Wudu with Sea Waters: Understanding Islamic Guidelines and Practices

Table of Contents

Wudu Using Sea Water ~ Hi all readers! Praise be to Allah Ta'ala that we can meet again. For a long time, I was unable to post articles for several reasons. I apologize to all of you for that.

In this article, I will explain the ruling on wudu using sea water. Of course, we all know that the sea contains many things, including plants, animals, fish, and even garbage. Additionally, it is not uncommon for people to defecate there. People who are not familiar with the ruling on seawater might ask if it is permissible to use seawater, which is mixed with all of these substances, for wudu. In Islam, wudu must be performed with pure water. Is seawater considered pure?

For those of you who do not know about this, do not worry. Pay attention! There are hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad that we can use to answer these questions.

Hadith About Wudu Using Sea Water

The hadith about wudu using sea water that I am referring to is as follows:

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِيْ الْبَحْرِ : هُوَ الطَّهُوْرُ مَاؤُهُ الْحِلُّ مَيْتَتُهُ . أَخْرَجَهُ الْأَرْبَعَةُ وَابْنُ أَبِيْ شَيْبَةَ

From Abu Hurairah (radhiAllahu anhu), he said, "The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, 'The sea is pure and its carcass is lawful.'" The hadith is narrated by four scholars (Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah).

If we pay attention to the hadith above, we understand that seawater is pure and can be used for wudu. According to the narration, the Prophet said this hadith in response to a question asked to him: "O Messenger of Allah, we have boarded a ship and we only have a little water. If we use this water for wudu, we will be thirsty. Can we perform wudu using seawater?" He then explained to the people who asked that seawater is pure. In addition, he also clarified that the sea's carcass is lawful to eat.

Actually, the above hadith explains many things to us, including:

1. Someone who does not know a matter should ask those who are knowledgeable about it. In the context of the hadith, there were people who did not know the ruling on using seawater for wudu. They asked the Prophet, and he explained the ruling to them.
2. You may sail on the sea even if it is not specifically for worship, for example, on vacation, as people asked in the context of the hadith about sailing to catch fish.
3. If someone is worried about thirst, they should not use the water reserved for drinking for cleansing. In the hadith, the Prophet confirmed the attitude of the questioner who reserved water for drinking and did not use it for wudu.
4. Sea water is pure and can remove minor impurities.
5. Fish do not need to be slaughtered because Allah Taala has made the carcass lawful. This applies to all aquatic animals.
6. We may eat the carcass of sea animals. This means sea animals, not land animals that are then discarded into the sea. This is important! Remember that!
7. We may answer questions with more detail than needed as long as it is beneficial.

FAQs

What is an-Najasah?

An-Najasah refers to physical impurities in Islam, such as urine, feces, or blood, that must be cleaned before performing acts of worship like prayer. These impurities invalidate wudu and require purification. That is the meaning of an-Najasah.

Do We Have to Do Wudu If We Have Eaten Goat Meat or Camel Meat?

Wudu is not required after eating goat meat, but it is required after eating camel meat according to many scholars, based on specific hadith.

What to Say When You Fart in Islam?

If you want to say something after farting in Islam, then say "Al-Hamdulillah."

If I Fart, Do I Have to Do Wudu Again?

Yes, farting breaks wudu. You must perform wudu again before engaging in acts of worship that require ritual purity, like prayer.

Do You Have to Have Wudu to Read Surah Yaseen?

No, wudu is not obligatory for reading Surah Yaseen or any part of the Quran verbally, but it is recommended for maintaining purity and respect.

How Should a Pregnant Woman Perform Wudu?

A pregnant woman performs wudu the same way as others, washing the face, arms, feet, and wiping the head. If she has difficulty bending, she may sit or adjust her position for comfort.

Do You Have to Perform Wudu Before Reading the Quran?

Wudu is recommended but not obligatory for reading the Quran. However, it is required when touching the physical mushaf (the written Quran).

Conclusion

Before I conclude this article, I want to explain one important point about the hadith mentioned above. This hadith is a significant argument in the discussion about purification, as it contains many important laws and rules. Additionally, the person who narrated the hadith is Abu Hurairah. He was one of the prominent companions of Prophet Muhammad. His full name is Abdurrahman bin Shakr al-Yamani ad-Dausi. He converted to Islam in the seventh year of Hijrah. He narrated 5,374 hadiths. He is one of the closest companions of Prophet Muhammad who narrated the hadiths. He passed away in the year 78 Hijrah and was buried in Medina.

In conclusion, the use of sea water for wudu is both permissible and valid according to Islamic teachings. The hadith from Abu Hurairah clarifies that seawater is considered pure and can be used for wudu, despite the presence of various substances in the sea. This guidance was provided by the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in response to questions about using limited fresh water for purification. The teachings emphasize that while sea water is suitable for wudu, it is essential to preserve drinking water for its intended use to avoid dehydration. Additionally, the carcasses of sea animals are lawful to consume, distinguishing them from land animal carcasses that may be discarded into the sea. This understanding highlights the importance of seeking knowledge and applying it correctly in daily practices.

I think that is enough for this article about wudu using sea water. I hope the brief explanation above is useful for all of us. Ameen!

See you again in the next article!