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Permissible Water for Wudu & Ghusl – Authentic Islamic Guidance

Which Water Is Permissible for Wudu and Ghusl?

This article is a continuation of the previous topic “Which Water Is Permissible for Wudu and Ghusl”. In this part, miscellaneous rulings related to wells, impure water, leftover water of humans and animals, and various issues concerning Wudu and Ghusl are discussed in the light of authentic Islamic jurisprudence.

Miscellaneous Issues Related to Wells and Water

• Issue 1: If the water of a well becomes impure and even a single drop of that impure water falls into a pure well, the pure well will also become impure. Likewise, the bucket, rope, or vessel that comes into contact with the impure well water also becomes impure. If such items fall into a pure well, that well will also become impure.
• Issue 2: A human child born alive is treated under the ruling of a human. The young of a goat is treated under the ruling of a goat. Any animal smaller than a pigeon is treated like a mouse, and any animal smaller than a goat is treated like a chicken.
• Issue 3: If an animal whose leftover water is pure or disliked (makruh) falls into a well and no water has been drawn, performing Wudu or Ghusl with that water is valid.
• Issue 4: If an animal whose birth is not in water but lives in water, such as a duck, dies in the water, the water will become impure.
• Issue 5: If a well becomes impure and the prescribed amount of water is drawn out, the bucket used becomes pure automatically; washing is not required, nor are the well walls.
• Issue 6: The ruling to draw a specific amount of water means that the impure object must first be removed from the well, then the water drawn. If the object remains, no matter how much water is drawn, the well will not become pure. However, if the object has decayed or became impure due to contact with impurity, and removal is difficult, drawing water alone will purify the well.
• Issue 7: If a specific bucket is designated for the well, it is considered, small or large. If none, use a bucket holding approximately four and a half seer of water.
• Issue 8: If a dead animal is found in a well and the time of fall/death is known, the water is impure from that time. Wudu, Ghusl, and prayers using it are invalid. Utensils, body, or clothes touched must be purified. If time is unknown, water is considered impure from discovery; previous Wudu or washing is valid.
• Issue 9: The prescribed water may be drawn all at once or gradually; the well becomes pure, but water is usable only after the full amount is completed.
• Issue 10: A fresh chicken egg with moisture falling into water does not make the water impure.
• Issue 11: If a child, Muslim or non-Muslim, puts an impure hand into water, the water becomes impure; otherwise, it does not. Using other water for Wudu is better. (Durr al-Mukhtar)

Rulings Regarding Human and Animal Leftover Water

• Issue 12: Leftover water of animals whose meat is permissible, whether grazing animals or birds, is pure, e.g., cows, bulls, buffaloes, goats, pigeons, partridges. Similarly, horse leftover water is pure.
• Issue 13: A free-roaming chicken eating filth has disliked (makruh) leftover water, while a confined chicken’s water is pure. Likewise, predatory birds eating filth habitually have disliked water. If an animal has just consumed impurity and drinks, or if a cow, buffalo, or goat smells urine and drinks before cleaning its mouth, the water becomes impure.
• Issue 14: Leftover water of pigs, dogs, leopards, wolves, elephants, jackals, and other predators is impure.
• Issue 15: Water of aquatic animals is pure, regardless of birth. Flying predators like hawks, falcons, sea eagles, and crows have disliked water. Domestic animals like cats, mice, and lizards have disliked water. Donkey and mule leftover water is doubtful; Wudu and Ghusl are not valid with it.

Miscellaneous Rulings Related to Wudu, Utensils, and Water

• Issue 16: If a dog drinks from a utensil made of china, metal, clay, or enamel, washing three times purifies it. If cracked or with hair, each wash must be dried.
• Issue 17: Drinking water immediately after alcohol makes the water impure. If alcohol remains on the mustache, until cleaned, water and utensils become impure.
• Issue 18: If a cat eats a mouse and drinks from a utensil immediately, the utensil becomes impure. If the cat licks the mouth and the blood trace disappears, it remains pure.
• Issue 19: Water whose leftover is pure may be used for Wudu and Ghusl. If a person in major impurity (junub) drinks without rinsing, the water becomes used (musta‘mal) and cannot be used for Wudu.
• Issue 20: Using disliked water while good water is available is disliked. If good water is unavailable, it is permissible.
• Issue 21: Using doubtful water while good water is available is not permissible. If no good water, perform Wudu or Ghusl and Tayammum; otherwise, prayer is invalid.
• Issue 22: If doubtful water mixes with good water and good water is more, Wudu is valid; otherwise not.
• Issue 23: If a dog licks the top of a water pot, the water inside does not become impure.
• Issue 24: Avoid eating or drinking doubtful leftover water.
• Issue 25: Sweat and saliva of animals whose leftover is impure are impure, pure is pure, disliked is disliked.
• Issue 26: Sweat of donkey or mule on clothing does not make the clothes impure, no matter how much. (Durr al-Mukhtar)

For more detailed rulings and related topics, explore our Islamic guidance blog.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which water is permissible for Wudu and Ghusl?

Natural water like rain, river, well, sea, and spring water is permissible.

Can mixed or flavored water be used?

No, if water changes its basic form like juice, tea, or soup, it is not valid.

Does impurity always make water impure?

No, only if the color, taste, or smell of water changes.

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