Changing the ruling on the purity of water

29-3-2006 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it valid to perform ablution with water whose nature changes but which is not impure? Are the three characteristics of water specific to the water that changes due to impurity or all kinds of water; especially that I understood from the narration on the well of Budhaa'ah, that it is said on water that is changed with an impurity.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

The ruling of water that changed (in his nature) is as follows:

If one of its three characteristics colour, taste, or smell, greatly changes with something which is pure and which is not usually existing in it, like if it is changed with milk, honey or oil, then this water [to which another substance is added] is not a purifier, [i.e. one cannot perform ablution with it nor remove an impurity that is on his clothes]. This water is neither acceptable to perform ablution with it nor Ghusl (a ritual bath). However, one can benefit from it in other matters, like drinking, cooking, and washing. Nonetheless, if one of its three characteristics change with an impurity, then it is not useful for anything, neither in purifying in order to perform acts of worship, nor in other normal matters.

In conclusion, the ruling of the state of water changes according to that with which its state changed.

Allaah Knows best.