The Ruling on Water That Has Changed
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Fatwa Number (11108)
Q: I live in one of the mountainous regions of Yemen in the south, and corruption is widespread there. The question is this: You are aware that rain is scarce, and this is all by the will of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). In our mosque, the number of worshippers is very small, and they perform wudu' in contaminated water, meaning: its color, taste, and smell have changed . This water is in a small dam near the mosque. Every time we forbid them from performing wudu' in this water, they do not stop, and they insist that they are the ones who are correct. The problem is that the head of the mosque is also with them; because he is illiterate and does not know what is correct. I ask you, O honorable Shaykh, to issue a ruling on this problem prevalent in our mountainous region, and I ask you to send them a message through me so that they are convinced and cease from this action; because prayer without wudu' is not valid, and by doing so, you would have
saved a village from this action, and if Allah wills, they will perform wudu' in their homes and abandon this action. This would be an honor from you if you brought these elderly people out of the ignorance they are in. May Allah grant success, and I ask Allah the Most High, the Almighty, to guide them to the straight path .
A: Praise be to Allah alone, and blessings and peace be upon His Messenger, his family, and his Companions.. After that: The question mentioned is general and requires detail and clarification. If the change in that water is due to impurity, then it is impure, and it is not valid to purify oneself with it from major or minor ritual impurity, nor to wash clothes with it. If the change is due to a pure substance or due to long storage, then it is permissible to perform wudu' with it, as well as ghusl and removing impurity. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.