Chapter on the Ruling Regarding Reserved Areas
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 1|Chapter 42
وَ سُئِلَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ قَوْمٍ كَانَ لَهُمْ عُيُونٌ فِي أَرْضٍ قَرِيبَةٍ بَعْضُهَا مِنْ بَعْضٍ فَأَرَادَ رَجُلٌ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ عَيْنَهُ أَسْفَلَ مِنْ مَوْضِعِهَا اَلَّذِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَ بَعْضُ اَلْعُيُونِ إِذَا فُعِلَ بِهَا ذَلِكَ أَضَرَّتْ بِبَقِيَّتِهَا وَ بَعْضُهَا لاَ تَضُرُّ مِنْ شِدَّةِ اَلْأَرْضِ فَقَالَ "مَا كَانَ فِي مَكَانٍ جَلِيدٍ فَلاَ يَضُرُّهُ وَ مَا كَانَ فِي أَرْضٍ رِخْوَةٍ بَطْحَاءَ فَإِنَّهُ يَضُرُّ".
Imam عليه السلام was asked about a group of people who had springs in a land, with some springs being close to others. One of the men wanted to lower the level of his spring from its original position, but some of the springs, if altered in this way, could harm the others, while some would not cause harm due to the firmness of the soil. Imam عليه السلام said: "Whatever is in a solid, firm ground does not cause harm, but whatever is in a loose, sandy soil will cause harm."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh