How and When Did Water Come Into Existence?
by Junaid Ahmad
How and When Did Water Come Into Existence?
Answering this question may not be entirely possible. However, scientists narrate the story of its creation as follows:
“Our Earth, in its beginning, was probably a part of the Sun around 4 billion years ago. Due to a great cosmic accident, a massive piece of the Sun consisting of extremely hot gases broke away. Because of the Sun’s gravitational pull, it continued revolving around it. With the passage of time, this large chunk split into more fragments, and thus, our solar system came into being. The Earth also began to orbit the Sun at a distance of about 1,300,000 kilometers. As time passed, its temperature decreased. The fusion of gases and molten materials produced water vapors, and eventually, water came into existence. Nevertheless, this remains only a theory.”
The Holy Qur’an states:
“And We created every living thing from water.”
Water is the guarantee of life; without it, life is impossible. Before you read further, pause and think: is there anything in this world that has no connection with water? It is impossible to name even a single thing that does not contain water or has not required water in its making. Our own bodies are composed of about 70% water. Allah has even created such creatures whose bodies consist of more than 90% water. The toughest of living beings cannot survive for more than 36 hours without water.
Pure water, also known as (Pure Water), is one of nature’s most marvelous creations. It has no color, no smell, and no taste. Whatever it is mixed with, it takes on its properties. Its chemical name is hydrogen oxide and its formula is H₂O. Yet, this priceless treasure of nature is something we waste recklessly—much like time—without any regret, and at times even with pride.
Ask the value of water from those who depend solely on rain for survival. We have entered the 21st century, uncovered many mysteries of the heavens and the Earth, and live in the age of the internet and cable television. Yet even today there are regions where people do not have access to clean drinking water. According to a United Nations report, 40% of the world’s population is deprived of safe drinking water. In our own beloved country, regions like Thar, Cholistan, and Chagai are plagued with drought and famine due to lack of water.
There was a time when people drank water directly from rivers and lakes. Those living far away dug wells to obtain it. But as man progressed, all these sources became polluted. Today, our rivers have turned into sewage drains. When these drains fall into the seas, they pollute them as well. And as you already know, the sea is the greatest source of food. Now aquatic life is under severe threat due to this pollution. The vapors formed from contaminated water cause acid rain. To make matters worse, even underground water has become polluted. Wells now give foul-smelling warm water instead of cool, fresh water. We all know the countless diseases caused by drinking contaminated water. Liver cancer, for instance, is a gift of polluted water.
Awake and conscious minds are now stressing the need to preserve water resources. Developed countries have imposed strict laws to prevent industrial waste from being dumped into rivers or polluting water bodies. Recently, an economist even remarked that in the next fifty years, nations will wage wars over water resources.
Our religion is the only religion in the world that emphasizes the cleanliness and necessity of water. Our Prophet ﷺ taught us the etiquettes of drinking water: sit down, recite Bismillah, look at the water, and drink it in three breaths. Islam has commanded that when Muslims conquer a region, its water resources—wells and rivers—must not be harmed. Polluting clean water is a sin. Alas, despite possessing a complete code of life, we are the very people who waste water the most. In our homes, offices, and parks, taps are often left running unnecessarily. The wealthy install powerful pumps and motors in their houses, depriving their neighbors of water. We forget that the One who bestows blessings can also take them away. Even now, there is still time to value this blessing and use it with moderation.
It is a great misfortune that due to poor planning, we are now forced to consume polluted water. Solving this issue is the responsibility of those in power. However, we should make every possible effort to protect ourselves from this calamity. Always boil water before drinking. If you have a motor or donkey pump at home, use it sparingly and in intervals so that your neighbors do not face water shortages. Using water wisely and avoiding wastage is the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. And what could be greater than the chance to revive a Sunnah? To reduce water pollution, we must at least throw waste in designated places instead of dumping shopping bags in drains and sewers, which has unfortunately become a habit. This is the very reason why our sewerage system is always in crisis.
The year 2003 was declared the “International Year of Freshwater.” The United Nations even passed a resolution in this regard, supported by 148 countries. It was unanimously decided that public awareness about water conservation and protection from pollution must be raised, especially in third-world countries, so that future generations may also have access to clean water.
Now, listen to the alarming aspect of this report: if water continues to be polluted at this rate, by 2025, 70% of the world’s population will be deprived of clean water. Air pollution will disrupt rainfall, rivers will dry up, and the famine that has gripped Africa for the past 16 years will spread to other parts of the world, creating severe crises. Forests, which have already been largely destroyed, will vanish completely. Floods will sweep across vast regions of the world, and you are well aware of the devastation they bring.
What is needed now is for social organizations in our country to step forward and raise awareness among people about the importance of water. At the same time, the younger generation must be raised to be environmentally conscious so that their future remains secure.
Junaid Ahmad
This article was originally published in Taleem-o-Tarbiyat, October 2003.
