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WAQF / Water & Sanitation Waqf

Water & Sanitation Waqf

80% of the world is covered in water and yet millions around the world suffer from water shortages, and lack access to safe water, leading to disease, death, crop failure and famine.

  • More than a billion people in rural and urban areas lack access to the most basic water and sanitation services.
  • 60% of the world's population are without access to decent sanitation
  • 25,000 children die every day from diseases related to unsafe water
  • 80% of diseases in the developing world are due to unsafe water and poor sanitation.

Islamic Relief's Water and Sanitation Waqf offers communities both the practical and educational means to overcome problems associated with the lack of clean water and sanitation facilities.

Our activities include:

  • Building water supply systems in deprived areas
  • Digging and restoring wells
  • Implementing water purification projects
  • Undertaking integrated sanitation programmes

These projects are currently carried out in Albania, Bangladesh, Chechnya, India, Mali and Pakistan.

The prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said:

'Whoever digs a well, there will be no one who drinks from it amongst jinn, men and birds except that Allah will reward him on the Day of Judgement'

WAQF

Ways to join in

The following illustration is an example of how people can get involved, using a fictional school and characters.

The XYZ High School pupils spent several months collecting money and fundraising to buy shares in Islamic Relief's Water Waqf project. Their head teacher was soon able to present Islamic Relief with a cheque for two shares, and planned to keep the school involved in Waqf programmes in future years.

Islamic Relief banked the money, and sent the school a 'welcome' letter with a receipt. A month later the school received their Waqf Deed in the name of XYZ High School, representing two shares in the water projects. The money was then put to work in projects like those above.

Did you know?

Zubida's Waterway in Mecca was a Waqf initiated by Zubida, the wife of the famous Muslim Caliph Haroun al Rashid. She ordered a channel to be dug directing water to the holy city of Mecca, ensuring Hajji's (Pilgrims) had free access to water during their pilgrimage. Many wealthy Muslims also participated by staking a Waqf around the channel, providing services to the Hajjis.

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