Is stagnant water (Al-Ma' al-Aagin) permissible for ablution if its quality has changed solely due to prolonged standing without contamination?
Chapter on what purification is achieved with regarding water
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
Stagnant water, which is water whose quality has changed merely due to prolonged sitting without the mixing of anything that contaminates it, remains permissible for use. This is the position held by the majority of scholars. Ibn al-Mundhir stated that consensus exists among all known scholars that performing ablution with stagnant water, provided no impurity has entered it, is permissible, with the sole exception of Ibn Sirin. The position of the majority is preferred. Evidence is derived from the narration that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, performed ablution from a well whose water was described as resembling henna dye (naq'at al-hinnaa). Furthermore, the justification for permissibility is that the change occurred without actual external contamination.
Supporting text
Ibn Sirin disliked performing ablution with stagnant water, even when no impurity had contacted it.