SLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE AND CONDITIONS FOR ACCEPTABILITY OF RECLAMATION OF WASTEWATER FOR POTABLE USE BY MUSLIM USERS Report to the Water Research Commission by Abdulkader Ismail Tayob, Hameda Deedat & Azizur Rahman Patel University of Cape Town WRC Report No. 2360/1/15 ISBN 978-1-4312-0676-6 May 2015 Obtainable from: Water Research Commission Private Bag X03 Gezina, 0031
[email protected] or download from www.wrc.org.za DISCLAIMER This report has been reviewed by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the WRC, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. © Water Research Commission EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Problem Statement In October 2012, the eThekwini municipality announced that it would be considering the use of reclaimed water to supplement existing potable water supply. Residents of Durban took to the streets to protest against this plan. Media reports indicated that the most distinctive objection came from Muslims who believed that this practice was not permissible. These and other Muslim users claimed that wastewater reclamation and reuse was unclean and unIslamic. On the other hand, there have been no reports that Muslims in Beaufort West objected to water reclamation measures in the town. Moreover, Muslims in other countries have also not objected in this way to water reclamation practices. What does Islam really say about water and water purification? What led Muslims in eThekwini to object to water reclamation on religious grounds? And why did Muslims in Beaufort West accept water reclamation? This report is a step in the direction of finding answers to these questions.