Water shortage is a global problem afflicting many parts of the world today, and is expected by analysts to be a focal point of many disputes in the near future.

In many countries of the Islamic world the problem has recently reached alarming levels, forcing governments to embark on schemes to regulate the use of water and prevent wastage.

The following project presents a novel and simple idea to completely STOP water wastage during a Muslim’s daily wash observances, and thereby save Billions of liters of precious water.

The project consists of novel design concepts for bathroom and washroom ware pieces that enable practicing Moslems to perform daily wash observances without wasting water, thereby adhering to Islamic teachings and Sunna.

Marketing of oriental or Islamic bathroom and washroom designs and add-on design features.  It concerns the introduction to markets in the Middle East (M.E) and North Africa (N.A) of designs of bath-tubs and wash basins and add-on pieces of ware for existing bath-tubs, basins and shower cubicles.

The proposed tubs and basin designs include additional integrated or attached receptacles or containers of particular capacities.  The proposed add-on ware pieces are essentially unattached or mountable receptacles or containers of similar particular capacities.  The designs are in fact two types of receptacles or vessels named (and identified) as Moud and Sa’a (Arabic words).  All are for use in Islamic daily wash observances.  The capacities and naming of the receptacles have strong religious significance.

The integrated or add-on pieces will of course be made to fit perfectly with modern bathroom and washroom designs in terms of material and shapes.

The theme has two principal significance aspects or features:

•         An economic aspect in that use of the designs will make substantial saving of precious water by reducing consumption and wasting of water during the performance of daily obligatory wash observances. 

•         The religious significance lies in the fact that the use of the proposed ware pieces to perform these practices enables Moslems to emulate the ways of The Prophet Mohammed in such practices and hence are considered to follow Sunna (Prophet Mohammed’s ways or methods).  Following Sunna is essential for all practicing Moslems who strive at all times to adhere to it in all their religious and other actions.

In most Middle Eastern and North African countries water reserves are dwindling and water consumption is increasing. Several countries in the region are currently suffering from water scarcity due to increased demand resulting from population growth, higher standards of living, urbanisation and economic growth rates. This situation will affect all countries in the region in the near future. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) comprises 23 countries with a population of approximately 436 million. The majority of EMR countries are in arid or semi arid zones with low to average rainfall. 11 countries in this region are already consuming more than 100% of their renewable resources. (Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, Volume 5, Issue 4).

Provision of sufficient water supplies appropriate for modern living conditions that include constant running water is a costly affair. 

A high cost process that is in use in many areas of some countries in the region. The process is expensive and involves transport of water to inner areas.

Costly, dangerous and carries high risk of contamination due to inefficient removal of harmful microbes.  In addition, recycling waste water has the aspect of distaste associated with it.  It is inconceivable that such a process could be used to provide water for domestic uses.

A potentially explosive issue which could lead to international conflicts or worse between countries that share water sources. Specifically in the Middle East over half the countries rely on water, which crosses international boundaries. With the pressing need to ensure adequate water supplies countries will become increasingly hostile in an already turbulent region.

According to Ismail Seageldin in 1995, the vice president of the World Bank, “Many wars of the last century were about oil, but the wars of this century will be about water. (From Scarcity to Security: averting a water crisis in the Middle East and North Africa, World bank 1995)

The two pieces of ware to be associated with wash basins or bathroom tubs or shower cubicles are named Moud and Sa’a respectively.  These are  old  Arabic  measurement  containers  equivalent  in  capacity  to 688 grams and 2752 grams of water respectively.  These were two measuring containers used at the time to quantify grain and similar commodities. 

Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) urged his followers to be economical in water use when performing the washing observances of Wudou (ablution) and Ghusl (body wash) and avoid wastage.  The recommendations are passed down as Hadiths (Prophets sayings) in Islamic literature and teachings.  According to Sira (Prophet Mohammed’s life or biography) he used a Moud of water to perform his Wudou and a Sa’a of water to perform his Ghusl.

The selection of Moud and Sa’a in this project to name the two receptacles is therefore based on religious origins with links to Sunna. 

It is an important objective of the project to emphasize and establish the link between the proposed ware designs and Moud and Sa’a by use of logos and other appropriate identification marks in addition to brief literature passages and such like.  This is not merely for marketing advantages only but the link is the feature that will make the scheme acceptable to all social classes.

Wodou (ablution) is obligatory prior to performing all prayers including the daily five prayers.  The majority of practicing Moslems perform Wodou (some) five times a day.  A Wodou involves three times washing (with handfuls of water) of the hands, mouth, nose (nostrils), face, arms, wiping of the head, neck and ears and washing of both feet.  During Wodou, one is required to recite certain Islamic texts and remember given phrases with the result that a typical Wodou may take some minutes.  With running water facilities, considerable amount of water goes to waste during the practice, since only handfuls of water are collected and used at each washing step. 

Reducing wastage of water during Wodou by, for example, the use of old mobile water measuring containers (instead of running water taps) is no longer practical or compatible with modern living facilities. It leads to water spillage on floors and may be perceived to be an unnecessary complication.

Ghusl is, in addition to performing Wodou, the observance where the whole body is wiped with handfuls of clean water.  It is performed by practicing Moslems every Friday before the midday prayer.  In addition, Ghusl is required after sexual intercourse and nocturnal emissions.  Therefore the average Moslem would be expected to perform Ghusl several times a week.

Based on the recommendation that a Moud of water is the amount that should be  used for  Wodou, it is  estimated  by  experiment  that some 10 litres of water are wasted in a typical Wodou using running water facility. This means that approx. 15 times the amount of water that is needed to perform Wodou is wasted. The estimated waste per person per day is approx. 50 litres of clean water. This leads to a waste of  50 million litres of drinking water per day per 1 million practicing individuals. This puts the estimated waste of drinking water during Wodou alone by every 1 million inhabitants per annum at 18.3 billion litres. Similar analysis of Ghusl is certain to show a more dramatic level of wastage that could be prevented by the scheme.

Governments recognise that the known reserves cannot sustain current consumption rates and that practical measures to find additional reserves or somehow reduce current consumption rates are urgently required.  According to published literature hopes of finding new water sources are not high.  At the same time, it is understood that reduction of water consumption and wastage could make a significant impact.  The question is how to do it and enforce it?

The proposed design concept (when properly put into practice and presented) is expected to encourage and promote a “culture” of saving water in Islamic societies.  Such culture will be identified as a modern Islamic tradition that teaches consumers to avoid wasting water.  It will be adopted by practicing Moslems without need for enforcement or policing, individuals will practice it privately for their own sakes.  They will (quite rightly) feel that they are being responsible citizens in addition to adhering to Sunna in practical ways on a daily basis.  This is in fact a big achievement for Moslems since they all strive to follow Sunna in small daily deeds as well as in the more involved actions in life.

Why should governments in the region support the proposed project?

Our analysis show that governments and non-government institutions in ME and NA countries and throughout the Islamic world will support the theme of the project and will wish to be identified with it or with supporting it in some way or another.  That is, providing the project is prepared well and introduced in a careful manner together with advanced and appropriate publicity.  There are many reasons for this, some religious some economic.  These include in our view the following :

•                   It is entirely compatible with the publicised policies of the need to reduce wastage of water in the region.

•                   The theme does not require heavy investment from governments to be introduced or implemented.

•                   It does not conflict with any principal religious and cultural understandings shared by all Moslems and hence it will be above differences in interpretations and opinions that do exist between some schools of thought.

•                   The concept is based on firm universally agreed Islamic teachings that originate from Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) as reported in Hadith.  Therefore there is no danger to those who sponsor the project of being seen to support a non-universal Islamic idea. 

•                  Applying this project would prevent using worship as an excuse for irresponsible use of water.

•                    Applying this project would go a long way towards consolidating a spontaneous culture of awareness of water shortage and the need to preserve it, without the need for government enforcements.

•                   There are obvious advantages for governments to support Islamic ways of life.

•                   The scheme is a winner with all social classes due to its appeal as a Sunna practice in addition to the economic aspects.  It is expected that individuals will feel proud (quite rightly) that they are following Sunna in repeated daily practices.

•                   It will be perceived as a modern forward looking and wholly practical straight to the point solution to a pressing and a large scale problem that affects all.

•                   It will not require policing or enforcement of unpalatable regulations on individuals (who perform Wodou and Ghusl in private homes and in private rooms).  This of course means that governments will not fear to be seen as implementing hard measures.

•                   The concept is a relatively easy and a low-cost scheme to put into practice in private homes, public places and Mosques.

•                   It is expected that some governments may adopt the project as a national policy theme.

•                    In view of the officially sponsored line in Middle Eastern and North African countries through Friday prayer speeches and other religious talks to be responsible Moslem citizens and reduce water wastage. The proposed project provides an ideal way to answer such calls.  We expect that the theme will make a significant contribution in this pressing area.  The World Health Organisation (WHO), World Bank, United States Agency for International Development and Water Efficiency and Public Information for Action (WEPIA) are to name but a few organisations who have launched government backed programes promoting awareness through mosques and Islamic teachings (Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, Volume 5, Issue 4).

The design concept has already featured in the Arab press.  In the future we envisage the concept will be advertised in collaboration with appropriate manufacturers and distributors through the usual ways of glossies, displays in show rooms, local press etc.  

In addition, when the products are about to become available or soon after they do, we intend to take an active part in advertising the project.

The objectives of this document are to introduce and explain the components of the design concept and provide a brief background to its origins and relevance to Islamic nations, the intended market place.

The aim will be to explore (with partner advisers) ways by which the project could be put on an economic footing through an agreed arrangement with an appropriate manufacturer and marketing company.  Specifically, we have a design idea for novel bathroom and washroom ware with strong economic and cultural significance relevant to Middle Eastern, North African  and Islamic countries and wish to find and make contractual arrangement with an appropriate manufacturer with established market presence in the area to make and market the new designs.  The design concept meets a much needed water-saving economic requirement as well as a particularly fine religious objective.

 

An Alternative Add On Sa'a Arrangement

The essential components and ideas of the scheme have been filed as an International Patent Application under the name:

“Water Receptacles and Washing Arrangements Incorporating Same”.

It was published in the “PCT” Journal on 19^th September 2002, under publication No. WO 02/071905.  Having received a satisfactory International Search Report, we are confident it will proceed to registration.

Patent applications for the invention have also been filed in various Arab countries which are not members of the "Patent Cooperation Treaty" (PCT).  

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Glossary

Sunna:  Is Prophet Mohamed’s ways, methods, conduct, manners or behaviour during his life.  The average Muslim strives to model himself on the Prophet (PBUH), and emulate him as much as possible. 

Hadiths:  Also known as “Traditions” of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH); are his sayings and teachings, as narrated by his companions and family members.  They were compiled, authenticated and are available in volumes that lists the chain of narrators for each individual Hadith.  Hadiths are the main source of “Sunna”.  

Moud:  An old measurement container equivalent in capacity to 688 grams of water.  It has been used since the dawn of Islam to quantify grain and similar commodities. 

Sa'a:  An old measurement container equivalent in capacity to 2752 grams of water (4 Mouds).   It has been used since the dawn of Islam to quantify grain and similar commodities. 

Wodou:  The lesser ablution; is the daily wash observance, which is obligatory prior to performing all prayers, including the five daily prayers.  It involves washing of the hands, mouth, nose (nostrils), face, arms, wiping of the head, neck and ears, and both feet with handfuls of water.  On average a Muslim performs Wodou, some five times a day. 

Ghusl:  The greater ablution; involves –in addition to Wodou- wiping the whole body with handfuls of clean water.  It is performed by practicing Muslims every Friday before heading to the mosque to perform the Friday midday prayer.  In addition, Ghusl is required after sexual intercourse and nocturnal emissions.  On average, a Muslim is expected to perform Ghusl several times a week. 

Sira:  Prophet Mohamed’s life or biography. 

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