Quran on the Water We Drink: Science + Quran Explained

Clear science. Respectful Quranic reflection. This page reviews the origin of Earth’s water, the hydrologic cycle that sustains life, and verses highlighting water as a sign and mercy.

Scientific Background (Brief)

On Earth, every known living thing needs water. Water’s polarity lets it dissolve many substances, its hydrogen bonds give it high heat capacity (good for temperature control), and it helps proteins fold and membranes form. The water cycle keeps fresh water moving through evaporation, clouds, rain/snow, rivers, and groundwater.

  • Cell chemistry: reactions like photosynthesis, respiration, and enzyme action happen in water.
  • Temperature & climate: oceans and water vapor store and move heat; this moderates climate and weather.
  • Cycle & supply: evaporation → condensation → precipitation → runoff/infiltration → storage; clean water requires wise management.

Quranic Verses Often Discussed

21:30 — “We made from water every living thing.”

Water as the shared basis of life — a recurring sign that invites gratitude and reflection.

أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ الْمَاءَ الَّذِي تَشْرَبُونَ
Have you considered the water that you drink? (Quran 56:68)

A direct prompt to think about source and dependence: Who brings it down, and how?

وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا
He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days — and His throne was upon the water — to test which of you is best in deeds. (Quran 11:7)

In human literature a throne signals authority, sovereignty, wisdom, and judgment. The metaphor fits here: judgment matters only if there is life and free will — and life, God tells us elsewhere, depends on water.

وَأَرْسَلْنَا الرِّيَاحَ لَوَاقِحَ فَأَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَسْقَيْنَاكُمُوهُ وَمَا أَنْتُمْ لَهُ بِخَازِنِينَ
We sent the winds as fertilizing (agents), then We sent down water from the sky and gave it to you to drink — yet you are not its treasurers/keepers. (Quran 15:22)

“You are not its treasurers/keepers” — humans do not control the storehouses of water; we receive and manage what is provided through winds, clouds, and rain.

Note & Correction (Quran 15:22)

In the video, I paraphrased the closing phrase of 15:22, «وَمَا أَنتُمْ لَهُ بِخَازِنِينَ» (wa mā antum lahu bikhāzinīn), as “you had no other supply.” A more faithful sense is: “you are not its treasurers/keepers” or “you do not control its storehouses (of water).” The verse emphasizes that the provision of rain and water is under God’s care—humans manage what we’re given, but we are not the keepers of the storehouses. The scientific content and the rest of the discussion remain the same.

FAQ

Did Earth’s water come from comets?
Yes, but evidence suggests a mixed origin: delivery by small bodies plus water bound in early materials and released later. The exact proportions are actively studied.
Do the verses describe modern hydrology?
Yes, however the Quran is not a science book. It reflects on many key aspects of creation at a high level. As we learn more about science, our faith can increase as we discover how closely aligned the Quranic descriptions are with what science has uncovered.

Transcript Summary

The script begins with the Quran’s question: “Have you considered the water you drink?” It answers by showing why water is special. Water is a polar molecule; hydrogen bonds make it sticky, give it high surface tension, and let it dissolve many substances. Those features let life’s reactions happen and help living things manage heat. Across Earth’s amazing biodiversity, every species still needs water.

The script then looks outward. Scientists search the galaxy for other worlds and often start by asking if liquid water could exist there. Theoretically, other liquids like methane or ammonia could work as solvents, but in places that cold, reactions would be very slow. On Earth, all known life uses water — so water stays the best target when we look for life elsewhere.

Next comes the question: where did Earth’s water come from? The script reviews four ideas that work together: (1) ice in early building materials that later melted, (2) outgassing from inside Earth, (3) delivery by comets and especially asteroids with Earth‑like water, and (4) a combination of these. In every case, Earth’s first water can be said to have come “from the sky” as our young planet and atmosphere took shape.

Finally, the script brings the science and verses together. Winds “fertilize” clouds; rain is given for us to drink; yet we are not its keepers (15:22). A throne “over the water” (11:7) symbolizes rule and judgment — fitting if life and free will depend on water. The takeaway is simple: on Earth, water is necessary for life, and the Quran draws our attention to its source, our dependence, and our responsibility.