Using Water heated by Sun

Question
I would like to know whether it is permissible to use solar power as a source of heating water and generating electricity in out homes, in light of the environmental issues surrounding the increase in power demand around the world and the implications this has on global warming. I am a scientist and a keen environmentalist, and therefore understand the harms that increase power demand will have the planet. I was told that water heated from the sun is not permissible.Harvesting solar energy has the potential of providing electricity for our homes without the burning of coal and release of toxic fumes and unneccessary carbon deposition into the atmosphere.


Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh It is permissible to use solar power as a source of heating water and generating electricity.

The books of Fiqh do mention that it is makrooh (tanzihi) to use water that is heated by the sun if:
1. It is in a hot country
2. Its on a hot day
3. In a utensil other than gold and silver
4. The water is used while heating This is due to medical reasons that it leads to leprosy. If these conditions are is not found, it will not be makrooh.
Ahsan al-Fatawa (2/43)
H.M. SaeedRad al-Muhtar (1:180) H.M. Saeed

(قوله : وكراهته إلخ ) أقول : المصرح به في شرحي ابن حجر والرملي على المنهاج أنها شرعية تنزيهية لا طبية ، ثم قال ابن حجر : واستعماله يخشى منه البرص كما صح عن عمر رضي الله عنه واعتمده بعض محققي الأطباء لقبض زهومته على مسام البدن فتحبس الدم ، وذكر شروط كراهته عندهم ، وهي أن يكون بقطر حار وقت الحر في إناء منطبع غير نقد ، وأن يستعمل وهو حار . أقول : وقدمنا في مندوبات الوضوء عن الإمداد أن منها أن لا يكون بماء مشمس ، وبه صرح في الحلية مستدلا بما صح عن عمر من النهي عنه ؛ ولذا صرح في الفتح بكراهته ، ومثله في البحر وقال في معراج الدراية وفي القنية : وتكره الطهارة بالمشمس ، { لقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم لعائشة رضي الله عنها حين سخنت الماء بالشمس لا تفعلي يا حميراء ، فإنه يورث البرص } " وعن عمر مثله . وفي رواية لا يكره ، وبه قال أحمد ومالك . والشافعي : يكره إن قصد تشميسه . وفي الغاية : وكره بالمشمس في قطر حار في أوان منطبعة ، واعتبار القصد ضعيف ، وعدمه غير مؤثر ا هـ ما في المعراج ، فقد علمت أن المتعمد الكراهة عندنا لصحة الأثر وأن عدمها رواية . والظاهر أنها تنزيهية عندنا

أيضا ، بدليل عده في المندوبات ، فلا فرق

And Allah Knows Best
Ml. Ehzaz Ajmeri
Student Darul Iftaa,
Madrassah Inaamiyyah

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Question
In referrence to your Fatwa 15777 i am confused. Are you saying that solar power is permissible only in the conditions stated or are your saying that it is not permissible in those conditions. Condition 1 states if it is in a Hot country, please explain what this means. Hot to whoCondition 2 Again hot to who?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh It is makrooh tanzeehi to use water for wudhu or ghusl if ALL of the conditions are found. If one of the conditions is not found, then it will not be makrooh tanzeehi.As mentioned before, this is due to medical reasons. Therefore, in classifying a country as hot or a day as hot the view of the professionals in that field will be taken into consideration, as they would know best when water heated directly by the sun becomes harmful.Again, this karahah (disliking) is when the water is put directly in the sun and heated. Solar-powered water heaters in today’s time are not operated in this manner, therefore it will not be makrooh.We request if you can please provide us with scientific research on this matter as requested in the previous reply.And

Allah knows best
Wassalam
Ml. Ehzaz Ajmeri