Egyptian Culture, Part 6: Water, Water, Everywhere

Clay Water Jugs On A Wire Rack Attached To A Pole

In Egypt, and the Islamic world in general, water has a special importance due to the need to ritually cleanse with water prior to prayer. Praying five times a day makes the presence of water more than just a convenience, it becomes a necessity to ensure a steady, clean supply for the community. Before indoor plumbing became more common around the world, water was drawn from cisterns, wells and fountains. It was during the Ottoman Empire that drinking water fountains in Egypt became commonly installed for the public, usually as a charity offered by the wealthier citizens of the community. These public water fountains often formed the hub around which sprang up mosques, schools, libraries and hospitals.

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Clay Water Jugs Available Even In Secluded Alleys

In Egypt still today the practice of offering water by making it freely available to the public is in evidence everywhere. From the smallest village to the largest city, clean cool drinking water is amply available on every street and road. It may be as simple as a metal rack holding clay drinking vessels filled with water, a plastic water cooler like we might use while camping, or even a huge stainless steel refrigerated water dispenser with several faucets. There is a saying of the Prophet Muhammad recorded that Allah will refuse attention, on the Day of Resurrection, to “the man who, having water in excess of his needs, refuses it to a traveler…” (Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani).

Two Children Stop For A Drink Of Water In Front Of A Blanket Store

Everywhere imaginable you will find free, fresh drinking water available. In the street markets, there are water stations supplied by shop merchants in front of their stores. On random narrow alleys you will find interesting clay jugs filled with fresh water every morning in front of colorfully painted residential buildings.

Fresh Water Station In Front Of Colorful Building

Even on the busy highways, it is not uncommon to see a car, taxi or microbus stopped at one of these rustic shrines to the Merciful God of Free Drinking Water. The driver of a loaded microbus, or maybe one of his passengers, will be busy refilling a plastic water bottle kept in the vehicle for this use. It often gets shared communally around the microbus, refilling as necessary, until everyone is satisfied.

A Public Drinking Water Dispenser Sits On The Curb To Service Thirsty Drivers

A refreshing, cold drink of water to quench the thirst on a hot, dry Egyptian day is definitely something to give thanks to God for!

A Refridgerated Water Dispenser Beside The Public Scale For Farmers

Click Here to return to Egyptian Culture, Part 5: Lady Chicken Vendors Or Click Here to continue to Egyptian Culture, Part 7: Eid Al Adha Celebration

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Ok, now for a few more things to give thanks to God for! Two New Awards, and a special newsflash about a freelance writing job I just received – masha’Allah, my very first professional journalist post, great thanks to God!
Keep reading, I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

On May 21, 2014, Daily Musings of A Day In The Life nominated me for “The Most Influential Blogger” award! Awards are always something I’m excited about and thankful for, as it gives me a chance to share some more fun and appreciation and recognition with all of you! Thanks again Daily Musings!

But for this award, I’ve exercised my creativity and introduced a new award into the WordPress stream, without interrupting the flow of the original award. The design on the face of “The Most Influential Blogger” award is an eight pointed star, commonly referred to as an Islamic Star, as it’s a design very commonly found in Islamic Art. So I played with a copy of the image and replaced the text to read the name of my new award, “Muslim Blogger.”

Without taking anything away from the current chain of “Most Influential Bloggers,” which I will list my new round of awardees for directly, I’ve started this new, “Muslim Blogger” award to share with many of you, as well. I think it might be nice for Muslims to share appreciation and recognition for each other’s efforts, and insha’Allah/God willing, many of you will enjoy this idea, too!

First, I’ll do the “Most Influential Blogger”award:

Here are the rules, amended slightly, as I flex my creative muscles and loosen things up a bit!

To accept this award, the Awardee must do the following:

● Display the Award anywhere on your Blog.

● Announce your win anywhere within a blog post and link back to the Blogger who awarded you, to thank them.

● Optional: Include an embedded video of your current favourite song (YouTube has virtually everything, just copy and paste the link into your WordPress editor). If a video is not possible you can embed a SoundCloud track. If none of this is possible, it’s not a problem, don’t even mention it!

● Optional: Present at least 10 deserving Bloggers with this Award, if you are able. If you are not able, the award is still yours – Congratulations!

● If you are able to generate another round of this award, please Link your Awardees in the post and let them know of their being awarded with a comment (or a pingback).

Here are my ten awardees for the next cycle of the “Most Influential Blogger” Award:

1. And That’s The Way It Was ★ 2. Let Me Reach with Kim Saeed ★ 3. Greatsnaps Goodtimes and Me ★ 4. Isadora Art and Photography ★ 5. A Mom’s Blog ★ 6. Bastet’s Pixelventures ★ 7. The Hungry Artist ★ 8. Optimistic New Mom ★ 9. In The Life Of Sara Sandoval ★ 10. Janet Brugos Art ★

Congratulations to all of you! Your blogs are awesome, and I wish you every success! ♥♥♥ ;^)

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Next, I’ll do the “Muslim Blogger” Award:

Here are the rules for accepting this award:

● Display the Award anywhere on your Blog.

● Announce your win anywhere within a blog post and link back to the Blogger who awarded you, to thank them.

● Optional: Include an English translation of one of your favorite surahs or verses from the Quran, with Book & Verse notation

● Optional: Present at least 7 deserving Bloggers with this Award, if you are able. If you are not able, the award is still yours – Congratulations!

● If you are able to generate another round of this award, please Link your Awardees in the post and let them know of their being awarded with a comment (or a pingback).

I didn’t award this award to myself, since I don’t think that’s appropriate, but I would like to share one of my favorite surahs from the Quran, Surat ad Duha:

English translation:
Surat ad Duha, Book 93

1. By the morning brightness
2. And the night when it covers with darkness,
3. Your Lord has not taken leave of you, nor has He detested.
4. And the Hereafter is better for you than the first.
5. And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.
6. Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?
7. And He found you lost and guided [you]
8. And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.
9. So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him].
10. And as for the petitioner, do not repel [him].
11. But as for the favor of your Lord, report [it].

Here are my 13 Awardees for the “Muslim Blogger” Award

1. Faithiswheretheheartis ♥ 2. Flowers and Breezes ♥ 3. The Muslimah Mommy ♥ 4. AJourneyInAJournal ♥5. Rediscovery57 ♥ 6. Anchor with Keidi ♥7. Direction and Choice ♥ 8. YasSarNal Quran ♥9. Al-Ḥikmah wal Maw‘iẓah Al-Ḥasanah ♥ 10. Diariesofadarululoomboy ♥ 11. Dreams to Reality! ♥ 12. Peace Be Upon You! ♥ 13. The Revert Miyabhai ♥

Allah bless you all with Alf Mabrouk! Masha’Allah, you all have awesome blogs, and I pray for your continued success in your efforts, ya Rabb! ♥♥♥ ;^)))

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Finally! I want to share with you all a great honor I have received in the form of a job I found listed on problogger. I’m now writing for EdenKeeper.org, an excellent organization devoted to caring for our environment from a spiritual perspective. The ideology behind EdenKeeper is that our Creator has entrusted the care of His creation in the hands of humans, and that humans will do a better job of caring for God’s creation when we hold ourselves accountable to God, using the principles of our faith to guide us.

My position with EdenKeeper is as a representative of Islam, informing readers of Islamic principles related to caring for our environment, adopting green lifestyle practices, and appreciating the need for sustainable resources. I am truly thankful to God for this amazing opportunity! My first article has already been published, “Islam and Water Rights in Egypt Today,” and God Willing my next article, “The Donkey: Egypt’s Green Machine” will also be published by the time you read this! Please come check them out at my new home on EdenKeeper.org!

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