Religious based water management campaigns for sustainable development: prospects and challenges

Abstract

A raising awareness of the environmental issues associated with natural resources utilization and degradation has been grown since the past few decades. Depletion of the renewable and non-renewable environmental resources has occurred mainly as a result of unsustainable utilization. This paper presents the idea of water conservation and utilization campaigns based on Islamic principles, since Islamic religion still exerts great influence on societies and because water plays an extremely pivotal role within Islam. Awareness campaigns and water conservation programmes based on religious principles have proved very useful, beneficial and cost effective in different areas of the Muslim world. Teachings regarding practical and correct use of water in the Islamic religion were highlighted, applicable examples from some Muslim countries including the challenges were also highlighted, and it was concluded that public awareness campaigns based on Islamic principles, can be a powerful yet cost effective tool to supplement other water conservation and management policies.