Shumara al-Sunnah, Jhelum
جاء رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يعودني ، وأنا مريض لا أعقل ، فتوضا وصب على من وضوئه
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to visit me while I was ill and unconscious. He performed ablution and then poured the water from his ablution over me."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 194, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1616]
➋ Narration of Sayyidunā Abū Juḥayfah (RA):
خرج علينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بالهاجرة ، فأتي بوضوء فتوضا ، فجعل الناس يأخذون من فضل وضوئه فيتمسحون به
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us at midday, water was brought to him and he performed ablution. The people then began taking the leftover water from his ablution and rubbing it on their bodies."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 187, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 503]
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar (RA) comments:
وفيه دلالة بينة على طهارة الماء المستعمل
"This is a clear indication that used water is pure."
[Fatḥ al-Bārī: 1/295]
He states that using used water for Wuḍūʼ and Ghusl is permissible whether or not other water is available. This includes water used for obligatory or voluntary ablution, or for Ghusl, regardless of whether the one performing it is male or female.
He references the verse:
﴿وَإِن كُنتُمْ مَرْضَى أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ... فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا﴾ [an-Nisāʾ: 43]
This verse uses the term "water" in a general sense, without any restriction or specification.
And also the Hadith:
"The whole earth has been made a mosque for us, and its soil has been made a purifier in the absence of water."
Hence, no particular type of water is specified or excluded.
[al-Muḥallā bi-l-Āthār: 1/182, Issue No. 141]
It is established that the water remaining after Wuḍūʼ and Ghusl is pure and has the ability to purify. Denying its purifying nature would require explicit evidence.
Since a Muslim is not impure, the water that comes in contact with their body cannot become impure merely by that contact.
Also, during Wuḍūʼ and Ghusl, avoiding water splashes on clothes and body is practically impossible, further affirming its purity.
❖ Definition and Ruling
Māʾ Mustaʿmal refers to the water that flows off the body parts after performing Wuḍūʼ (ablution) or Ghusl (ritual bath). According to Islamic teachings, this water is pure (ṭāhir) and possesses the ability to purify (muṭahhir).✿ Evidences from the Prophetic Tradition
➊ Narration of Sayyidunā Jābir bin ʿAbdullāh (RA):جاء رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يعودني ، وأنا مريض لا أعقل ، فتوضا وصب على من وضوئه
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to visit me while I was ill and unconscious. He performed ablution and then poured the water from his ablution over me."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 194, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1616]
➋ Narration of Sayyidunā Abū Juḥayfah (RA):
خرج علينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بالهاجرة ، فأتي بوضوء فتوضا ، فجعل الناس يأخذون من فضل وضوئه فيتمسحون به
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us at midday, water was brought to him and he performed ablution. The people then began taking the leftover water from his ablution and rubbing it on their bodies."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 187, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 503]
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar (RA) comments:وفيه دلالة بينة على طهارة الماء المستعمل
"This is a clear indication that used water is pure."
[Fatḥ al-Bārī: 1/295]
✦ Statement of Scholars
❖ Imām Ibn Ḥazm (RA) [456 AH]:He states that using used water for Wuḍūʼ and Ghusl is permissible whether or not other water is available. This includes water used for obligatory or voluntary ablution, or for Ghusl, regardless of whether the one performing it is male or female.
He references the verse:
﴿وَإِن كُنتُمْ مَرْضَى أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ... فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا﴾ [an-Nisāʾ: 43]
This verse uses the term "water" in a general sense, without any restriction or specification.
And also the Hadith:
"The whole earth has been made a mosque for us, and its soil has been made a purifier in the absence of water."
Hence, no particular type of water is specified or excluded.
[al-Muḥallā bi-l-Āthār: 1/182, Issue No. 141]
✔ Conclusion
It is established that the water remaining after Wuḍūʼ and Ghusl is pure and has the ability to purify. Denying its purifying nature would require explicit evidence. Since a Muslim is not impure, the water that comes in contact with their body cannot become impure merely by that contact. Also, during Wuḍūʼ and Ghusl, avoiding water splashes on clothes and body is practically impossible, further affirming its purity.