربعينَ ما بين يومٍ وليلةٍ، ليس له طعامٌ غيرُه؛ فقال النبىُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: "إنها طَعَامُ طُعْمٍ". وزاد غيرُ مسلم بإسناده: "وشفاءُ سُقْمٍ". "

In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم told Abu Dharr, who had spent 40 days near the Kaaba without any food other than Zamzam, “Indeed, it provides nourishment like food.” Another narration includes the addition that it is also “a cure for illness” (reported by sources such as Al-Bazzar and Al-Bayhaqi).

وفى "سنن ابن ماجه": من حديث جابر بن عبد الله، عن النبىِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال: "ماءُ زَمْزَمَ لِما شُرِبَ له

In Sunan Ibn Majah, Jabir ibn Abdullah narrates that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Zamzam water serves the purpose for which it is drunk.” Although some scholars debated the authenticity of this narration, many regarded it as acceptable, and Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak affirmed its reliability, noting his personal prayers when drinking Zamzam that it would quench his thirst on the Day of Judgment.

Personal testimonies and experiences affirm that drinking Zamzam for healing has yielded astonishing results. I, along with others, have used it to seek remedy from various ailments and found relief. I have witnessed individuals sustaining themselves solely on Zamzam for days, even weeks, without hunger, maintaining strength, and performing daily rituals energetically. Some have shared that they sustained themselves on it for over 40 days, finding it sufficient for both fasting and daily activities.

The Nile River:

The Nile, one of the rivers of paradise, originates from the mountainous region behind the Mountains of the Moon in the furthest reaches of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia). The river is fed by collected rain and flowing streams, carrying their waters to barren lands lacking vegetation. By Allah's design, the Nile then flows to these areas, transforming them into fertile lands that sustain livestock and people alike. The land it nourishes is too firm to absorb rainfall effectively for growing crops, as normal rainfall would neither suffice for growth nor penetrate deeply enough. If there were an excess of rain, it would flood homes and disrupt livelihoods. Thus, the Almighty designed this system, allowing the rain to fall in distant regions and guiding it to Egypt through the Nile. Furthermore, its flow increases at specific times to fulfill the needs of the land, and once it saturates the soil, Allah allows it to recede, ensuring proper growth of crops. The Nile water possesses all ten desirable qualities, making it one of the purest, lightest, sweetest, and most palatable waters.

Sea Water:

As for sea water, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is reported to have said about the sea: “Its water is pure and its dead creatures are lawful.” Allah, in His wisdom, has made sea water salty and bitter, ensuring the benefit of all living beings on earth. The sea, vast and constantly filled with marine life, contains numerous organisms that die and are not buried. If the water were fresh, it would decay from the abundance of decomposing bodies, making it foul-smelling and unpleasant. This would then affect the surrounding atmosphere, causing it to become fetid, thus disrupting the earth’s balance. Allah's wisdom mandated that the sea be salty, resembling a natural disinfectant, such that even if the entire world’s filth were disposed of in it, it would not alter the sea's nature. The salinity prevents the water from spoiling, maintaining its quality from creation until the end of time. This is the underlying reason for its salinity, and its source lies in its mineral-laden seabed.

Bathing in sea water is beneficial for treating skin conditions and various external ailments. However, drinking it is harmful, as it causes dehydration, digestive issues, skin rashes, bloating, and thirst. Those who must consume it can reduce its adverse effects through specific treatments:

One such method involves placing the water in a pot and covering it with bamboo sticks topped with new wool. When the pot is heated, steam rises to the wool, which is then squeezed to obtain the purified water, while the salty residue remains in the pot. Another method to purify seawater is to dig a large pit along the shore, allowing the seawater to filter into it. Nearby, a second pit is dug to further filter the water, followed by a third pit if needed, until the water becomes fresh and drinkable.

In cases of necessity where one must drink murky water, the remedy is to add apricot seeds, a piece of teakwood, a piece of burning coal that is extinguished in the water, Armenian clay, or a small amount of wheat flour, which will cause the impurities to settle at the bottom.

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