It is forbidden to eat and drink out of a pot made of gold or silver.
When drinking water do not gulp it down at once, but sip it in three parts (i.e. drink, then wait a moment, then drink, then wait a moment and then drink). If a drinking vessel is broken from a side don’t drink from there, nor should you drink from the handle side; for people do not usually wash those places. During the day it is better to drink while standing and at night while sitting.
Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) has said:
“When a person says Bismillah before drinking water and then after a sip says ‘Al-hamdu lillah’ and then drinks a little again by saying ‘Bismillah and after drinking says alhamdu lillah’, thus doing three times, the water that has gone in his stomach will glorify Allah and he will get its reward.”
Do not drink excessive water for it causes illness. Drink enough to satiate thirst. There is nothing better than water, for water is the life of everything, as Allah says in the Holy Quran:
“We made every living thing from water.”[1]
Thus on water life depends. It is one of the greatest blessings of Allah.
Giving Water in Charity
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has said:
“The best form of alms is giving water to a thirsty person.”
The first person to be rewarded on the Day of Judgment will be the one who offered water to drink. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) has said:
“Whoever gives water to a thirsty man where there is water, the reward of his act is equivalent to freeing one slave; and one who gives water to a thirsty man where there is no water; the reward is akin to giving life to new person, and one who gives life to one person it is like giving life to all people.”
A companion of our sixth Imam, Dawood Riqqi relates that he was with the Imam (a.s.) when he ordered water. After he had drank water the Imam wept and then said:
“O Dawood! May Allah curse all those who martyred Imam Husain (a.s.) son of Ali (a.s.) How the memory of Husain (a.s.) arouses sorrow. Whenever I drink cool water I remember my grand father Imam Husain (a.s.) and whoever recalls the thirst of Imam Husain (a.s.) when drinking cool water, and curses all those who participated in martyring Imam Husain (a.s.) gets 1,00,000 rewards, and his 1,00,000 sins are forgiven and his position is exalted 1,00,000 times in paradise and Allah will resurrect him with a bright face.”
So when you finish drinking water say thus:
صَلَوَاةُ اللهِ عَلٰي حُسَيْنِ وَ اَهْلِ بَيْتِهٖ وَ اَصْحَابِهٖ وَ لَعْنَةُ اللهِ عَلٰي قَتَلَةِ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ اَعْدَآئِهٖ .
“Blessings of Allah be upon Husain, his progeny and his companions and curse be upon his murderers and enemies.”
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Islamic Library: Introduction to Islam
[1] . Surah al-Anbiya (21), Verse 30