عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه قال: جاء رجل إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: يارسول الله إنا نركب البحر ونحمل معنا القليل من الماء فإن توضأنا به عطشنا أفتتوضأ من ماء البحر؟ فقال رسول الله: هو الطهور ماؤه الحل
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah! We travel by sea and take a little water with us. If we perform ablution with this water, we become thirsty. Should we perform ablution with seawater?”
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Its water is pure, and its dead animals are lawful.”
This hadith has been narrated by the four Muhaddithin: Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah.
Tirmidhi has declared this hadith as authentic.
Ibn Khuzaymah has recorded it in his Sahih.
Ibn Manda has also preferred the authenticity of this hadith.
Research and authentication: This hadith is authentic.
Reference: Musnad Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him): 2/361, Abu Dawood 83, Nasa’i 1/50, Tirmidhi: 29
Tirmidhi said this hadith is Hasan Sahih. Ibn Majah 400, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban 119, Mustadrak Hakim: 1140:14, Al-Bayhaqi: 3-4, Al-Daraqutni: 37 36, Al-Darimi: 735
This hadith is mentioned in Abu Dawood’s Book of Purification under the chapter الوضوء بماء البحر
In Tirmidhi’s Book of Purification under باب ما جاء فى ما البحرانه طهور
In Ibn Majah’s Book of Purification under the chapter الوضوء بماء البحر
And in the Muwatta of Imam Malik under the chapter الوضوء بماء البحرء.
Nasiruddin Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) also declared it authentic.
Benefits:
1. Seawater is pure and purifying; performing ablution with it and using it after purification is correct, as is done in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.
2. Sea animals that can only live in the sea and die on land are lawful; otherwise, the rest are forbidden. Those that die a natural death in the sea are also lawful provided they are not foul-smelling or swollen due to water absorption. Sea animals are not slaughtered by saying Takbir and cutting with a bladed instrument, similar to a land animal like a locust which can be eaten without slaughter.
3. According to Imam Ahmad, Imam Shafi’i, and Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on them), all sea animals are lawful, whereas Imam Abu Hanifah considers only fish lawful.
4. This hadith also proves that traveling by sea is permissible and praying during the journey is also permissible. During travel, carrying food and drink as needed is allowed and does not contradict reliance on Allah.
5. This hadith also proves that it is correct to ask questions related to religious and worldly matters, and the most important thing is that the one asked should be knowledgeable and understand the nature of the issues. Even if the questioner does not ask further, the knowledgeable person should provide additional useful information. For example, the questioner only asked about the permissibility of seawater, but the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) also informed that its game is lawful. This is a sign of wisdom and sagacity. In rhetoric, this is called a wise style.
