The first condition for performing wudu (ablution) is that the water used must be pure, and the second condition is that the water must be absolute (untampered). If a person, out of ignorance or forgetfulness, performs wudu with impure or mixed water, their wudu is not valid. Stay with us for more details.
What is the ruling on performing wudu with seawater?
The first condition for performing wudu is that the water must be pure, and the second condition is that the water must be absolute (untampered). If a person, out of ignorance or forgetfulness, performs wudu with impure or mixed water, their wudu is not valid. Stay with us for more details.
One of the conditions for water used in wudu is that it must be absolute, and wudu performed with added water (water mixed with something else) is invalid. Added water is water taken from something else, like watermelon juice or rosewater, or water mixed with something to such an extent (like water heavily mixed with mud) that it is no longer called water. Absolute water is water that can be called water without any condition or limitation, such as normal water. Although seawater contains many minerals, it is still called water and is not considered added water. Therefore, performing wudu with seawater is valid and poses no problem.
Can we perform wudu with seawater?
One of the conditions for water used in wudu is that it must be absolute, and wudu with added water is invalid. Added water is water taken from something else, like watermelon juice or rosewater, or water mixed with something to such an extent (like water heavily mixed with mud) that it is no longer called water. Absolute water is water that can be called water without any conditions, such as normal water. Although seawater has many minerals, it is still called water and is not added water. Therefore, performing wudu with seawater is valid and correct.
The Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei (may God protect him), says:
Seawater, as long as it is commonly called water, is absolute and purifying, and does not have the ruling of added water. Performing ghusl (full ritual purification) and wudu with it is valid in itself.
It is worth noting that seawater has the ruling of flowing water (mā’ jārī), and there is no difference in purification between stagnant water (mā’ kar) and flowing water.
Selected Questions and Answers on Purification:
Q70: If the lower part of a small amount of water flowing gently downward contacts impurity, does the upper part remain pure?
A: If the flow is such that the water moves from top to bottom, the upper part remains pure.
Q71: When washing impure clothes with stagnant or flowing water, is squeezing necessary, or is simply immersing the clothes in water enough after the impurity is removed?
A: It is better to squeeze or shake them as a precaution.
Q72: When purifying impure clothes with stagnant or flowing water, is squeezing outside the water necessary, or is squeezing inside the water sufficient?
A: Squeezing or shaking inside the water is sufficient.
Q73: Does washing an impure carpet or rug with city tap water connected to the municipal supply purify it immediately upon contact with the impurity, or must the dirty water flow away?
A: In purification with tap water, the dirty water does not have to flow away; purification occurs as soon as the water reaches the impure area, after the impurity is removed, assisted by rubbing.
Q74: What is the ruling on wudu and ghusl with naturally concentrated water, such as seawater with many minerals or other highly concentrated waters?
A: The concentration of water due to minerals does not prevent it from being considered absolute water; as long as it is commonly called water, it carries the legal effects of absolute water.
Q75: Is knowledge of the stagnancy of water required to apply rulings of stagnant water, or is it enough to assume water is stagnant?
A: If the prior state of stagnancy is known, assuming it is stagnant is permissible.
Q76: According to Imam Khomeini’s fatwa, a child's statement about purity or impurity before puberty is not considered. This implies that parents must purify their child's impurity after defecation until age fifteen. What is the religious duty?
A: The statement of a child nearing puberty is valid regarding this matter.
Q77: Sometimes substances are added to water that turns it milky in color. Is this considered added water? What is the ruling for wudu and purification with it?
A: Such water is not considered added water.
Q78: Is there any difference between stagnant and flowing water in purification?
A: There is no difference.
Q79: If salty water is boiled, can the water obtained from its steam be used for wudu?
A: If the water obtained is considered absolute water, it has the effects of absolute water.
Q80: For purifying the soles of the feet or shoes, walking fifteen steps is required. Should this be done after removing the impurity, or is walking fifteen steps with impurity still on the sole sufficient? Does the sole become pure after impurity is removed by walking?
A: If a person walks about ten steps on dry, clean ground, their soles or shoes become pure provided the impurity itself is removed.
Q81: Does walking on asphalted ground purify the soles or shoe bottoms?
A: Asphalted or tarred grounds do not purify soles or shoe bottoms.
Q82: Is sunlight considered a purifier? If yes, what are the conditions?
A: Sunlight purifies the ground and immovable objects (like buildings, wood, doors, windows) if the impurity has already been removed and the surface is wet and dried by sunlight.
Q83: How are impure clothes that color the water during purification purified?
A: If the color does not turn the water into added water, the impure clothes become pure by washing.
Q84: If water used for ghusl is poured into a container and drops from a clean part of the body fall into the container, does this contaminate the water? Does this prevent completing ghusl with that water?
A: If the drops come from a pure part, the water remains pure, and ghusl is valid.
Q85: Is it possible to purify a clay oven that is coated with mud mixed with impure water?
A: It appears purifying by washing is possible, and the surface purity of the oven is sufficient for baking bread.
Q86: Does impure oil remain impure after chemical changes that give it new properties, or is it considered transformed?
A: Chemical changes alone are not sufficient to purify impure substances.
Q87: In our village, there is a bathhouse with a flat roof dripping steam condensation on bathers’ heads. Are these drops pure? Is ghusl valid after these drops fall?
A: Steam and condensation drops are considered pure; their falling does not cause impurity and does not invalidate ghusl.
Q88: Considering scientific research that wastewater weighs 10% more due to mineral and microbial contamination, if such water undergoes physical, chemical, and biological treatment to remove impurities and becomes cleaner than many natural waters, does this purified water lose its impurity status and legal ruling, or does it remain impure after treatment?
A: Merely removing contaminants does not transform wastewater into pure water unless purification involves evaporation and recondenstation.
