Chapter on Water and Its Rules

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."