Using Impure Water Processed by A Refining Substance

Name of Questioner huda   Title Using Impure Water Processed by a Refining Substance   Question Respected scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. What is the ruling on using sewage water to perform Wudu’ (ablution) or Ghusl (ritual cleansing of the body) after it has been treated?  Jazakum Allahu Khayran.   Date 24/Jun/2009   Name of Counsellor Standing Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta’   Topic Purification, Impurities & methods of purification

Answer

Wa`alaykum as-salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear sister in Islam, thanks a lot for your question. May Allah guide us all to the truth of His religion. Many countries all over the world suffer from water shortages and a decrease in water resources. Thanks to modern techniques that have enabled man to refine water and made it reusable, as it has helped hundreds of thousands in their dire need. Now, the issue arises as to the permissibility of using refined water. Water is an integral part in Muslim’s rites of worship. In books of fiqh there are entire chapters dedicated to lengthy discussions concerning the conditions and types of water that a Muslim is allowed to use to fulfill his religious duties. Answering this question, the Standing Committee for Research and Ifta’ stated: The Council of Senior Scholars has previously studied this matter in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has issued a decree regarding it to the following content: The Council has read the study that was made on this issue by the Standing Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’. The Council has also read the letter of his Excellency, the minister of agriculture and water No. 1 / 1299 in 30/05/1398 A. H. After studying and discussing the matter; the following was decreed: According to what has been mentioned by scholars, large amounts of water which has been changed by najasah (impurity) becomes tahir (pure) if this change happens either on its own, by adding tahir water to it, by the passage of time, by the effects of the sun or wind, etc. as a ruling becomes terminated as soon as its `Illah (effective cause) is no longer existent. The Council is of the view that such impure water can be considered pure after it is refined fully in a way that it regains its original nature with no change in its taste, color, or smell. This is because impure water can be purified by various means. Modern ways of water purification is guaranteed in this regard as many tangible mediums are utilized to make sure that the water is free from all impurities. Experts whom no one can doubt their work and experience are witnesses to this. Such water, after being purified, can be used to remove major and minor ritual impurity. It can also be drunk but if doing so will harm a person’s health, it should be abandoned in order to avoid harm, not because the water is impure. If possible, it is preferred not to drink such water so as to protect health, avoid harm, and to be far above doing anything that people naturally detest and regard as filthy.

This piece is taken from the website of IslamOnline.net

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Tags: impure, Islam, refining substance, water