Eco-Wudhu and Islam's Bright Relationship to Water

Editor

Islam’s relationship with water management begins at wudhu before prayers. Zaufishan gives some tips for making wudhu greener.

It was over five years ago when I first learned about a wudhu that was environmentally friendly. Despite being a keen Eco-Muslim, I didn’t see how clean water for ritual ablutions could get, well, any cleaner. After one Hajj pilgrimage in 2005 and many cold water washes however, here is proof that wudhu really can be part of the active green faith.

Ablution

Borrowing a chapter title from Ibrahim Abdal-Matin’s Green Deen book, the wonderful world of wudhu begins with a Muslim’s relationship to water.

Wudhu (woo-dhoo) is a physical ritual where Muslims immerse themselves in a symbolic purification before prayer and every act of worship. The word itself comes from the Arabic root “wa-da`a” which means to make brighter.

Wudhu is essential to connecting with God and seeing His signs – water from rain, a lake, small streams becoming oceans, or a running tap.

How to make Wudhu

The ablution consists of an important routine: rinsing the mouth 3 times, the nose, washing the whole face 3 times, each forearm, the top of your head, behind the ears, neck, feet and between each toe.

Each movement with water physically washes away dirt and in essence the negative actions of that limb. Wudhu is a reminder of blessings, it’s a control switch, a health check.

The Prophet Muhammad of Islam (peace be upon him*) said, “cleanliness is part of faith” (tahoor shatril imaan). He also warned against “squandering water” even if next to a river; the Prophet always advocated an eco-wudhu.

An eco-Wudhu

Muslims make wudhu up to five times a day, and the amount of water spilled can add up. Growing an ‘eco-beard‘ can save masses of water whereas shaving can use up to 11 gallons of water on average per household. Most of this is wasted from keeping the tap running and more energy is eaten up by using hot water instead of cold.

As believers, wudhu can be a part of our eco lifestyle and a more conscious effort of resourcefully using one of our most precious blessings from God.

I haven’t perfected my wudhu and in those panic-last-minute-prayer moments, I confess that I have left the tap running in the past. No more! Here are several winning ideas that could just make our wudhu more wonderful:

• Turns taps off: It sounds obvious but closing your taps when making wudhu will significantly change how you use water. Fill a pot or bucket for your ablutions. Use a glass to rinse your mouth. Take a jug of water with you outside and perform a spiritual wudhu in nature.
• Check your wudhu count: For experimental purposes time how long it takes for you to complete wudhu while leaving the tap running on normal pressure.

Next time place a bucket under the tap and leave the tap running for the same amount of time it took for you to do wudhu. Measure this water. This is your wudhu count.

I measured my wudhu count which came to nearly 2.5 litres of water. The Prophet Muhammad performed his wudhu with 16 handfuls of water! It isn’t a scientific test but it’s useful for directly seeing your water impact, and as the idea creator Ibrahim Abdal-Matin said, “Having a number can help you determine a goal for reducing that number.”

• Water saving toilets: Install a toilet with an inlet valve that reduces the water volume used to flush clean, saving up to 25%. Regularly check for leaks. Green Building Store sells innovative WCs and flow limiting mechanisms that can reduce the water usage without affecting cleanliness.
• Get WudhuMate™: Personal hygiene is fundamental to the wudhu but does not come with practical solutions, especially in public restrooms. (That awkward moment when someone walks in on you with your foot in the sink…) The WudhuMate (from Specwash.com) by Moazzam Ali is a unique water carrying pouch created specifically for such scenarios. It can hold 1 litre of water, is ergonomically designed with spout and folds away for discretion. The product can save water and save a lot of public bother.

These suggestions can be implemented in our homes and mosques. With enough awareness I hope to see a change in our value system so that while others have to perform their wudhu in dust – known as tayammum, we’re not pouring away our blessings with water.

*Peace be upon him, a Muslim phrase used to bless prophets and notable Islamic figures in history. In Arabic, `alayhi-salaam.

(Zaufishan/Green Prophet)