BEYOND RITUAL PURITY (TAHARAH): A PRACTICAL THEOLOGICAL STUDY ON ISLAMIC WATER CONSERVATION ETHICS AND MANAGEMENT
Article Sidebar
-
Islamic Environmental Ethics, Taharah, Water Conservation
Abstract
Growing concerns over global water scarcity have prompted renewed attention to water ethics within religious traditions, including Islam. While Islamic jurisprudence has historically emphasized taharah (ritual purity) as a fundamental component of religious practice, contemporary environmental challenges encourage a broader theological interpretation of water as a divine trust (am?nah) requiring responsible management. The gap between ritual observance and ecological stewardship underscores the need to re-examine Islamic water ethics as both a spiritual obligation and a sustainability imperative in Muslim societies. This study aims to explore practical theological applications of Islamic water ethics, focusing on how principles rooted in the Qur’an, Hadith, and classical jurisprudence can inform contemporary water conservation practices. A qualitative field-based design was adopted, combining textual analysis with case studies from three Islamic educational institutions implementing water-saving initiatives. Data were collected through document review, semi-structured interviews with educators and facility managers, and observations of ablution facility management. Results indicate that integrating prophetic traditions on minimal water usage during wudhu’ with modern environmental education significantly enhances student awareness and behavior toward water conservation. Institutions that applied structured management—such as sensor faucets, reuse systems, and awareness campaigns—reduced water consumption by up to 30%. Theologically framed conservation messaging was found to strengthen intrinsic motivation by linking environmental care directly to worship integrity and moral accountability. The study concludes that Islamic water ethics offer untapped potential for advancing ecological sustainability through faith-based educational interventions. Strengthening water management practices in Islamic institutions can support global sustainability goals while preserving the spiritual essence of taharah.
Full text article
References
Abdi, A.-N. M., Mohamed, M. A., & Farah, M. A. (2025). Perceived organizational politics, turnover intention, and commitment in higher education institutions: The contingent role of Islamic work ethics. Frontiers in Education, 10. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1544269
Abdul Aziz, N. A. A., Kadir, F. K. A., Zakaria, M. K., Embong, A. H., Rahman, A. H. Ab., & Salamun, H. (2024). THE CONFLICT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CORRUPTION. Revista de Gestao Social e Ambiental, 18(2). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n2-167
Al-Awar, F., Abdulrazzak, M. J., & Al-Weshah, R. (2006). Water ethics perspectives in the Arab Region. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, 24(4), 167–182. Scopus.
Al-Daghistani, S. (2025). On Creation, Nature, and the Ethical Self: A Comparative Analysis of Ikhw?n al-?af?, al-R?ghib al-I?fah?n?, and Ab? ??mid al-Ghaz?l?. Journal of Islamic Ethics, 9(1–2), 113–134. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1163/24685542-20250001
Baird Callicott, J. (2003). Myth and environmental philosophy. Dalam Think. Through Myths: Philosophical Perspectives (hlm. 158–173). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203398449-12
Belmessaoud, B. (2011). The ethical dimension of Islamic urban architectural heritage as sustainable design. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 155, 917–928. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.2495/SC120772
Chuvieco, E. C. (2012). Is Christianity responsible for earth’s environmental crisis? Estudios Geograficos, 73(273), 421–447. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3989/estgeogr.201215
De Clercq, D., Ul Haq, I. U., & Azeem, M. U. (2019). Role ambiguity and perceptions of unfair performance appraisals: Mitigating roles of personal resources. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 57(2), 150–173. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7941.12178
De Clercq, D., Ul Haq, I. U., Raja, U., Azeem, M. U., & Mahmud, N. (2018). When is an Islamic work ethic more likely to spur helping behavior? The roles of despotic leadership and gender. Personnel Review, 47(3), 630–650. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/pr-06-2017-0192
Emari, H., Vazifehdoust, H., & Nikoomaram, H. (2017). Islam and Environmental Consciousness: A New Scale Development. Journal of Religion and Health, 56(2), 706–724. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0319-3
Fakihudin, R. (2023). Formulation of public policy based on islamic legal studies as a solution in the contemporary era. Contemporary Issues on Interfaith Law and Society, 2(2), 145–166. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.15294/ciils.v2i2.68868
Fuad, S. I. M., Taib, F., & Hidayat, T. (2016). Islamic ethical paradigm on poor compliance in the management of bronchial asthma. International Medical Journal Malaysia, 17(Specialissue2), 201–204. Scopus.
Gulzar, A., Islam, T., Khan, M. A., & Haq, S. M. (2021). Environmental Ethics towards Sustainable Development in Islamic perspective. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 22. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.32859/ERA.22.39.1-10
Islam, S. S. (2017). Sustainable Development in Islam and International Law: An Investigation. Dalam Qur’anic Guidance for Good Gov.: A Contemporary Perspective (hlm. 169–192). Springer International Publishing; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/9783319578736_8
Islam, T., Ahmed, I., Ali, M., Ahmer, Z., & Usman, B. (2022). Understanding despotic leadership through the lens of Islamic work ethics. Journal of Public Affairs, 22(3). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2521
Javed, B., Fatima, T., Yasin, R. M., Jahanzeb, S., & Rawwas, M. Y. A. (2019). Impact of abusive supervision on deviant work behavior: The role of Islamic work ethic. Business Ethics, 28(2), 221–233. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12212
Kamal, M. A., Nasir, O., & Rakesh, K. S. (2025). THE 3S - SIMPLE, SUFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE: THE BASIC TENETS OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE. Journal of Islamic Architecture, 8(3), 616–626. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.18860/jia.v8i3.26346
Khobir, A., Khasanah, N., Susanto, N. H., Pabbajah, M., & Adinugraha, H. H. (2025). The Interaction of Islam and Local Beliefs: A Study of Djawa Soenda’s Model of Religious Worship in the Review of Islamic Education. Millah: Journal of Religious Studies, 24(1), 59–104. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.20885/millah.vol24.iss1.art3
Kula, E. (2001). Islam and environmental conservation. Environmental Conservation, 28(1), 1–9. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892901000017
Lala, I. (2025). Islamic Guidance and Artificial Intelligence: An Epistemological Perspective. Philosophy and Technology, 38(4). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-025-00989-z
McGuinness, J., & Mouhli, Z. (2012). Restoration Dramas: Home refurbishment in historic Fès (Morocco), 2000-2009. Journal of North African Studies, 17(4), 697–708. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/13629387.2012.686574
Mohammed, M. M., Nazri, M. N., Omar, S., & Aslam, M. Z. (2022). THE EFFECT OF ISLAMIC WORK ETHICS ON ACADEMICS’ CAREER SUCCESS: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL RESOURCES. Hamdard Islamicus, 45(3), 101–129. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.57144/hi.v45i3.322
Mohidem, N. A., & Hashim, Z. (2023). Integrating Environment with Health: An Islamic Perspective. Social Sciences, 12(6). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12060321
Mokhtar, M. I., & Abdullah, R. (2014). Islamic environmental jurisprudence and conservation practices in Malaysia. Journal of Dharma, 39(2), 151–166. Scopus.
Murtaza, G., Roques, O., Talpur, Q.-U.-A., & Khan, R. (2021). Religious beliefs as a moderator of the relationships between workplace incivility and counterproductive work behaviours. Human Systems Management, 40(6), 813–823. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3233/HSM-200993
Nauman, S., Malik, S. Z., Saleem, F., & Ashraf Elahi, S. (2024). How emotional labor harms employee’s performance: Unleashing the missing links through anxiety, quality of work-life and Islamic work ethic. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 35(12), 2131–2161. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2023.2167522
Nazirul Islam Sarker, M., Raihan, M., Huq, M., Kamruzzaman, M. M., Chumky, T., & Hattori, T. (2023). Ways of Water Management in Islam: Potential Insights for Future Water Governance. Dalam Indigenous and Local Water Knowl., Values and Practices (hlm. 47–65). Springer Nature; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9406-7_4
Nur, A., Hussin, H. B., & Yasir, M. (2025). Qur’anic Ecotheology and the Ethics of Forest Protection in Indonesia. Jurnal Studi Ilmu-Ilmu al-Qur’an Dan Hadis, 26(2), 351–382. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.14421/qh.v26i2.6312
Oseni, A. A., Bamiro, N. B., Ashafa, S. A., & Olohunlana, S. D. (2025). Sustainable Halal Financing Framework for Blue and Green Economy. Dalam Green and Blue Economy Frameworks for Halal Industry Sustainability (hlm. 253–273). Springer Nature; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-1729-6_14
Qamar Zia, M. Q., Naveed, M., Fasih, S. T., Aleem, M. U., & Ramish, M. S. (2022). The interactive effect of Islamic work ethics and leader-member exchange on workplace deviance behaviour and adaptive performance. International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 38(3), 530–548. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOES-06-2021-0123
Rafique, M. O., & Raza, K. M. (2025). Islamic Green Finance: A Marriage of Ethics and Environmental Responsibility in Light of Maqasid al-Shari’ah. Dalam Islamic Green Finance: Towards Ethical and Environmentally Responsible Investing (hlm. 3–19). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003540403-2
Raza, M. A., Imran, M., Pervaiz, U., & Khan, M. J. (2024). How leader’s psychological entitlement leads to despotic leadership causing employee-instigated workplace incivility: Mediation of emotional exhaustion and moderation of Islamic work ethics. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-01-2024-0002
Shaker, R. S., Najim, S. R., Abdulameer, N. A., Kabrch, J. K., & Turchyn, M. (2024). Integration of Genetic Resources and Intellectual Property Rights within Global and Islamic Legal Frameworks. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 9(1), 375–394. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.29240/jhi.v9i1.11269
Shuhaizam Said, T., Ramli, H., & Damia Natasha, A. (2023). The Adaptation of Malay Philosophy Values through Maritime education Preservation and Conservation Wisdom. Dalam J. Surif, G. M. Jacobs, M. V. Reddy, T. Yamamoto, & H. Pardi (Ed.), BIO. Web. Conf. (Vol. 79). EDP Sciences; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20237906001
Topcan, O., Uluturk, B., Kaynak Iltar, E. K., & Akçoru, R. (2025). Impact of Islamic work ethic on employee ethical behavior: The serial mediation of moral identity and felt obligation. Personnel Review, 54(1), 350–370. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-01-2024-0045
Zeren-Akbulut, M. G. (2021). Safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage through teaching practices within the scope of transmission: The case of traditional turkish archery. Milli Folklor, 17(131), 176–189. Scopus.
Authors
Copyright (c) 2025 Sri Nur Rahmi, Ahmed Ould Haiba, Mariem Mint Dahi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
