Chapter on Water and Its Rules

Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Ali ibn Al-Hakam, from Abdullah ibn Yahya Al-Kahili, who said: I heard Abu Abdullah عليه السلام say: "If you come to water that has a small quantity, sprinkle (some water) to your right, to your left, and in front of you, and then perform wudu (ablution)."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa’id, from Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, from Ali ibn Abi Hamzah, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about still water and performing istinja (purification after relieving oneself) with it. Imam عليه السلام said: "Perform wudu (ablution) from the other side and do not perform wudu from the side where the carcass is."

From him, from Uthman ibn Isa, from Sama’ah, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who passes by a dead animal in water. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should perform wudu (ablution) from the side that does not have the dead animal."

Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abi Umair, from Hammad, from Al-Halabi: Abu Abdullah عليه السلام was asked regarding stagnant water. Imam عليه السلام said: "You may perform wudu (ablution) with it unless you find other water, in which case avoid it."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Muhammad ibn Isma’il, narrated from Imam al-Ridha عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said: "The water of a well is abundant; nothing can render it impure unless its (color, taste, or smell) changes."

Muhammad ibn Yahya, from Al-Amraki ibn Ali, from Ali ibn Ja’far عليه السلام, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who slaughtered a sheep, and it thrashed about, causing it to fall into a well while its veins were still pouring blood. Can one perform wudu (ablution) from that well? Imam عليه السلام said: "He should draw between thirty to forty buckets from it, and then he may perform wudu from it, and there is no harm." I also asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who slaughtered a chicken or a pigeon, and it fell into a well. Can one perform wudu from it? Imam عليه السلام said: "He should draw a few buckets from it, and then he may perform wudu from it." I further asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who was drawing water from a well and had a nosebleed into it. Can one perform wudu from it? Imam عليه السلام said: "He should draw a few buckets from it."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Ibn Mahbub, from Ibn Ri’ab, from Zurarah, narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a rope made from the hair of a pig that is used to draw water from a well. Can one perform wudu (ablution) with that water? Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Muhammad ibn Sinan, from Al-Hasan ibn Ribbat, narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a drain that is located above a well. Imam عليه السلام said: "If it is lower than the well, then the distance should be five cubits. If it is above the well, then the distance should be seven cubits from every direction. And that is sufficient."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Muhammad ibn Isma’il, from Abu Isma’il Al-Sarraj, from Abdullah ibn Uthman, from Qudamah ibn Abi Zayd Al-Himar, from some of our companions, narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: I asked Imam عليه السلام: "What is the minimum distance between a water well and a drain?" Imam عليه السلام said: "If it is flat land, then seven cubits. If it is rocky (mountainous) land, then five cubits." Then Imam عليه السلام said: "Water should flow toward the Qiblah to the right, and it should flow from the right of the Qiblah to the left of the Qiblah, and from the left of the Qiblah to the right of the Qiblah. However, it should not flow from the Qiblah to the direction opposite to the Qiblah."

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya, from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq, from Muhammad ibn Sulayman Al-Daylami, from his father, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a well that is located near a toilet. Imam عليه السلام said to me: "The flow of all underground water follows the direction of the north wind. If the clean well is situated above the north and the toilet is below it, then it does not harm the well as long as there is a specified distance between them. And if the toilet is above the clean well, then the distance should not be less than twelve cubits. However, if the toilet is directly opposite the well, facing the Qiblah, and they are at the same level along the path of the north wind, then the distance should be seven cubits."

Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father, from Hammad ibn Isa, from Hariz, from Zurarah, Muhammad ibn Muslim, and Abu Basir, who said: We said to Imam عليه السلام: "A well is used for wudu (ablution), and urine flows nearby it. Does it make the well impure?" Imam عليه السلام said: "If the well is at a higher elevation in the valley, and the urine flows below it, and there is a distance of three or four cubits between them, then nothing renders it impure. But if the well is at a lower elevation in the valley, and water flows over it, and there is a distance of nine cubits between the well and the flow, neither of them becomes impure. However, if the distance is less than that, one should not perform wudu from it." Zurarah said: "I then asked Imam عليه السلام, 'What if the flow passes right next to it and does not settle on the ground?' Imam عليه السلام said: 'As long as it does not settle, there is no harm. But if even a small amount of it settles and does not penetrate the ground or seep into the well, then the well is not affected by it. Perform wudu from it. The problem arises only if the impurity collects completely in one place and stagnates.'"

Ahmad ibn Idris, from Muhammad ibn Ahmad, from Abbad ibn Sulayman, from Sa’d ibn Sa’d, from Muhammad ibn Al-Qasim: Abu Al-Hasan عليه السلام was asked regarding a well that is five cubits or less, or more, away from a toilet. Imam عليه السلام was asked: "Can one perform wudu (ablution) from it?" Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no dislike, whether near or far. One may perform wudu and ghusl (ritual purification) from it, as long as the water does not change."

Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abi Umair, from Hisham ibn Al-Hakam: Abu Abdullah عليه السلام was asked regarding two spouts - one carrying urine and the other carrying rainwater - that flowed and mixed, and then splashed onto a man's clothing. Imam عليه السلام said: "It does not harm him."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Al-Haytham ibn Abi Masruq, from Al-Hakam ibn Miskin, from Muhammad ibn Marwan, narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said: "If two spouts were to flow - one carrying urine and the other carrying water - and they mixed, then if something from it touches you, there is no harm."

Ali ibn Ja’far narrated: I asked Abu Al-Hasan Musa عليه السلام about a house where urine is poured on its roof, and ghusl (ritual purification) from janabah (major impurity) is performed there, and then water flows down from it. Can water from it be used for wudu (ablution) for prayer? Imam عليه السلام said: "If it flows, then there is no harm in it."

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub, from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn, from Ali ibn Hadid, from Hammad ibn Isa, from Hariz, from Zurarah, narrated from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام: I said to Imam عليه السلام: "A container of water into which a dead mouse, rat, or small bird has fallen - what should be done?" Imam عليه السلام said: "If it has decomposed in it, do not drink from its water, do not perform wudu (ablution) with it, and pour it out. But if it has not decomposed, then drink from it, perform wudu with it, and remove the dead body while it is still fresh." Imam عليه السلام further said: "The same applies to jars, water pots, skins, and similar water containers." Abu Ja’far عليه السلام also said: "If the water is more than a container’s capacity, then nothing can render it impure - whether the dead body has decomposed in it or not - unless its smell overcomes the smell of the water."

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub, from Muhammad ibn Ahmad Al-Alawi, from Al-Umarki, from Ali ibn Ja’far, from his brother Imam Musa ibn Ja’far عليه السلام, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who had a nosebleed, then blew his nose, causing the blood to form small clots that fell into his water container. Is it permissible to perform wudu (ablution) with that water? Imam عليه السلام said: "If nothing noticeable appears in the water, then there is no harm. But if something visible is present, then do not perform wudu with it."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa’id, from Muhammad ibn Abi Umair, from Kurdawiyah, who said: I asked Abu Al-Hasan عليه السلام about a well into which rainwater flows, carrying urine, feces, the urine and droppings of animals, and the excrement of dogs. Imam عليه السلام said: "Thirty buckets should be drawn from it, and if it has a bad odor, more should be drawn."

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub, from Ya’qub ibn Yazid, from Ibn Abi Umair, from Abu Ziyad Al-Nahdi: Zurarah asked Imam عليه السلام about using skin of a pig to make a bucket for drawing water. Abu Abdullah عليه السلام said: "There is no harm."

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub, from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn, from Wuhaib, from Abu Basir, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a snake that entered a water jug containing water and then (slithered out) left it. Imam عليه السلام said: "If he finds other water, let him pour it (this water) out."

From him, from Musa ibn Umar, from Ahmad ibn Al-Hasan Al-Mithami, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Al-Zubayr, from his grandfather, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a well into which a mouse or another animal falls and dies, and water from it is used to knead dough - can that bread be eaten? Imam عليه السلام said: "If it has been exposed to fire (baked or cooked), then there is no harm in eating it."

From him, from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn, from Muhammad ibn Abi Umair, from someone who narrated it from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام was asked regarding dough that was kneaded and baked, and it was later discovered that the water used contained a dead animal. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm; the fire has consumed what was in it."

From him, from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn, from Ibn Abi Umair, from some of our companions - and I believe it was Hafs ibn Al-Bukhtari - who said: It was said to Abu Abdullah عليه السلام regarding dough that was kneaded with impure water -what should be done with it? Imam عليه السلام said: "It should be sold to someone who considers eating carrion permissible."

From him, from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn, from Ibn Abi Umair, from some of his companions, narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said: "It (Carrion) should be buried and not sold."

From him, from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn, from Musa ibn Isa, from Muhammad ibn Sa’id, from Isma’il ibn Muslim, from Imam Ja’far Al Sadiq عليه السلام, from his father Imam Al Baqir عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said: “The Prophet (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family) came to a water source, and the people of the area approached Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and said: "O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, our water ponds are frequented by wild animals, dogs, and livestock." Imam عليه السلام said: "What they take with their mouths is for them, and the rest is for you."

From him, from Al-Abbas, from Abdullah ibn Al-Mughira, from Abu Ayyub, from Muhammad ibn Muslim, narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: I said to Imam عليه السلام: "A pond that has collected water - animals urinate in it, dogs drink from it, and a person in a state of janabah (major ritual impurity) bathes in it - what is its ruling?" Imam عليه السلام said: "If it contains the amount of a kurr, then nothing renders it impure. A kurr is six hundred ritl."

As for what was narrated by Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub, from Al-Abbas, from Abdullah ibn Al-Mughira, from some of our companions, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said: "If the water is equal to two qullahs (large jars), nothing renders it impure. The two qullahs are two large jars."

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub, from Al-Abbas, from Abdullah, from Abu Maryam, who said: Imam Ja’far Al Sadiq عليه السلام narrated that Abu Ja’far عليه السلام used to say: "If a dog dies in a well, it must be emptied." And Imam Ja’far Al Sadiq عليه السلام said: "If it falls into the well and is then removed alive, seven buckets should be drawn from it."

From him, from Muhammad ibn Abd Al-Jabbar, from Muhammad ibn Sinan, from Al-Ala ibn Al-Fudayl, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about ponds in which urine is discharged. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm if the color of the water overcomes the color of the urine."

Sa’d ibn Abdullah, from Ahmad ibn Al-Hasan, from Amr ibn Sa’id, from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah, from Ammar, who said: Abu Abdullah عليه السلام was asked about a well into which a basket of feces, whether dry or moist, falls. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm if there is a large amount of water in it."

Sa’d, from Musa ibn Al-Hasan, from Abu Al-Qasim Abdul-Rahman ibn Hammad Al-Kufi, from Bashir, from Abu Maryam Al-Ansari, who said: I was with Abu Abdullah عليه السلام in one of his gardens, and the time for prayer arrived. Imam عليه السلام drew a bucket of water for wudu (ablution) from his well, and a piece of dry feces came out with it. Imam عليه السلام tilted the bucket and poured it out, then performed wudu with the remaining water.

Al-Husayn ibn Sa’id, from Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Aban, from Zakkar ibn Farqad, from Uthman ibn Ziyad, who said: I said to Abu Ja’far عليه السلام: "I am in a state of travel, and I come across stagnant water while my hand is dirty. Can I dip it into the water?" Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Musa ibn Al-Qasim Al-Bajali and Abu Qatadah, from Ali ibn Ja’far, narrated from Abu Al-Hasan Al-Awwal عليه السلام: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who finds water in a stream or a stagnant pool - can he use it to perform ghusl (ritual purification) for janabah (major impurity) or wudu (ablution) for prayer if he cannot find other water? The water does not reach a sa’ (sufficient quantity for ghusl) or a mudd (sufficient quantity for wudu) and is scattered. What should he do, especially if he fears that wild animals may have drunk from it? Imam عليه السلام said: "If his hand is clean, let him take a handful of water with one hand and sprinkle it behind him, then take another handful and sprinkle it in front of him, and another to his right, and another to his left. If he fears the water will not suffice, he should wash his head three times, then wipe his body with his hand. That will suffice him. If it is for wudu, he should wash his face and wipe his arms, head, and feet. If the water is scattered and he is able to gather it, he should do so. Otherwise, he should use water from each part until he completes his purification. If the water is in one place but insufficient for a complete ghusl, he may use it, pouring it back into the container or source and continuing until he finishes. That will be sufficient for him."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa’id, from Fadala ibn Ayyub, from Al-Husayn ibn Uthman, from Sama’ah ibn Mihran, from Abu Basir, who said: I said to Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: "We often travel, and sometimes we encounter a rainwater pond near a village. It may contain feces, and children or animals might urinate in it, and animals might defecate in it." Imam عليه السلام said: "If something concerns you about it, do this" - and Imam عليه السلام demonstrated by parting the water with his hand - "then perform wudu (ablution). For religion is not meant to cause hardship, as Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, says: 'He has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty' (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:78)."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr, from Safwan ibn Mihran Al-Jammal, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about the ponds between Mecca and Medina, which are frequented by wild animals, dogs that drink from them, donkeys that drink from them, and where those in a state of janabah (major impurity) bathe and others perform wudu (ablution). Imam عليه السلام said: "What is the amount of water?" I said: "It reaches up to the middle of the shin or the knee." Imam عليه السلام said: "Perform wudu from it."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa’id, from Ibn Sinan, from Ibn Muskan, who said: A trustworthy companion narrated to me that he asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man who comes across a small amount of water on the road and wants to perform ghusl (ritual bathing), but he has no vessel, and the water is in a low-lying area. If he performs ghusl, the water from his body will flow back into it. What should he do? Imam عليه السلام said: "He should sprinkle a handful of water in front of him, a handful behind him, a handful to his right, and a handful to his left, and then he may perform ghusl."

From him, from Muhammad ibn Isma'il ibn Bazi’, who said: I wrote to someone to ask (Imam عليه السلام) about a pond that collects rainwater and is also supplied with water from a well. People use it for istinja (purification after relieving oneself) from urine, or a person in a state of janabah (major impurity) bathes in it. What is the limit beyond which it is not permissible to use? Imam عليه السلام wrote back: "Do not perform wudu (ablution) with such water except in cases of necessity."

From him, from Uthman ibn Isa, from Sa’id Al-A‘raj, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a jar that holds one hundred ritl of water, into which an uqiyyah (a small measure) of blood falls. Can I drink from it and perform wudu (ablution) with it? Imam عليه السلام said: "No."

Ali ibn Ja’far asked his brother Imam Musa ibn Ja’far عليه السلام about a man who walks through rainwater into which wine has been poured, and it touches his clothes. Can he pray in them before washing them? Imam عليه السلام said: "He does not need to wash his clothes or his feet, and he may pray in them. There is no harm."

Ammar ibn Musa Al-Sabati asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man who finds a dead mouse in his container after having used the water multiple times - for wudu (ablution), washing his clothes, and performing ghusl (ritual purification). The mouse was decomposed. Imam عليه السلام said: "If he saw it in the container before performing ghusl, wudu, or washing his clothes, and then did those actions after seeing it, he must wash his clothes, clean everything that the water touched, and repeat his wudu and prayer. But if he only saw it after completing those actions, he should not touch the water again, and nothing is required of him, as he does not know when the mouse fell into it." Imam عليه السلام then added: "It is possible that the mouse fell in at the moment he saw it."

Ishaq ibn Ammar narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام that Abu Ja’far عليه السلام used to say: "There is no harm in the leftover water of a mouse if it drinks from a container. It is permissible to drink from it and to perform wudu (ablution) with it."

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya, from a man, from Dhubyan ibn Hakim, from Musa ibn Ukayl Al-Numayri, from Al-Ala ibn Sayabah, narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام was asked regarding a narrow well into which a man falls and dies, and it is not possible to remove him from the well - can wudu (ablution) be performed with its water? Imam عليه السلام said: "Do not perform wudu from it. The well should be abandoned and treated as a grave. However, if it is possible to remove him, he should be taken out, washed, and buried." The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family) said: "The sanctity of a Muslim, whether dead or alive, is the same."

Ya’qub ibn Uthaym asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a well of water that has an odour, and pieces of skin are found in it. Imam عليه السلام said: "It is nothing (to worry about). Sometimes a lizard sheds its skin. All that is required is to draw one bucket of water from it."

I asked Imam عليه السلام about chickens, pigeons, and similar birds that step on feces and then enter water - can one perform wudu (ablution) with it for prayer? Imam عليه السلام said: "No, unless the water is abundant, measuring a kurr." I also asked Imam عليه السلام about lizards, snakes, and geckos that fall into water but do not die - can one perform wudu with it for prayer? Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm." I further asked Imam عليه السلام about a mouse that falls into a container of oil but is taken out before it dies - can it be sold to a Muslim? Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, and it may also be used for applying oil."

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya, from Muhammad ibn Isa Al-Yaqtini, from Al-Nadr ibn Suwayd, from Amr ibn Shimr, from Jabir, narrated from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام: A man came to Imam عليه السلام and said: "A mouse fell into a jar containing ghee or oil. What do you say about eating it (the mouse)?" Abu Ja’far عليه السلام said: "Do not eat it." The man replied: "The mouse is insignificant to me, and I do not want to abandon my food because of it." Abu Ja’far عليه السلام said: "You have not belittled the mouse, but you have belittled your religion. Verily, Allah سبحانه وتعالى has forbidden carrion in all forms."