Chapter on Water and Its Rules

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)."