Sunnats and Aadaab of Rendering Service to People – Part 5

1. Assisting people in providing water for them is an act of great reward. Providing water is greatly rewarding even in the areas where water is freely available. However, providing water in areas where water is scarce carries an even greater reward. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned that giving water to drink where water is available is equal to freeing a slave and giving water to drink where water is not available is equal to reviving a dead person.

عن سعد بن عبادة، قال: قلت: يا رسول الله، أي الصدقة أفضل؟ قال: سقي الماء (سنن النسائي، الرقم: 3665)

Hazrat Sa’d bin Ubaadah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that he once asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Which sadaqah is the most virtuous (and most rewarding)?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “Providing water to people to drink.

Note: Providing water to people is the most virtuous sadaqah as it the means for sustaining people’s lives and fulfilling their worldly and deeni needs (e.g. performing wudhu and ghusal for ibaadat).

عن أبي سعيد الخدري، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: أيما مسلم كسا مسلما ثوبا على عري، كساه الله من خضر الجنة، وأيما مسلم أطعم مسلما على جوع، أطعمه الله من ثمار الجنة، وأيما مسلم سقى مسلما على ظمإ، سقاه الله من الرحيق المختوم (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 1682)

Hazrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Whichever Muslim clothes another Muslim who is naked (i.e. he does not have sufficient clothing to cover himself), Allah Ta‘ala will clothe him with the green clothing of Jannah. Whichever Muslim feeds another Muslim who is hungry, Allah Ta‘ala will feed him from the fruits of Jannah. Whichever Muslim provides water to drink to another Muslim who is thirsty, Allah Ta‘ala will give him to drink from the pure wine of Jannah which has been sealed (and exclusive for the people of Jannah).