Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that some people asked God’s messenger whether they might perform ablution out of the well of Buda‘a, which was a well into which menstrual cloths, dead dogs and stinking things were thrown, and he replied, “Water is pure and is not defiled by anything.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.
Purification - Mishkat al-Masabih 478
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his family, and companions.
This noble hadith from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) contains a fundamental principle of Islamic purification law. The well of Buda'a was contaminated with najasat (impurities) including menstrual cloths, dead dogs, and other filth, causing the companions to question its purity for ablution.
The Prophet's response, "Water is pure and is not defiled by anything," establishes that water in its natural state remains pure unless its color, taste, or smell changes due to contamination. This ruling applies to large bodies of water like wells, ponds, and flowing streams where the water's essential qualities remain unaffected by minor impurities.
Scholars have derived from this that stagnant water becomes impure only when its characteristics alter significantly. The well's volume prevented such alteration, thus maintaining its purity. This principle safeguards Muslims from unnecessary hardship in obtaining pure water for worship.
The transmission by Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and Nasa'i confirms its authenticity, making it a reliable source for legal rulings. May Allah grant us understanding of His law and enable us to act upon it. Ameen.