Jabir said that God’s messenger forbade passing water in motionless water. Muslim transmitted it.
Purification: Mishkat al-Masabih 475
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad, his family, and companions.
This noble hadith transmitted by Imam Muslim in his Sahih from the companion Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) states that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) prohibited urinating in stagnant water.
Legal Ruling and Wisdom
The prohibition in this hadith is understood by the majority of scholars to indicate reprehensibility (karahah) rather than absolute prohibition (tahrim), as the act does not involve clear harm to others' rights. However, some Hanbali scholars considered it prohibited due to the strong wording used.
The wisdom behind this prohibition includes: preventing water contamination that may harm humans and animals; maintaining cleanliness as required by Islamic law; avoiding harm to aquatic creatures; and preserving water purity for ritual ablution.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) explained in his commentary on Sahih Muslim that this prohibition applies specifically to stagnant water that does not flow, as flowing water carries away impurities. The scholars differed regarding large bodies of stagnant water - some permitted it due to the volume, while others maintained the prohibition.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani noted that the prohibition extends beyond urination to include any act that would contaminate water, reflecting Islam's comprehensive concern for environmental purity and public health.
Practical Application
The Muslim should seek proper facilities for relieving oneself. If unavailable, one should choose places where waste will not contaminate water sources, harm others, or public pathways. This teaching demonstrates Islam's advanced environmental consciousness centuries before modern ecological concerns.
May Allah grant us understanding of His religion and enable us to implement its teachings. And Allah knows best.