Is all pure, unqualified water sufficient for ritual purification?

Chapter on what purification is achieved with regarding water

Al-Mughni

Book of Purification

Book 2 · Issue 2 · Bab 2

Open in Qurani

Primary text

Ritual purification is permissible with every pure, absolute water. Absolute water is that which is not appended or specified by being named after something else (i.e., not 'water of beans' or 'water of roses'). This specification is meant to exclude water named after its location, such as river or well water, which loses its naming association when removed from that place, and water slightly changed in odor. The ruling permits purification with water regardless of its natural state, whether hot or cold, sweet or salty, whether descended from the sky or originating from the earth, whether it is sea, river, well, or pool water. This is evidenced by the verse: {And He sends down upon you water from the sky to purify you therewith} (Quran 8:11), {And We send down pure water from the sky} (Quran 25:48), and the Hadith stating, 'Water is tahur; nothing renders it impure,' and the ruling regarding seawater: 'Its water is tahur, and its dead things are lawful.' This is the opinion of the general body of scholars.

Supporting text

It is reported from Abdullah ibn Umar and Abdullah ibn Amr that they preferred Tayammum over using seawater. Al-Mawardi also ascribed this view to Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab. This preference is countered because the verse commanding Tayammum is conditional upon not finding water ({And if you find no water, then resort to dry ablution} [Quran 4:43]), and seawater is indeed water.