What is the ruling on small quantities of water (less than two Qullahs) when touched by impurity without causing a change in characteristics?
Chapter on what purification is achieved with regarding water
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
The established position within the school holds that water less than two Qullahs becomes impure merely by contact with impurity, even if no change in taste, color, or smell occurs. This view is narrated from Ibn 'Umar, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, Mujahid, and supported by Imam Al-Shafi'i and Ishaq.
Supporting text
A secondary narration from Imam Ahmad states that both small and large amounts of water only become impure through a change in characteristics, a view held by Hudhayfah, Abu Hurayrah, Ibn 'Abbas, Malik, Al-Awza'i, Al-Thawri, and others, based on the Hadith of the Well of Budha'ah, which suggests water is purifying and not rendered impure by anything.