Nasai

English Translation:

Water obtained for free, such as rainwater, spring water, and canal water, if it is in excess of the needs of agricultural land, is prohibited to sell. However, water that has been purchased, for example: water from a tube well or water brought by loading it onto animals, may be sold according to its cost, and there is no harm in this. In reality, this is not the sale of the water itself, but rather it is the cost of operating the tube well or the expenses of the animals, or it is compensation for human labor; however, customarily it is referred to as the price of water. There is no harm in this. This is the name of a settlement or a piece of land which Abdullah ibn Amr (radi Allahu anhu) inherited.

Explanation:

1:
By this is meant the water of rivers, springs, etc., which is not in anyone’s personal ownership. However, if there has been any expenditure incurred on the water, then selling such water is not prohibited. For example, selling cold water on the roads or mineral water, etc., is permissible.

Benefits and Issues:
Benefit:
What is meant here is the water of ponds, wells, or springs found in deserts and common pastures, not the water that is extracted with effort and labor from land that is someone’s personal property.

Its meaning is that when Sufyan narrated the hadith, he was not able to understand some of the words of Abu Minhal’s hadith in the manner he desired. Perhaps there was a crowd there, or he was at some distance from the teacher, or there could be some other reason as well. And Allah knows best.

Just as Allah Ta’ala has provided water freely and abundantly, in the same way, we too should allow others to take water free of charge beyond our own needs. Especially, it is not permissible in any circumstance to prevent a thirsty human or animal from using water.

Benefit:
In this hadith, it is stated that selling surplus water is prohibited, for example, rainwater that has collected in someone's reservoir, and he does not allow people to use it, instead demanding money from them—this is wrong. From this, one should not assume that water from a tube well or pump also cannot be sold; this is not the case. Water that is obtained through effort, for which a bill is paid, or diesel is consumed, it is permissible to sell such water. Likewise, it is permissible to sell canal water, because it is not obtained for free; rather, its bill also has to be paid, and it is acquired after considerable difficulty.