Source: Fatawa Ulama-e-Hadith, Volume 09
Question:
If water contains impurity or filth and then flows several kilometers ahead, can such water be used, even though its color, odor, and taste have not changed?
Answer:
In light of the Hadith of Qullatayn and the Hadith:
"اَلْمَاءُ طَهُوْرٌ لَا يُنَجِّسُهُ شَيْءٌ"
— make a judgment based on observing the water.
The Prophet ﷺ was asked about performing ablution from the well of Buda'ah, a well into which filthy things were thrown. The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"Water is pure and nothing makes it impure."
(Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Purification, Chapter on the Well of Buda’ah; Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, Book of Purification, Chapter on Water Not Being Made Impure by Anything)
This indicates that the water of that well remained pure.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said:
“When the amount of water reaches two qullahs (approx. 227 kg), it does not carry impurity.”
(Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa’i, al-Darimi, and Ibn Majah; Referenced in Mishkat al-Masabih, Book of Purification, Chapter on Waters, Section Two)
That is, if the impurity does not alter the characteristics (color, smell, or taste) of water that equals or exceeds two qullahs, it remains pure.
However, if impurity falls into a smaller body of still water (less than 227 kg), it should not be used for wudu or ghusl—regardless of whether its properties have changed.
And if the water exceeds this amount but its characteristics are altered, then it is impure; otherwise, it remains pure.
Question:
If water contains impurity or filth and then flows several kilometers ahead, can such water be used, even though its color, odor, and taste have not changed?
Answer:
In light of the Hadith of Qullatayn and the Hadith:
"اَلْمَاءُ طَهُوْرٌ لَا يُنَجِّسُهُ شَيْءٌ"
— make a judgment based on observing the water.
The Prophet ﷺ was asked about performing ablution from the well of Buda'ah, a well into which filthy things were thrown. The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"Water is pure and nothing makes it impure."
(Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Purification, Chapter on the Well of Buda’ah; Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, Book of Purification, Chapter on Water Not Being Made Impure by Anything)
This indicates that the water of that well remained pure.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said:
“When the amount of water reaches two qullahs (approx. 227 kg), it does not carry impurity.”
(Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa’i, al-Darimi, and Ibn Majah; Referenced in Mishkat al-Masabih, Book of Purification, Chapter on Waters, Section Two)
That is, if the impurity does not alter the characteristics (color, smell, or taste) of water that equals or exceeds two qullahs, it remains pure.
However, if impurity falls into a smaller body of still water (less than 227 kg), it should not be used for wudu or ghusl—regardless of whether its properties have changed.
And if the water exceeds this amount but its characteristics are altered, then it is impure; otherwise, it remains pure.
