Hadith Regarding Using Water Left by One’s Spouse
Narrated by Simak ibn Harb, from Ikrimah, from Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه), who reported:
“One of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) performed ghusl (ritual bath) in a tub. The Prophet (ﷺ) came to use the remaining water for wudu or ghusl. She said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! I was in a state of janabah (major impurity).‘ The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, ‘Water does not become impure due to janabah.‘”
[Sunan Abu Dawood, also reported by Tirmidhi, who authenticated it]
Verification and Referencing:
✔ Authenticity: This hadith is classified as Sahih.
✔ Sources: Musnad Imam Ahmad (1/235, 283), Abu Dawood (28), Tirmidhi (65) (who graded it Hasan Sahih), Nasa’i (1/173), Ibn Majah (370), Ibn Khuzaymah (10991), Ibn Hibban (226), Al-Bayhaqi (1/267), and Al-Mustadrak of Al-Hakim (1/159).
✔ Al-Hakim authenticated it, and Imam Dhahabi concurred.
Key Points Derived from the Hadith
✔ A husband and wife may perform ghusl together (i.e., use the same water source without any restriction).
✔ If there is doubt about the purity of water left by either spouse, it is preferable not to use it for ghusl.
✔ Water remains pure by default—a janabah state does not render water impure, meaning that merely using a water container for bathing does not make the remaining water impure (najis).
✔ Modesty between spouses: While performing ghusl together, it is preferable for both husband and wife to cover their private parts with a cloth as an expression of modesty (haya).
📖 [This content is taken from the book Diya’ Al-Islam Fi Sharh Al-Imam Bi Ahadith Al-Ahkam by Sheikh Taqi Al-Din Abu Al-Fath, translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznfar.]
