No one denies the magnificence of water. It is the single, most essential compound for the survival of life, whether hominal or not. In fact, under the assumptions that water is equally integral to extra terrestrial beings, liquid water is the magical elixir which astronomers search for in their quest to find out whether we truly are alone in this universe.
Water is frickin awesome.
But water is neglected; taken for granted; excessively wasted; unashamedly polluted; a front for one’s naval might; a front for one’s economic prowess; a physical anomaly; even a reason nations have gone to war. Perhaps, our worst crime is that we simply don’t think about water.
Today, I thought about water.
I was roaming around one of the world’s largest and most extravagant shopping malls today. Dubai exudes an air…comfort for many. After a succulently appetising dinner, I rushed upstairs as the time for prayer drew near. I was met by a queue of people waiting outside the ablution area of the prayer room within the mall. This was surprising, as this mall had more than adequate facilities to cater for the vast numbers of worshippers, boasting numerous prayer spaces. I found out that there was a problem with the water supply, and the entire floor’s toilets, kitchens, cleansing facilities had gone completely dry.
The feeling of not being able to cleanse myself for prayer in this ‘comfortable’ environment was eerie. As the time for my prayer was drawing to a close, I struck my hands against the cool, marble wall and set my palms against my arms and face. I performed tayammum, a ritual that was historically practiced in a complete absence of water, and so pure desert sand was slapped against the arms and face in a symobolic spiritual, stand-in ablution. The irony was not lost on me that I was standing in the middle of a desert, yet purifying myself against one of the most lavish walls I had ever seen. I thought about the odd sight of confused people, whose expressions revealed how rare an occurrence like this was in this sacred land.
Earlier this morning, I had read about a prayer for rain that had taken place in California. This prayer was a rarity in the Prophet Muhammad’s time, and yet a drought under the hot Californian sun had driven the American Muslim public towards times of desperation. Heavenly showers descended that same week.
I was roaming around one of the world’s largest and most extravagant shopping malls today. Dubai exudes an air…comfort for many. After a succulently appetising dinner, I rushed upstairs as the time for prayer drew near. I was met by a queue of people waiting outside the ablution area of the prayer room within the mall. This was surprising, as this mall had more than adequate facilities to cater for the vast numbers of worshippers, boasting numerous prayer spaces. I found out that there was a problem with the water supply, and the entire floor’s toilets, kitchens, cleansing facilities had gone completely dry.
The feeling of not being able to cleanse myself for prayer in this ‘comfortable’ environment was eerie. As the time for my prayer was drawing to a close, I struck my hands against the cool, marble wall and set my palms against my arms and face. I performed tayammum, a ritual that was historically practiced in a complete absence of water, and so pure desert sand was slapped against the arms and face in a symobolic spiritual, stand-in ablution. The irony was not lost on me that I was standing in the middle of a desert, yet purifying myself against one of the most lavish walls I had ever seen. I thought about the odd sight of confused people, whose expressions revealed how rare an occurrence like this was in this sacred land.
Earlier this morning, I had read about a prayer for rain that had taken place in California. This prayer was a rarity in the Prophet Muhammad’s time, and yet a drought under the hot Californian sun had driven the American Muslim public towards times of desperation. Heavenly showers descended that same week.
I envy the chemists and physicists whose research revolves around testing and exploring the mysterious properties of this abundant potion. I take for granted many things in my life, but water is something I give very little thought to; however, behind water lies an absolute ocean.
"He sends down water from the skies and each channel starts flowing according to its measure, and then the torrent bears a swelling foam - like the scum which appears from metal which are melted in the furnace for making ornaments and utensils. By such examples Allah depicts truth and falsehood. As for the scum, it is thrown away, being worthless, but that which is useful for the mankind remains behind on the earth. In this way Allah cites examples to make His message clear." [ar-Rad: 17]
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