Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah) - Sunan Abi Dawud 66

The people asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): Can we perform ablution out of the well of Buda'ah, which is a well into which menstrual clothes, dead dogs and stinking things were thrown? He replied: Water is pure and is not defiled by anything.

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith establishes the fundamental principle that water in its natural state remains pure and suitable for purification unless its color, taste, or smell has been altered by impurities. The well of Buda'ah contained a large quantity of water that diluted the impurities, thus maintaining its purity.

Scholars explain that stagnant water remains pure if its quantity exceeds two qullahs (approximately 500 liters), as the large volume prevents the water from being affected by impurities. This ruling applies to all natural water sources including wells, springs, and ponds.

The Prophet's response demonstrates that water's inherent purity is its default state, and mere contact with impurities does not necessarily render it impure unless the water itself undergoes noticeable change.

Legal Rulings Derived

Water remains pure until its characteristics change due to impurities.

Large bodies of water (exceeding two qullahs) are not defiled by minor impurities.

Ablution and ritual purification are valid using such water even if impurities have fallen into it.

The principle of dilution applies - small amounts of impurity in large quantities of water do not affect its legal purity.