Water Cycle
Distribution of water between existing things is very remarkable and amazing. The real sources of water are the seas, oceans and lakes. Water is distributed throughout the earth from these bountiful sources.
Water of oceans, seas and lakes, under the effect of the heat of sun, turns to vapor and rises to the sky. Vapors wander in sky with the movement of winds. When temperature and pressure reach a particular level, they appear in form of clouds and float to various parts of the earth by the movement of fast and slow winds, where they drop as rain, soaking up the earth and giving rise to vegetation and greenery. Rain water then seeps into the earth and is stored in it for needful times. The stored water sometimes erupts from the lap of mountains in form of springs or human beings make efforts to dig wells and gain from the life-giving sources of water in the earth.
Drops of rain, in special circumstances, fall to the ground slowly and beautifully in form of snow. Snow which is very beneficial for vegetation as it turns into water gradually and seeps into the earth and is stored underground or emerges as springs and rivers and becomes available for those who need it and in the end return to the seas.
The quality of the rising of vapor and its being transferred from one place to another by the help of wind itself deserves contemplation. If wind power had not been there, how the clouds would have been distributed in the atmosphere? How they would have traveled here and there? If the heat of the sun had not been there, would the water of the sea have turned into vapor? If the water had only turned into vapor at temperature of a hundred degrees, would it have been sufficient for existing beings? Would human life have been possible in those circumstances? If rain had not fallen down in drops, what difficulties it would have brought? For example, if rain fell from the sky in one place in form of a stream, what would happen? Would it have been able to seep into the earth in a gradual manner and be stored in it?
Quality of rain and snow in purifying the atmosphere is also remarkable and worth pondering. If rain and snow had not absorbed the toxins and dirt of the atmosphere, would you have been able to breathe?
Now you must have noted what valuable qualities are present in water, snow and rain. How the sea and sun, wind and cloud and rain etc. act in a precise coordinated way to provide means of life for us and other existing things.
What does this system and coordination prove? Is it not the best proof that intelligence and determination had a role in the creation of this magnificent world? Does this system and coordination not tell us that a wise and a powerful being has created this world? And that He created man and other existing things and all that they need?
Now, that we have mostly understood well the value, importance and qualities, we must see what the Almighty Allah has fixed as our duty before these bounties. He has commanded us to enjoy the benefits of these bounties and be obedient and thankful to Him. That we drink it and give to others; that we may purify ourselves and our surroundings through it. We should take care that we must not waste it, that we should be thrifty in using water so that others may not have to face its shortage. We must not pollute rivers, streams, seas and sea shores. We should try to save underground water bodies and use this great divine bounty in a nice way, on which human, animal and plant life depends to populate the earth and to guarantee the needs of all.
The Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَآءِ کُلَّ شَىْءٍ حَىٍّ
“…and We have made of water everything living.” (21:30)
And He says:
أللَّهُ الَّذِى یُرْسِلُ الرِّیَاحَ فَتُثِیرُ سَحَاباً فَیَبْسُطُهُ فِى السَّمَآءِ کَیْفَ یَشَآءُ وَیَجْعَلُهُ کِسَفاً فَتَرَى الْوَدْقَ یَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلاَلِهِ فَإِذَآ أَصَابَ بِهِ مَن یَشَآءُ مِن عِبَادِهِ إِذَا هُمْ یَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
“Allah is He Who sends forth the winds so they raise a cloud, then He spreads it forth in the sky as He pleases, and He breaks it up so that you see the rain coming forth from inside it; then when He causes it to fall upon whom He pleases of His servants, lo! they are joyful.” (30:48)
And He says:
هُوَ الَّذِى أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً لَّکُم مِّنْهُ شَرَابٌ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌ فِیهِ تُسِیمُونَ / یُنبِتُ لَکُم بِهِ الزَّرْعَ وَالزَّیْتُونَ وَالنَّخِیلَ وَالْأَعْنَبَ وَمِن کُلِّ الَّثمَرَ تِ إِنَّ فِى ذَ لِکَ لَأَیَةً لِّقَوْمٍ یَتَفَکَّرُونَ
“He it is Who sends down water from the cloud for you; it gives drink, and by it (grow) the trees upon which you pasture. He causes to grow for you thereby herbage, and the olives, and the palm trees, and the grapes, and of all the fruits; most surely there is a sign in this for a people who reflect.” (16:10-11)