What Are the Seven Types of Water for Wudu? Essential Insights

Hi again! Water is the source of life, and it offers enormous benefits to humans. We use water for drinking, cooking, washing, and more. In the Islamic context, there are many types of water. By the way, do you know what the seven types of water for wudu are?

Regardless of your reason for opening this article, I am sure you are looking for an explanation of the seven types of water for wudu. Don’t worry! I won’t disappoint you today. I will explain all of that in this article, so just read it to the end!

Why Is Water the Main Substance Used for Wudu?

First of all, I will explain why water is the primary substance used for wudu. This is a fundamental aspect of the discussion about water for wudu that some Muslims do not fully understand. I believe you don’t want to be one of them, so please read this explanation carefully.

Read Also: What Types of Farts Break Wudu?

In general, there are two reasons why water is the main substance used for wudu:

• There is a Quranic verse that explains water is the main substance used for wudu. Pay attention to the verse below!

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَاَنْتُمْ سُكٰرٰى حَتّٰى تَعْلَمُوْا مَا تَقُوْلُوْنَ وَلَا جُنُبًا اِلَّا عَابِرِيْ سَبِيْلٍ حَتّٰى تَغْتَسِلُوْا ۗوَاِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَّرْضٰٓى اَوْ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ اَوْ جَاۤءَ اَحَدٌ مِّنْكُمْ مِّنَ الْغَاۤىِٕطِ اَوْ لٰمَسْتُمُ النِّسَاۤءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوْا مَاۤءً فَتَيَمَّمُوْا صَعِيْدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوْا بِوُجُوْهِكُمْ وَاَيْدِيْكُمْ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُوْرًا

O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving. (An-Nisa’ [4]: 43).

Pay attention to the phrase “فَلَمْ تَجِدُوْا مَاۤءً فَتَيَمَّمُوْا صَعِيْدًا طَيِّبًا (and find no water, then seek clean earth)” in the verse above! This sentence explains that if Muslims do not find water that can be used for wudu, they can perform tayammum with pure dust. Thus, water is the primary substance used for wudu.

• Wudu involves washing and wiping certain parts of the body. You certainly understand that something used for washing and wiping must be water. Pay attention to the hadith below!

عَنْ حَمْرَانَ : أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ دَعَا بِوُضُوْءٍ فَغَسَلَ كَفَّيْهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ تَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْشَقَ وَاسْتَنْثَرَ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى إِلَى الْمِرْفَقِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ الْيُسْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ، ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ ، ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُمْنَى إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ، ثُمَّ الْيُسْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : رَأَيْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَوَضَّأَ نَحْوَ وُضُوْئِيْ هَذَا . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Hamran, it is reported that Uthman performed wudu. He washed his hands three times, rinsed his mouth, put water in his nose, and then let it out. After that, he washed his face three times, his right hand up to the elbow three times, and his left hand in the same manner. He then wiped his head, washed his right foot up to the ankle three times, and did the same for his left foot. He said, "I have seen the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, performing wudu like this." This hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

What Are the Seven Types of Water for Wudu?

Now, I will explain the main topic of this discussion: What are the 7 types of water for wudu? You must read the explanation below very carefully so that there are no further questions about it after you finish this article. Of course, if you still have other questions, feel free to write them in the comments section. I would be very happy to engage in dialogue with you.

Briefly, the 7 types of water that can be used for wudu are as follows:

1. Rainwater (مَاءُ السَّمَاءِ).
2. Sea water (مَاءُ الْبَحْرِ).
3. River water (مَاءُ النَّهْرِ).
4. Well water (مَاءُ الْبِئْرِ).
5. Water from a spring (مَاءُ الْعَيْنِ).
6. Snow water (مَاءُ الثَّلْجِ).
7. Water from hail (مَاءُ الْبَرْدِ).

These are the 7 types of water that you can use for wudu. This is, of course, provided that the water has not been used for any other purpose and that its color, taste, or smell has not changed. If the water has been used for something, such as for wudu itself, then it cannot be reused for wudu. Additionally, if any of these three characteristics change, then the water cannot be used for wudu.

How Much Water is Needed for Wudu?

Hi! Are you still with me? Now, I will explain the answer to an important question related to this discussion: How much water is needed for wudu? You must understand this well to have a good grasp of the requirements for wudu after reading this article.

To be honest, it is quite difficult to determine exactly how much water is needed for wudu. It all depends on the specific actions we perform during wudu. If we only carry out the obligatory parts of wudu, we will need less water than if we include the recommended and additional actions.

Below is an explanation of the amount of water that the Prophet Muhammad used for wudu, which you can use as a minimum standard.

عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : كَانَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَوَضَّأُ بِالْمُدِّ وَيَغْتَسِلُ بِالصَّاعِ إِلَى خَمْسَةِ أَمْدَادٍ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Anas radliyallahu anhu, he said, "The Messenger of Allah alaihi wa sallam performed wudu using water equivalent to 1 Mud and took a bath using between 1 Sha’ and 5 Mud." This hadith is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

By the way, do you know how many liters are in 1 Mud and 1 Sha'?

1 Mud is equivalent to approximately 0.688 liters, while 1 Sha' is equal to 4 Muds. Therefore, 1 Sha' is 4 x 0.688 (or 0.687) = approximately 2.75 (or 2.74) liters. Consequently, 1 Sha' to 5 Mud is 2.75 (or 2.74) + 0.688 (or 0.687) = approximately 3.43 (or 3.42) liters.

In conclusion, the Prophet Muhammad performed wudu using approximately 0.688 or 0.687 liters of water. Meanwhile, when he took a shower, he used about 3.43 or 3.42 liters of water.

Do you have any questions? Please feel free to write them in the comments!