In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Water

(Qur’anic Perspective)

1. Water as a Source of Provision

Arabic:
الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فِرَاشًا وَالسَّمَاءَ بِنَاءً وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Transliteration:
Alladhī jaʿala lakumu al-arḍa firāshan wa-al-samāʾa bināʾan wa-anzala mina al-samāʾi māʾan fa-akhraja bihi mina al-thamarāti rizqan lakum, fa-lā tajʿalū li-Allāhi andādan wa-antum taʿlamūn

Translation:
"He is the One who made the earth a resting place for you and the sky a canopy, and sent down water from the sky, thereby bringing forth fruits as provision for you. So do not set up equals to Allah while you know." (Al-Baqarah 22)

2. Signs of Allah in Rain and Creation

Arabic:
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن مَّاءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ

Transliteration:
Inna fī khalqi al-samāwāti wa-al-arḍi wa-ikhtilāfi al-layli wa-al-nahāri wa-al-fulki allatī tajrī fī al-baḥri bimā yanfaʿu al-nāsa wa-mā anzala Allāhu mina al-samāʾi min māʾin fa-aḥyā bihi al-arḍa baʿda mawtihā wa-battha fīhā min kulli dābbah wa-taṣrīfi al-riyāḥi wa-al-saḥābi al-musakhkhari bayna al-samāʾi wa-al-arḍi la-āyātin li-qawmin yaʿqilūn

Translation:
"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, the alternation of night and day, the ships that sail in the sea for the benefit of people, the water that Allah sends down from the sky giving life thereby to the earth after its death, the dispersal of every creature therein, the directing of the winds, and the clouds controlled between the sky and the earth — are signs for a people who use reason." (Al-Baqarah 164)

3. Vegetation Produced by Rain

Arabic:
وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ نَبَاتَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهُ خَضِرًا نُّخْرِجُ مِنْهُ حَبًّا مُّتَرَاكِبًا وَمِنَ النَّخْلِ مِن طَلْعِهَا قِنْوَانٌ دَانِيَةٌ وَجَنَّاتٍ مِّنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالرُّمَّانَ مُشْتَبِهًا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَابِهٍ ۗ انظُرُوا إِلَىٰ ثَمَرِهِ إِذَا أَثْمَرَ وَيَنْعِهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكُمْ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Transliteration:
Wa-huwa alladhī anzala mina al-samāʾi māʾan fa-akhrajnā bihi nabāta kulli shayʾ fa-akhrajnā minhu khaḍiran nukhriju minhu ḥabban mutarākibā wa-mina al-nakhli min ṭalʿihā qinwānun dāniyah wa-jannātin min aʿnābin wa-al-zaytūna wa-al-rummāna mushtabihan wa-ghayra mutashābih, unẓurū ilā thamarihi idhā athmara wa-yanʿih, inna fī dhālikum la-āyātin li-qawmin yuʾminūn

Translation:
"And He is the One who sends down water from the sky. With it We bring forth vegetation of every kind; from it We bring forth green plants from which We produce layered grain. And from the palm trees, from their spathes, clusters hanging low; and gardens of grapes, olives, and pomegranates — similar and dissimilar. Look at their fruit when it bears fruit and its ripening. Indeed, in that are signs for people who believe." (Al-Anʿām 99)

4. The Parable of the Life of This World

Arabic:
إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ وَالْأَنْعَامُ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَخَذَتِ الْأَرْضُ زُخْرُفَهَا وَازَّيَّنَتْ وَظَنَّ أَهْلُهَا أَنَّهُمْ قَادِرُونَ عَلَيْهَا أَتَاهَا أَمْرُنَا لَيْلًا أَوْ نَهَارًا فَجَعَلْنَاهَا حَصِيدًا كَأَن لَّمْ تَغْنَ بِالْأَمْسِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Transliteration:
Innamā mathalu al-ḥayāti al-dunyā ka-māʾin anzalnāhu mina al-samāʾ fa-ikhtalaṭa bihi nabātu al-arḍ mimmā yaʾkulu al-nāsu wa-al-anʿām ḥattā idhā akhadhati al-arḍu zukhrufahā wa-izzayyanat wa-ẓanna ahluhā annahum qādirūna ʿalayhā atāhā amrunā laylan aw nahāran fa-jaʿalnāhā ḥaṣīdan ka-an lam taghna bi-al-ams, kadhālika nufaṣṣilu al-āyāti li-qawmin yatafakkarūn

Translation:
"The example of the life of this world is like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it from which people and animals eat, until when the earth has taken on its adornment and become beautiful, and its people think that they have control over it — Our command comes to it by night or by day, and We make it as a harvested field, as though it had not flourished yesterday. Thus We explain the signs for people who reflect." (Yūnus 24)

5. Variety Despite One Water

Arabic:
وَفِي الْأَرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُّتَجَاوِرَاتٌ وَجَنَّاتٌ مِّنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ صِنْوَانٌ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍ يُسْقَىٰ بِمَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِي الْأُكُلِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ

Transliteration:
Wa-fī al-arḍi qiṭaʿun mutajāwirātun wa-jannātun min aʿnābin wa-zarʿun wa-nakhīlun ṣinwānun wa-ghayru ṣinwān yusqā bi-māʾin wāḥid wa-nufaḍḍilu baʿḍahā ʿalā baʿḍin fī al-ukul, inna fī dhālik la-āyātin li-qawmin yaʿqilūn

Translation:
"And on the earth are neighboring tracts and gardens of grapevines, crops, and palm trees — some growing in clusters and others single — watered with the same water, yet We make some of them excel others in taste. Indeed, in that are signs for people who understand." (Al-Raʿd 4)

6. Rain Producing Fruits and Rivers

Arabic:
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِيَ فِي الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْأَنْهَارَ

Transliteration:
Allāhu alladhī khalaqa al-samāwāti wa-al-arḍa wa-anzala mina al-samāʾi māʾan fa-akhraja bihi mina al-thamarāti rizqan lakum wa-sakhkhara lakumu al-fulka li-tajrī fī al-baḥri bi-amrih wa-sakhkhara lakumu al-anhār

Translation:
"It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and sent down water from the sky, thereby bringing forth fruits as provision for you. And He has subjected the ships for you to sail through the sea by His command and has subjected the rivers for you." (Ibrāhīm 32)

7. Water for Drinking and Agriculture

Arabic:
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً لَّكُم مِّنْهُ شَرَابٌ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ
يُنبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ الزَّرْعَ وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالنَّخِيلَ وَالْأَعْنَابَ وَمِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Transliteration:
Huwa alladhī anzala mina al-samāʾi māʾan lakum minhu sharāb wa-minhu shajarun fīhi tusīmūn
Yunbitu lakum bihi al-zarʿa wa-al-zaytūna wa-al-nakhīla wa-al-aʿnāba wa-min kulli al-thamarāt, inna fī dhālik la-āyatan li-qawmin yatafakkarūn

Translation:
"He is the One who sends down water from the sky; from it you drink, and from it grow the trees on which you pasture your cattle. With it He produces crops for you, olives, palm trees, grapes, and every kind of fruit. Indeed, in that is a sign for people who reflect." (Al-Naḥl 10–11)

8. All Living Things Created from Water

Arabic:
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Transliteration:
Wa-jaʿalnā mina al-māʾi kulla shayʾin ḥayy, a-fa-lā yuʾminūn

Translation:
"And We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?" (Al-Anbiyāʾ 30)

9. Creation of Creatures from Water

Arabic:
وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَابَّةٍ مِّن مَّاءٍ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَىٰ بَطْنِهِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَىٰ رِجْلَيْنِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَىٰ أَرْبَعٍ ۚ يَخْلُقُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Transliteration:
Wa-Allāhu khalaqa kulla dābbatin min māʾ, fa-minhum man yamshī ʿalā baṭnih wa-minhum man yamshī ʿalā rijlayn wa-minhum man yamshī ʿalā arbaʿ, yakhluqu Allāhu mā yashāʾ, inna Allāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr

Translation:
"And Allah has created every living creature from water. Among them are those that crawl on their bellies, those that walk on two legs, and those that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills. Indeed, Allah has power over all things." (Al-Nūr 45)

10. Reviving Barren Land

Arabic:
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا نَسُوقُ الْمَاءَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ الْجُرُزِ فَنُخْرِجُ بِهِ زَرْعًا تَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ أَنْعَامُهُمْ وَأَنفُسُهُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا يُبْصِرُونَ

Transliteration:
Awa-lam yaraw annā nasūqu al-māʾa ilā al-arḍi al-juruz fa-nukhriju bihi zarʿan taʾkulu minhu anʿāmuhum wa-anfusuhum, a-fa-lā yubṣirūn

Translation:
"Have they not seen that We drive water to barren land and thereby produce crops from which their livestock eat and they themselves eat? Will they not then see?" (Al-Sajdah 27)

11. The Water That People Drink

Arabic:
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ الْمَاءَ الَّذِي تَشْرَبُونَ
أَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنزِلُونَ
لَوْ نَشَاءُ جَعَلْنَاهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ

Transliteration:
A-fa-raʾaytumu al-māʾa alladhī tashrabūn
A-antum anzaltumūhu mina al-muzni am naḥnu al-munzilūn
Law nashāʾu jaʿalnāhu ujājan fa-lawlā tashkurūn

Translation:
"Have you considered the water that you drink? Is it you who bring it down from the clouds, or are We the One who send it down? If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?" (Al-Wāqiʿah 68–70)

12. Even Stones Release Water

Arabic:
ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً ۚ وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الْأَنْهَارُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْمَاءُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

Transliteration:
Thumma qasat qulūbukum min baʿdi dhālik fa-hiya ka-al-ḥijārah aw ashadd qaswah, wa-inna mina al-ḥijārah la-mā yatafajjaru minhu al-anhār wa-inna minhā la-mā yashshaqqaqu fa-yakhruju minhu al-māʾ wa-inna minhā la-mā yahbiṭu min khashyati Allāh, wa-mā Allāhu bi-ghāfilin ʿammā taʿmalūn

Translation:
"Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. Indeed, among stones are those from which rivers gush forth, and among them are those which split open and water comes out from them, and among them are those that fall down in awe of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do." (Al-Baqarah 74)