Water Justice in Muslim Societies: A Scoping Study of Three River Basins

With Adeel Malik

This project investigates the intersection of water justice, climate change, and socio-cultural dynamics in major river basins spanning predominantly Muslim regions, including the Nile, Indus, and Mesopotamia. These basins, among the world’s most water-stressed, exemplify deep inequalities driven by historical trajectories, uneven development, climate-induced disruptions. By adopting a multidisciplinary approach, the project integrates institutional economics, environmental history, socio-ecological analysis, and hydrological modelling to explore water-related inequalities and their broader implications for justice and sustainability. The project addresses key questions, including the lessons from ancient hydraulic societies, the role of Islamic perspectives on water ethics and conflict resolution, and the impact of past and emerging technologies on equity and resource management. Cross-cutting themes include Islamic ethics in water conservation, the legacy of colonial irrigation systems, and the sacred and symbolic geographies of water in Muslim contexts.