UAE mosques urge worshippers to teach children value of water in Friday sermon

ABU DHABI, Sept 18 — Sermons at mosques across the United Arab Emirates on Friday described water as a divine blessing and a trust, urging worshippers to avoid waste and to teach their children to value it.
Titled “And We made from water every living thing,” the sermon cited the Quranic verse of the same name and called water a basic requirement of life. It said people have come to take water for granted in daily life, while earlier generations endured long journeys and hardship to obtain it. “Water wasted without need is a misuse of a great blessing and negligence in the trust that God has placed in our hands,” the sermon said.
Citing a narration attributed to Anas bin Malik, the sermon said Prophet Muhammad used about one mudd of water for ablution, which it put at roughly half a litre. It asked how careful people should be in other uses of water if such moderation was observed when preparing for worship. Parents were urged to set a practical example for their children.
The second part of the sermon linked the message to national efforts, including the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, set up on the directive of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to raise awareness of water scarcity, accelerate innovation and promote sustainable water management. It also referred to the initiative’s Water Pioneers programme, which involves young Emiratis in developing solutions to water challenges.
The sermon noted that the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal, will be held from Dec 8 to 10 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.