The Problem Of The Christian Water Cooler
In the name of Allah, the Provider and Sustainer. Dear diary. Religions always have prohibitions. But they will always allow what is essential for the survival of life. Without life, there is no worship. So let me see what does the Qur’ān says about this. I am only paraphrasing within the context. First, allowed things. Concerning land animals: (6:119) eat on what the name of Allah has been pronounced. (5:1) Grazing livestock (not meat-eaters). Concerning plants: (20:53-54) eat of the diverse types of plants. (6:141) eat the fruit. Concerning water animals: (16:14) eat the tender flesh from the water. Concerning birds: (56:21) eat the flesh of birds Then prohibited things. (6:145) Meat: Dead meat, the flesh of swine, slaughtered for other than Allah For liquids; (2:219) intoxicants are prohibited. (6:145) Blood is prohibited Now, think. Qur’ān doesn’t mention allowing or disallowing water! Could it be because life originated from water, is made of water, and cannot survive without water? Water is an inanimate thing, devoid of life but vital for life. It could not have been circumstantial, controversial, debatable, for one God or multiple Gods. The pronouncing of God’s name is only for the Grazing animals. And only eating a pig is haraam, not touching it. Haraam is a big sin and a big sin couldn’t have been omitted from the holy book. It couldn’t have been left to conjecture. Hence water cannot be haram. And of course, we are allowed to think whatever we think is right, within the constraints of our religion.