What Are the 7 Types of Water for Wudu? The Explanation You're Looking For

Hi again! Water is the source of life. In human life, water has enormous benefits. They use water for drinking, eating, washing, and so on. In the Islamic context, there are many types of water. And, by the way, do you know “what are the 7 types of water for wudu?”?

Whatever your reason for opening this article, I am sure you are looking for an explanation of the 7 types of water for wudu. Don't worry! I will not disappoint you on this day. I will explain all of that in this article. So, you just need to read this article to the end!

Why Is Water the Main Thing Used for Wudu?

Hi! First of all, I will explain the reason why water is the main thing used for wudu. That is the most basic thing in the discussion about water for wudu that some Muslims don't understand well. I thought you didn't want to be like them. So, you must read this explanation very well.

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

• There is a Quranic verse which explains that water is the main thing 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 sentence “فَلَمْ تَجِدُوْا مَاۤءً فَتَيَمَّمُوْا صَعِيْدًا طَيِّبًا (and find no water, then seek clean earth above)” in the verse of the Quran above! This sentence explains that if Muslims do not find water that can be used for wudu, then they can perform tayammum with holy dust. So, water is the main thing used for wudu.

• Wudu is washing and wiping several parts of the body. You certainly already understand that something that can be used for washing and wiping is 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, that Uthman performed wudu. He washed his palms three times. Then he rinsed his mouth, put a little water in his nose and let the water out of his nose. Then he washed his face three times. Then he washed his right hand up to the elbow three times. Then his left hand is like that (like his right hand). Then he rubbed his head. Then he washed his right foot up to the ankle three times. Then his left leg was like that. Then he said, "I have seen the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam performing wudu like this wudu." This hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

What Are the 7 Kinds of Water for Wudu?

Now I will explain the main topic in this discussion: what are the 7 types of water for wudu? You must read the explanation below very carefully so that there are no more questions about it after you read this article. Of course, if you still have other questions about it, you can write them in the comment column. I would be very happy to enter into 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).

Those are the 7 types of water that you can use for wudu. Of course, this is provided that the water is not water used to do something and the color, taste or aroma has not changed. If the water has been used to do something, such as when used for wudu, then it cannot be used for wudu. If one of these three things changes, 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 one important question related to the topic of this discussion: how much water is needed for wudu? You must understand it well so that you have a good understanding of water for wudu after reading this article.

To be honest, it is very difficult to determine how much water is needed for wudu. Everything depends on what we do in wudu. If we only do the things that are obligatory in wudu, then we need less water than if we do the things that are required and recommended in wudu.

Below is an explanation of the water that the Prophet Muhammad used for wudu. You can make it a minimum standard for wudu.

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 ablutions using water as much as 1 Mud and he takes a bath using 1 Sha’ to 5 Mud." The hadith is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

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

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

The conclusion is that the Prophet Muhammad performed wudu using 0.688 or 0.687 liters of water. Meanwhile, if he showers, he uses 3.43 or 3.42 liters of water.

Do you have questions? Please write in the comment column!