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."
Distribution of Water - Sahih al-Bukhari 2369
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."
Scholarly Commentary
This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari highlights three grave sins that incur Allah's severe displeasure. The third category specifically addresses the sin of withholding surplus water, which is of particular relevance to our discussion on water distribution.
The prohibition against withholding superfluous water establishes a fundamental Islamic principle: water is a communal resource that must be shared with those in need. The term "superfluous water" refers to water beyond what one requires for personal and essential needs. This includes excess water from wells, springs, rivers, or rainwater that exceeds one's immediate requirements.
Allah's response to such a person demonstrates the principle of divine justice (al-muqāsah) - the punishment corresponds to the nature of the sin. Just as the person withheld what they did not create, Allah withholds His grace which the sinner did not create. This emphasizes that all resources ultimately belong to Allah, and humans are merely trustees.
Classical scholars like Imam al-Nawawi explained that this prohibition applies to all essential resources that sustain life, with water being paramount due to its necessity for survival. The severity of this sin is evident from the consequence: being deprived of Allah's speech and gaze on Judgment Day, which represents complete divine rejection.
This teaching establishes the Islamic legal principle that water rights are communal rights (huqūq 'āmmah), and withholding surplus water constitutes both a legal violation and a major spiritual transgression. The hadith serves as a powerful reminder of our responsibility toward community welfare and the equitable distribution of essential resources.