Erik V. Tornvall
 
 
 

The Blessing of Water  

Is there a more marvellous sensation than to go into water, to glide in it, to float, to let oneself be lulled by it, to let one's skin be caressed by this sensuous element. In its friendly presence, our worries float away and we feel light as air. A sensual pleasure of great force. Maybe this is so because water takes us back to the blessings of our foetal, prenatal stage, at the time when we did not yet know sin?

Water is magic. Source of life, instrument of purification, fountain of pleasure, quenching thirst, making the sap gush. Ubiquitous in religious, magical or mysterious scriptures, water is the mirror of our subconscious's, the silvering reflection of our contemplation, without revealing the abyss of our souls.. Let's see what God, our Lord, the Creator of the Universe, says in His own scripture about water:

"O people, worship only your Lord - the One who created you and those before you - that you may be saved. The One who made earth habitable for you, and the sky a structure. He sends down from the sky water, to grow all kinds of fruits for your sustenance. You shall not set up any idols to rival God, now that you know". Quran 2:2122.

"He is the One who created from water the human being, then made him reproduce through marriage and mating. Your Lord is Omnipotent. Yet, they still set up idols that cannot benefit them, nor harm them. Indeed, the disbeliever is an enemy of his Lord". Quran 25:54-55.
 

"Do the disbelievers not realise that the heavens and earth used to be one solid mass that we exploded into being? And from water we made all living things. Would they believe? Every soul will taste death after we put you through adversity and prosperity, then to us is your ultimate return". Quran 21:30,35.

"God created every living creature from water. Some of them move on their bellies, some walk on two legs, and some walk on four. God creates whatever He wills. God is Omnipotent. We have sent down to you clarifying revelations, then God guides whoever wills in a straight path". Quran 24:45,46.

"The Most Gracious. Teacher of the Quran. Creator of the human beings. He taught them how to distinguish. The sun and the moon are perfectly calculated. The stars, and the trees, prostrate. Hs built the sky and made the law. You shall make justice; do not break the law (of God). Which of your Lord's marvels can you deny? He separates the two salty waters whence they came. A barrier is between them, to prevent them from transgressing. Which of your Lord's marvels can you deny? Out of both of them you get pearls and coral. Which of your Lord's marvels can you deny? He gave you ships that roam the sea like flags. Which of your Lord's marvels can you deny?" Quran 55:1-9,13,19-25.

The creation of the heavens and the earth, the alternation of night and day, the ships that roam the ocean for the benefit of the people, the water that God sends down from the sky to revive dead land and to spread in it all kinds of creatures, the manipulation of winds and the clouds that are placed between the sky and earth, there are solid proofs for people who understand. Yet, some people adorn idols to rival God, and they love them as if they were God. The believers love God the most. If only the transgressors could see themselves when they meet the retribution! They will realise how all power belongs to God alone, and how awesome God's retribution is". Quran 2:164-165.

As a source, water is purity. As a stream, it is rushing. As a pond, it is calm, light greyish blue or heavy dark green-blue, changing with the light of day. As ocean, water evokes the immensity and the movement by its incessant changes. The universal truth, that water is the source of all life, explains why the word water is feminine in practically all languages.

Water is the only of the four elements, the others being air, fire and earth, that can turn into all three materials stages depending on the temperature under which it is submitted. In today's science, this familiar liquid still guards a part of its mystery. Its apparently simple chemical composition, one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms,in fact very complex. It has unique properties. It is an essential element in the structure and metabolism of all life. Earth is the only known spot in the universe where water is present in liquid form.

Water is everywhere around us and in us. If it should prove that water has a memory, as Benveniste (a French scientist in homeopathy) has advanced, it would certainly change the fundaments of science. , According to this hypothesis, water not only controls the cells and the molecules, but it would also play an active role in the transmission of
electromagnetic information. Let us reflect on our Lord's scripture: "Recall that Moses sought water for his people. We said, "Strike the rock with your staff! Whereupon twelve springs gushed out there from. The members of each tribe knew their own water. Eat and drink from God's provisions, and do not roam the earth corruptingly. Surely, those who believe, be they Jewish, Christians and converts, anyone who believes in God, believes in the Last Day, and leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve". Quran 2:60,62.

"He is the One who sends the wind with good omen, as a mercy from His hands. Once they gather heavy clouds, we drive them to dead lands, and send down water there from to produce with it all kinds of fruits. We similarly resurrect the dead, why you should take heed. The good land eagerly grows its plants by the leave of its Lord, while the bad land barely produces anything useful. We thus explain the revelations for people who are appreciative" Quran 7:57-58.

"The analogy of this worldly life is: We send down from the sky water, to produce with it all kinds of plants from earth and to provide food for the people and the animals. Then, as the earth is perfectly adorned, and its people presume that they are in control thereof, our judgement comes by night or by day, leaving it completely barren as if nothing existed the day before. We thus explain the revelations for people who reflect. God invites to the abode of peace, and guides whomever He wills in a straight path". Quran 10:24-25.

"He sends down from the sky water, causing valleys to overflow, the torrents foaming abundantly. Similarly, when they refine metal with fire for their jewellery or equipment, foam is produced. God thus cites analogies for the truth and the falsehood. As for the foam, it goes to waste while the benefits of the people stay close to the ground. God thus makes analogies". Quran 13:17

"There is nothing that we do not own infinite amounts of but we send it down in precise measure. And we send the winds as pollinators, and cause water to come down from the sky for you to drink, or you could not keep it fresh and palatable. It is we who control life and death, and we are the ultimate inheritors. And we fully know those among you who advance and those who regress. Your Lord will surely summon them, He is Most Wise, Omniscient". Quran 15:21-25.

We are made of water to a large extent, water reminding of sea water. This element, in all its abundancy, merits honest consideration. This feeling of abundance is false, since we are polluting its purity and using it wastefully. And if it had a memory, the scientists will tell. A lot of water will still float under the bridges until we will know for sure.

The human being 'evaporates'. We eliminate water constantly, in the urine, through our breath, by talking and perspiring. A grown adult emits 3 litres per day normally, but in sports and physical efforts, body work, in hot weather, we loose up to 4 litres per hour! If we don't drink, we will die. Nobody survives more than four days without drink. Organs depend on the quality and balance of our liquids. Hormones, vitamins, enzymes and mineral salts required for staying alive are all stored and transported by water. A water deficit of 20 per cent or 1 litre for someone weighing 70kg., will reduce the physical capacity by 35 per cent. The warmer and more humid it is, the worker will sweat more, body temperature will increase, muscular strength will decrease. Older persons, workers, sportsmen, must drink often. Cramps, headaches, vertigo, loss of conscience, even coma, will hit him who forgets to drink before, during and after an effort. Let's recite the Quran:

"He is the One who sends the winds with good omens of His mercy, and we send down from the sky pure water with which we revive dead lands and provide drink for our creations, multitudes of animals and humans. We distributed it among them in exact measure that they may take heed, but most people insist upon disbelieving. If we willed, we could have sent to every community a warner. Therefore, do not obey the disbelievers, but strive against them with this (Quran), a great striving". Quran 25:48-52.

"This worldly life is nothing but vanity and play, while the abode of the Hereafter is the real life, if they only knew. When they ride on a ship, they implore God, devoting their prayers to Him. But as soon as He saves them to the shore, they revert to idolatry", Quran 29: 64-65.

"Your Lord is the One who makes the ships float on the ocean that you may seek His bounties. He is Most Merciful towards you. If you are in danger in the middle of the sea, you forget your idols and implore Him. When He saves you to the shore, you turn away. Indeed, mankind is disbelieving. Have you an assurance that He will not make the land ashore swallow you, or that He will not send upon you a storm against which you will find no protector?". 1 7:66-68.

"Among His proofs is that you see the land still. As soon as we shower it with water, it vibrates with life. Surely, the One who revived it can revive the dead. He is Omnipotent. Surely, those who insult God's revelations are not hidden from us. Is one who gets thrown in the fire better, or one who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever you wish, He is Seer of everything you do". Quran 41:39-40

"Have you a guarantee that the One in heaven will not send upon you a violent storm? Will you then appreciate the value of my warning?". 67:17 "When they saw the storm heading their way, they said, "This storm will bring much needed rain to us ". Instead, it brought what you challenged a violent wind wherein there is painful retribution. It destroyed everything, as commanded by its Lord. By morning nothing was left except their homes. We thus requite the guilty people". Quran 46:24025.

"When you entered your garden you should have said 'Maa sha Allah, la quwwata illa Billay'.

My Lord may grant me better than your garden He may send a violent storm from the sky that wipes out your garden, leaving it completely barren, or its water may sink deeper, out of your reach ". 18:39:40