Water Rights
Total Hadiths 9
What Does Islam Say About Water Rights and Sharing Resources?
According to Islamic scholars, these authentic narrations establish fundamental principles regarding water rights and communal resources. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasized that essential public utilities, much like flowing water or the shared salt flats of the Ma'rib Dam, should remain accessible to everyone as a form of charity rather than private monopolies. The texts explicitly forbid the commercial selling of water resources and strongly condemn withholding superfluous or excess water. Doing so unfairly prevents others from grazing their cattle or accessing basic survival needs. In fact, the narration warns that a person who possesses excess water on a pathway and willfully withholds it from travelers will face severe consequences and will not be looked upon by Allah on the Day of Resurrection.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ يُمْنَعُ فَضْلُ الْمَاءِ لِيُمْنَعَ بِهِ الْكَلأُ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Do not withhold the superfluous water, for that will prevent people from grazing their cattle."
[1] This Hadīth means that if one has a well near which there is a pasture and there is no other source of water in the area, one should not withhold the water from the sheep grazing there, for that would make it impossible for the sheep to graze there as they would be in great need of water after grazing. So, to withhold the water means to prevent sheep from grazing as well. ( Fath Al-Bārī ).Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2353In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 3USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 40, Hadith 543
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَأَبِي، سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَمْنَعُوا فَضْلَ الْمَاءِ لِتَمْنَعُوا بِهِ فَضْلَ الْكَلإِ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Do not withhold the superfluous water in order to withhold the superfluous grass."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2354In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 4USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 40, Hadith 544
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا صَالِحٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَلاَ يُزَكِّيهِمْ، وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ رَجُلٌ كَانَ لَهُ فَضْلُ مَاءٍ بِالطَّرِيقِ، فَمَنَعَهُ مِنِ ابْنِ السَّبِيلِ، وَرَجُلٌ بَايَعَ إِمَامًا لاَ يُبَايِعُهُ إِلاَّ لِدُنْيَا، فَإِنْ أَعْطَاهُ مِنْهَا رَضِيَ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يُعْطِهِ مِنْهَا سَخِطَ، وَرَجُلٌ أَقَامَ سِلْعَتَهُ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ، فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ لَقَدْ أَعْطَيْتُ بِهَا كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَصَدَّقَهُ رَجُلٌ" ثُمَّ قَرَأَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً}
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "There are three persons whom Allah will not look at on the Day of Resurrection, nor will he purify them and theirs shall be a severe punishment. They are: -1. A man possessed superfluous water, on a way and he withheld it from travelers.-2. A man who gave a pledge of allegiance to a ruler and he gave it only for worldly benefits. If the ruler gives him something he gets satisfied, and if the ruler withholds something from him, he gets dissatisfied.-3. And man displayed his goods for sale after the `Asr prayer and he said, 'By Allah, except Whom None has the right to be worshipped, I have been given so much for my goods,' and somebody believes him (and buys them).The Prophet (ﷺ) then recited: "Verily! Those who purchase a little gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths." (3.77)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2358In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 40, Hadith 547
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ السَّمَّانِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَلاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ رَجُلٌ حَلَفَ عَلَى سِلْعَةٍ لَقَدْ أَعْطَى بِهَا أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا أَعْطَى وَهْوَ كَاذِبٌ، وَرَجُلٌ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ كَاذِبَةٍ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ لِيَقْتَطِعَ بِهَا مَالَ رَجُلٍ مُسْلِمٍ، وَرَجُلٌ مَنَعَ فَضْلَ مَاءٍ، فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ الْيَوْمَ أَمْنَعُكَ فَضْلِي، كَمَا مَنَعْتَ فَضْلَ مَا لَمْ تَعْمَلْ يَدَاكَ ". قَالَ عَلِيٌّ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ غَيْرَ مَرَّةٍ عَنْ عَمْرٍو سَمِعَ أَبَا صَالِحٍ يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "There are three types of people whom Allah will neither talk to, nor look at, on the Day of Resurrection. (They are): -1. A man who takes an oath falsely that he has been offered for his goods so much more than what he is given, -2. a man who takes a false oath after the `Asr prayer in order to grab a Muslim's property, and -3. a man who withholds his superfluous water. Allah will say to him, "Today I will withhold My Grace from you as you withheld the superfluity of what you had not created."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2369In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 17USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 40, Hadith 557
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، وَكَثِيرِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ ـ يَزِيدُ أَحَدُهُمَا عَلَى الآخَرِ ـ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ أُمَّ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، لَوْ تَرَكَتْ زَمْزَمَ ـ أَوْ قَالَ لَوْ لَمْ تَغْرِفْ مِنَ الْمَاءِ ـ لَكَانَتْ عَيْنًا مَعِينًا، وَأَقْبَلَ جُرْهُمُ فَقَالُوا أَتَأْذَنِينَ أَنْ نَنْزِلَ عِنْدَكِ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ وَلاَ حَقَّ لَكُمْ فِي الْمَاءِ. قَالُوا نَعَمْ ".
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "May Allah be merciful to the mother of Ishmael! If she had left the water of Zamzam (fountain) as it was, (without constructing a basin for keeping the water), (or said, "If she had not taken handfuls of its water"), it would have been a flowing stream. Jurhum (an Arab tribe) came and asked her, 'May we settle at your dwelling?' She said, 'Yes, but you have no right to possess the water.' They agreed."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2368In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 16USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 40, Hadith 556
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، قَالَ خَاصَمَ الزُّبَيْرَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا زُبَيْرُ اسْقِ ثُمَّ أَرْسِلْ ". فَقَالَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ إِنَّهُ ابْنُ عَمَّتِكَ. فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ " اسْقِ يَا زُبَيْرُ، ثُمَّ يَبْلُغُ الْمَاءُ الْجَدْرَ، ثُمَّ أَمْسِكْ ". فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ فَأَحْسِبُ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ نَزَلَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ {َلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ}. قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ يَذْكُرُ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، إِلاَّ اللَّيْثُ فَقَطْ.
`Urwa Narrated from:
When a man from the Ansar quarreled with Az-Zubair, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O Zubair! Irrigate (your land) first and then let the water flow (to the land of the others)." "On that the Ansari said, (to the Prophet), "It is because he is your aunt's son." On that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O Zubair! Irrigate till the water reaches the walls between the pits around the trees and then stop (i.e. let the water go to the other's land)." I think the following verse was revealed concerning this event:"But no, by your Lord They can have No faith Until they make you judge In all disputes between them." (4.65)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2361In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 9USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 40, Hadith 549
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَخْلَدٌ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ خَاصَمَ الزُّبَيْرَ فِي شِرَاجٍ مِنَ الْحَرَّةِ يَسْقِي بِهَا النَّخْلَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اسْقِ يَا زُبَيْرُ ـ فَأَمَرَهُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ـ ثُمَّ أَرْسِلْ إِلَى جَارِكَ ". فَقَالَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ أَنْ كَانَ ابْنَ عَمَّتِكَ. فَتَلَوَّنَ وَجْهُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَ " اسْقِ ثُمَّ احْبِسْ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ الْمَاءُ إِلَى الْجَدْرِ ". وَاسْتَوْعَى لَهُ حَقَّهُ. فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ وَاللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ أُنْزِلَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ {َلاَ وَرَبِّكِ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ}. قَالَ لِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَقَدَّرَتِ الأَنْصَارُ وَالنَّاسُ قَوْلَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اسْقِ ثُمَّ احْبِسْ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الْجَدْرِ ". وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ.
`Urwa bin Az-Zubair Narrated from:
An Ansari man quarreled with Az-Zubair about a canal in the Harra which was used for irrigating date-palms. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), ordering Zubair to be moderate, said, "O Zubair! Irrigate (your land) first and then leave the water for your neighbor." The Ansari said, "Is it because he is your aunt's son?"On that the color of the face of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) changed and he said, "O Zubair! Irrigate (your land) and withhold the water till it reaches the walls that are between the pits around the trees." So, Allah's Apostle gave Zubair his full right. Zubair said, "By Allah, the following verse was revealed in that connection":"But no, by your Lord They can have No faith Until they make you judge In all disputes between them." (4.65)(The sub-narrator,) Ibn Shihab said to Juraij (another sub-narrator), "The Ansar and the other people interpreted the saying of the Prophet, 'Irrigate (your land) and withhold the water till it reaches the walls between the pits around the trees,' as meaning up to the ankles."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2362In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 10USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 40, Hadith 550
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ خَاصَمَ الزُّبَيْرَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي شِرَاجِ الْحَرَّةِ الَّتِي يَسْقُونَ بِهَا النَّخْلَ فَقَالَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ سَرِّحِ الْمَاءَ يَمُرُّ فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِ، فَاخْتَصَمَا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِلزُّبَيْرِ " اسْقِ يَا زُبَيْرُ، ثُمَّ أَرْسِلِ الْمَاء إِلَى جَارِكَ ". فَغَضِبَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، فَقَالَ أَنْ كَانَ ابْنَ عَمَّتِكَ. فَتَلَوَّنَ وَجْهُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَ " اسْقِ يَا زُبَيْرُ، ثُمَّ احْبِسِ الْمَاءَ، حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الْجَدْرِ ". فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَحْسِبُ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ نَزَلَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ {فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ}.
'Abdullah bin Az-Zubair Narrated from:
An Ansari man quarreled with Az-Zubair in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ) about the Harra Canals which were used for irrigating the date-palms. The Ansari man said to Az-Zubair, "Let the water pass' but Az-Zubair refused to do so. So, the case was brought before the Prophet (ﷺ) who said to Az-Zubair, "O Zubair! Irrigate (your land) and then let the water pass to your neighbor."On that the Ansari got angry and said to the Prophet, "Is it because he (i.e. Zubair) is your aunt's son?" On that the color of the face of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) changed (because of anger) and he said, "O Zubair! Irrigate (your land) and then withhold the water till it reaches the walls between the pits round the trees." Zubair said, "By Allah, I think that the following verse was revealed on this occasion":"But no, by your Lord They can have No faith Until they make you judge In all disputes between them." (4.65)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2359, 2360In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 40, Hadith 548
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ خَاصَمَ الزُّبَيْرَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي شِرَاجِ الْحَرَّةِ الَّتِي يَسْقُونَ بِهَا النَّخْلَ فَقَالَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ سَرِّحِ الْمَاءَ يَمُرُّ فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِ، فَاخْتَصَمَا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِلزُّبَيْرِ " اسْقِ يَا زُبَيْرُ، ثُمَّ أَرْسِلِ الْمَاء إِلَى جَارِكَ ". فَغَضِبَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، فَقَالَ أَنْ كَانَ ابْنَ عَمَّتِكَ. فَتَلَوَّنَ وَجْهُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَ " اسْقِ يَا زُبَيْرُ، ثُمَّ احْبِسِ الْمَاءَ، حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الْجَدْرِ ". فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَحْسِبُ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ نَزَلَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ {فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ}.
'Abdullah bin Az-Zubair Narrated from:
An Ansari man quarreled with Az-Zubair in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ) about the Harra Canals which were used for irrigating the date-palms. The Ansari man said to Az-Zubair, "Let the water pass' but Az-Zubair refused to do so. So, the case was brought before the Prophet (ﷺ) who said to Az-Zubair, "O Zubair! Irrigate (your land) and then let the water pass to your neighbor."On that the Ansari got angry and said to the Prophet, "Is it because he (i.e. Zubair) is your aunt's son?" On that the color of the face of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) changed (because of anger) and he said, "O Zubair! Irrigate (your land) and then withhold the water till it reaches the walls between the pits round the trees." Zubair said, "By Allah, I think that the following verse was revealed on this occasion":"But no, by your Lord They can have No faith Until they make you judge In all disputes between them." (4.65)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2359, 2360In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 40, Hadith 548
