The types of water, and which can be used for purification

Rulings of Water

1. Water that falls from the sky, from springs, rivers, ponds, lakes, or wells is considered pure. (Both Wudu and Ghusl can be performed with this water.)
2. Flowing water, or water in a pond, spring, etc., which is 10 yards by 10 yards, does not become impure due to the fall of impurity or the death of an animal unless the taste, smell, or color of the water changes due to the impurity. If any of these change, the water becomes impure.
3. Stagnant water that is smaller than 10 yards by 10 yards (e.g., a small spring or well) becomes impure even if a small amount of impurity, such as alcohol, urine, blood, or a single drop of impure water, falls into it. The water becomes impure, even if its taste, smell, or color does not change.
4. If a clean item, like dirt, tree leaves, or flowers, falls into water, causing a change in the water’s three qualities (taste, smell, color), or if the water becomes foul-smelling due to being stagnant for a long time, the water is still considered pure. (This applies whether the water is stagnant or from a spring or well). However, if the water becomes thicker or more viscous, it is still pure but cannot be used for Wudu or Ghusl.
5. If one drop of alcohol, urine, blood, or impure water falls into a well, or a small amount of feces, manure, or urine, or if an impure rope, bucket, or utensil falls in, or if a dead animal (which does not live in water) falls in and decays or bursts, or if a person, child, goat, or any animal falls in and dies (whether it decomposes or not), or if an unclean animal (whether dead or alive) falls in, the entire water of the well becomes impure.
6. If a small animal like a cat or pigeon (or any animal of similar or smaller size but larger than a goat) falls into the well and dies, or if it is already dead but not decomposed, the well will become pure again by removing 40 to 60 buckets of water. If a mouse or a similarly small animal (or two mice) dies, removing 20 to 30 buckets of water will purify the well.
7. To purify the well, first remove the item that caused the contamination, then remove the required amount of water as mentioned (the specified number of buckets).
8. If all the water in the well becomes impure, it is necessary to remove all the water. If this is not possible, removing 200 to 300 buckets of water will purify the well.
9. If any animal, other than an impure animal, falls into the well and then emerges alive, the well will not become impure. This is provided the animal's body is not contaminated and its mouth did not touch the water. If its body is impure, the water will become impure. If its mouth touches the water, then the status of its saliva (pure or impure) will determine the water's purity. If the saliva is pure, the water is pure; if the saliva is impure or questionable, the water will be impure or questionable.

Rulings Of Water 27. Types of Water

Water is of two types:

1. Muttlaq (Pure)
2. Muqayyad (Restricted)

Muttlaq is further divided into two types:

1. Jari (Flowing)
2. Raqid (Stagnant)

Raqid is further divided into:

1. Kaseer (Abundant)
2. Qaleel (Limited)

Definitions and rules for all these types are as follows:

Rulings Of Water 28. Absolute Water (Muttlaq)

1. Muttlaq water is the water commonly referred to as water in everyday language, such as rainwater, river, stream, canal, pond, spring water, well water, melted snow, hail, and dew.
2. Muttlaq water is pure and can be used for Wudu (ablution) and Ghusl (ritual bath). It also purifies things that are impure.
3. Muttlaq water does not become impure if it is left standing or stored in a container, even if its color, smell, or taste changes. However, if its consistency changes and it no longer retains the name of water, then it is not valid for Wudu or Ghusl.
4. If a pure substance like dirt, lime, sugar, saffron, or milk is added to Muttlaq water, or substances like soap or berry leaves are used for cleaning, causing a change in color, smell, or taste, but the water still maintains its basic nature (thin consistency and remains called water), it is still valid for Wudu and Ghusl. However, if the water becomes thick, like when flour is added or it becomes something else entirely (like syrup, tea, or if saffron or milk alters the color or smell), it is no longer valid for Wudu or Ghusl.

Rulings Of Water 29. Flowing Water (Jari)

1. Jari water is water that flows and can carry objects like grass or that is commonly referred to as flowing water.
2. Jari water does not become impure if something impure falls into it, such as an animal dying in it, unless its color, smell, or taste changes. If any of these characteristics change, it becomes impure and will only be considered pure again once these characteristics return to normal.
3. If a dead animal falls in a small canal but less than half of the water flows over it and the water’s characteristics are not affected, the water is still considered pure. However, Wudu or Ghusl performed with it will not be valid.
4. Rainwater falling from a roof into a gutter is considered Jari water and remains pure, even if there is impurity on the roof, as long as the impurity does not affect the water in the gutter.
5. It is valid for several people to perform Wudu from the same flowing river, even if it is small.
6. In a narrow river with very little water flowing slowly, care should be taken during Wudu to prevent the used water from mixing with the clean water. For example, delay the use of the water until the used water has flowed away.

Rulings Of Water 30. Still Water

Still water is water that remains stationary and does not flow. It is divided into two categories:

1. Large Quantity
2. Small Quantity

Rulings Of Water 31. Large Quantity Water

1. Large quantity water is water that does not move when stirred at one side (meaning it does not cause movement on the other side). The general understanding of this quantity, as defined by later scholars, is that it is water that covers a square area of 10 yards by 10 yards.
2. For large quantity water, only the depth is relevant. When both hands are used to take water, the ground should not become visible, and the water should not become murky.
3. Large quantity water is treated in the same way as flowing water. It does not become impure if something impure falls into it, as long as the color, taste, or smell of the water does not change. If any of its properties change, it becomes impure.
4. If an imperceptible impurity, such as alcohol or urine, falls into large quantity water, Wudu and Ghusl (purification) are valid from any side of the water. If the impurity is visible, like feces or a dead animal, it is recommended to perform Wudu and Ghusl at least 4 yards away from the point of impurity.
5. If there is a pool or spring where the water above is in large quantity and below is in less quantity, Wudu and Ghusl remain valid as long as the water does not fall below the large quantity threshold. Once the water falls below this threshold, Wudu and Ghusl will no longer be valid.
6. If impure water enters a pool, and the water starts to flow, the water will become pure.
7. If a pool has algae that move when the water is stirred, then Wudu and Ghusl are valid from it. If the algae does not move, it is not valid.
8. If a pool has an unpleasant odor but no visible impurity, or if there is only suspicion of impurity falling into the pool, Wudu and Ghusl are still valid.

Rulings Of Water 32. Small Quantity of Water (Aab-e-Qaleel)

1. Small quantity water is water that is less than the specified large quantity (i.e., less than 10 by 10 yards).
2. Small quantity water becomes impure even with a small amount of impurity (like a drop of alcohol, urine, blood, or a small piece of feces) entering it, even if it doesn’t change the water's color, taste, or smell.
3. Animals with flowing blood become impure after death, so if they die and fall into small quantity water, the water becomes impure. However, animals without flowing blood, even if they die in it, do not make the water impure. Similarly, the death of aquatic animals does not make the water impure.
4. If rainwater collects in various places in a forest and is in small quantity but shows no sign of impurity, it is considered pure (mere suspicion of impurity does not make it impure).

Rulings Of Water 33. Restricted Water (Aab-e-Muqayyad)

1. Restricted water is water that isn’t usually called “water” on its own, such as rose water, kewra water, or water mixed with a specific feature like watermelon juice or coconut water.
2. Ablution and bathing are not valid with restricted water, but it can be used to purify impure objects.

Rulings Of Water 34. Used Water (Aab-e-Mustamal)

1. Used water is water that has been utilized to remove a minor impurity or for reward-based washing, provided it has dripped off the body and there is no visible impurity on the body.
2. Used water is itself pure but cannot be used for purification, so ablution or bathing is not valid with it, though it can remove actual impurity.
3. Drinking or using used water in food preparation is discouraged.(Note): Care should be taken during ablution or bathing to prevent used water (which drips off the body parts) from mixing with the remaining water to be used, as scholars differ on the ruling regarding used water.