Islamic Definition of Water Ownership: A Case Study of Aflaj System in Sultanate Oman

• Main Authors: Salim, Al-Marshoudi Ahmed, Sulong, Jasni
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: G Geography (General)
• Online Access: https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/29936/1/UUM%20IQRC%202022_82_88.pdf; https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/29936/

The falaj systems (plural aflaj), the most ancient aqueduct in Oman, not only a technique to convey aquifer water naturally, but also hold water distribution institutional knowledge based on Muslim jurist view. Currently, several villages and towns in Oman still hold this knowledge using different water rights categories and it passes from generation to generation. Although the literature support there exist three types of aflaj in Oman (duadi, ghaili and ayni), large variation with respect to water extraction process exist. Hence, this paper investigates, through a fieldwork case study the extent such variation influences Islamic definition of irrigated water ownership. The study concluded the fact that the ongoing and operated institutional arrangements historically were initiated upon the water extraction variation among the three aflaj types, hence they innovated two common rotation systems locally known as raddat and sharib.