Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, pp. 17–18
Fatwa issued by: ʿAbdullāh Rūprī
Verified by: ʿAlī Muḥammad Saʿīdī (Jamia Saʿīdiyyah, Khanewal, West Pakistan)
In our locality, a well approximately eight feet deep experienced a tragic incident:
A 9 or 10-year-old Muslim girl fell into the well and died. Her body was recovered after about an hour and a half. This incident has led to intense disagreement among the people—Is the water still pure or has it become impure?
We request an urgent and clear answer to resolve the issue and prevent potential conflict. If possible, kindly publish this response through Tanzīm Ahl-e-Ḥadīth.
➤ The water in the well is completely pure, and the death of the girl does not render it impure.
➤ This ruling is based on the Islamic principle that a Muslim—whether living or deceased—is not impure (najis).
➤ Muḥaddithīn (Hadith scholars) have dedicated entire chapters to this matter, emphasizing that:
"The Muslim is not impure."
Chapter:
Bāb ʿAraq al-Junub wa Anna al-Muslim Lā Yanjus
("The Sweat of One in Janābah and That the Muslim Is Not Impure")
Narration from Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"A believer is never impure (Najis)."
(Bukhārī with Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 2, p. 195)
Chapter:
Bāb al-Dalīl ʿAlā Anna al-Muslim Lā Yanjus
("Evidence That the Muslim Is Not Impure")
"Al-Muʾmin lā yanjus"
“Indeed, the believer is not impure.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 162)
Chapter:
Bathing the Deceased with Water and Lotus Leaves
Companions such as ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar and Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ (رضي الله عنهما) affirmed:
"The Muslim is not impure, whether alive or dead."
Chapter:
That a Muslim Is Not Rendered Impure by Death, Nor His Hair or Body Parts
These texts reinforce that a deceased Muslim’s body, hair, and limbs remain pure.
In his commentary on Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Nawawī states:
This hadith serves as foundational evidence that a Muslim remains pure in life and death.
The hadith “Al-muʾmin lā yanjus” is a definitive proof for the purity of a Muslim, regardless of state.
The water in the well is pure and permissible to use, based on the following:
① The deceased girl was a Muslim.
② A Muslim’s body—living or dead—is pure.
③ The volume of water is substantial, preventing impurity.
④ The ruling is based on clear texts from the Qur’an, Sunnah, and scholarly consensus.
Thus, there is no impurity in the well, and the community should not be divided over this issue.
Fatwa issued by: ʿAbdullāh Rūprī
Verified by: ʿAlī Muḥammad Saʿīdī (Jamia Saʿīdiyyah, Khanewal, West Pakistan)
❖ Question:
In our locality, a well approximately eight feet deep experienced a tragic incident:
A 9 or 10-year-old Muslim girl fell into the well and died. Her body was recovered after about an hour and a half. This incident has led to intense disagreement among the people—Is the water still pure or has it become impure?
We request an urgent and clear answer to resolve the issue and prevent potential conflict. If possible, kindly publish this response through Tanzīm Ahl-e-Ḥadīth.
✿ Answer: The Well Water Remains Pure (Ṭāhir)
This question had previously been received from Azad Kashmir, and a detailed response was issued then. The same clarification is presented here:➤ The water in the well is completely pure, and the death of the girl does not render it impure.
➤ This ruling is based on the Islamic principle that a Muslim—whether living or deceased—is not impure (najis).
➤ Muḥaddithīn (Hadith scholars) have dedicated entire chapters to this matter, emphasizing that:
"The Muslim is not impure."
◈ Evidence from Hadith
✔ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
Chapter:
Bāb ʿAraq al-Junub wa Anna al-Muslim Lā Yanjus
("The Sweat of One in Janābah and That the Muslim Is Not Impure")
Narration from Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"A believer is never impure (Najis)."
(Bukhārī with Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 2, p. 195)
✔ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
Chapter:
Bāb al-Dalīl ʿAlā Anna al-Muslim Lā Yanjus
("Evidence That the Muslim Is Not Impure")
"Al-Muʾmin lā yanjus"
“Indeed, the believer is not impure.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 162)
✔ Fatḥ al-Bārī & Bukhārī (Vol. 5, p. 652)
Chapter:
Bathing the Deceased with Water and Lotus Leaves
Companions such as ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar and Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ (رضي الله عنهما) affirmed:
"The Muslim is not impure, whether alive or dead."
✔ Muntaqā and Nayl al-Awṭār
Chapter:
That a Muslim Is Not Rendered Impure by Death, Nor His Hair or Body Parts
These texts reinforce that a deceased Muslim’s body, hair, and limbs remain pure.
✦ Scholarly Explanation
Imām Nawawī (رحمه الله):
In his commentary on Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Nawawī states:
This hadith serves as foundational evidence that a Muslim remains pure in life and death.
Nayl al-Awṭār:
The hadith “Al-muʾmin lā yanjus” is a definitive proof for the purity of a Muslim, regardless of state.
◈ Views of Jurists
- Some jurists (e.g., Imām Abū Ḥanīfah and Imām Mālik) have considered a deceased Muslim to be impure.
- However, the stronger and more authentic opinion—backed by ḥadīth and the practice of the Ṣaḥābah—is that the Muslim body remains pure, even in death.
✿ Purity of Water in the Well
- If the amount of water is two qullahs or more (roughly equivalent to five water skins), it is not easily rendered impure.
- According to ḥadīth scholars, a large volume of water nullifies the impact of impurity, unless the color, taste, or smell is altered.
❖ Conclusion
The water in the well is pure and permissible to use, based on the following:① The deceased girl was a Muslim.
② A Muslim’s body—living or dead—is pure.
③ The volume of water is substantial, preventing impurity.
④ The ruling is based on clear texts from the Qur’an, Sunnah, and scholarly consensus.
Thus, there is no impurity in the well, and the community should not be divided over this issue.
