The Superiority of Giving Water as Charity

The Superiority of Giving Water as Charity

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

سَعْدًا، أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ: أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْجَبُ إِلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ: “الْمَاءُ

Sa’d came to the Prophet(ﷺ) and asked him, “Which type of charity do you prefer the most?” He replied, “Giving water.”[1]

Benefits for this subject:

  • Imam Abu Dawud place this hadith under the chapter heading in his Sunan, “The Superiority of Supplying Water.” This implies that giving water is among the best of deeds. This is due to the fact that man needs water to sustain his life. Hence, providing it for him to drink is a enormous action that carries a great reward.

  • This hadith highlights that subject of importance of supplying water to one in need of it in Allah’s path, or to provide it for people in need of it. i.e building a well. Water is an important element of life. Allah created everything that living from water. In other words, nothing can survive without water. Therefore, it is a necessity of life.[2]  

  • Allah says: And it is He Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His Mercy (rain), and We send down pure water from the sky,. That We may give life thereby to a dead land, and We give to drink thereof many of the cattle and men that We had created.[3]  Mulla Ali Qari said: “Water is best form of charity one can give as it contains everything beneficial for worldly and religious affairs. Not to mention, for countries where there are extreme heat conditions.”[4]

  • Giving water for charity to anyone is general. It includes, for someone to drink it, to give it to a riding animal, or for someone to make wudu and so forth.[5]
  • Giving water is among the best actions one can do to earn Allah’s Pleasure. Some of the Tabe’oon once said: Whoever has a lot of sins the let them give water as a charity. If Allah can forgive the sins of a person that gave water to a dog to drink, then what about one who gives water to a believing Muslim; as a result, helps him maintain living?!”[6]

  • Allah says: And the dwellers of the Fire will call to the dwellers of Paradise: “Pour on us some water or anything that Allah has provided you with.” They will say: “Both (water and provision) Allah has forbidden to the disbelievers.”[7]  Ibn Abbass (Radi Allahu anhu) used this verse as proof that the best type of charity one could give is water.[8]

  • Amr Ibn Al-‘As said : The Muslim that gives another Muslim water to drink will be distanced from the fire , similar to that of a race track for horses.”[9]

  • These are encouragements to give water as charity to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, with in the intention of it being Sadaqah. This applies to while we are alive. Moreover, when we are deceased then leaving a well that bears water is a charity that recurs. Furthermore, digging a well in barren land where water is hard to come by would be even more superior as a means or recurring charity. Allah knows best.

Prepared by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle

Doha, Qatar 1445©

[1] Collected by Abu Dawud 1679 and others and graded as being Hasan by Imam Al-Albani

[2] Explanation of Sunan Abi Dawud by Shaykh Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbadd

[3] Quran 25:48-49

[4] Explanation of Mishkatul Masabih by Mulla Ali Qari vol 6pg 346

[5] Explanation of Sunan Abi Dawud by Badrudeen Al-‘Ayni vol 6pg 432

[6] Explanation Sahih al-Bukhari , by Ibn Nahwi vol 15  pg 353

[7] Quran 7:50

[8] Tafsir Al-Qurtubi

[9] Hilya vol1 pg 288