How can we defend the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and clarify the meaning of the Hadith: "Water is pure; nothing makes it impure," in order to refute its exploitation by enemies of Islam to insult them?
Islam calls for cleanliness and abstention from impurities, as evidenced by its command for purification and the removal of harm from the road. The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were quick to apply the Sharia, and it is inconceivable that they would throw menstrual blood and dog meat into a well that was a source of water for people. What is meant by the Hadith is that people would throw those impurities in the wilderness, and then the floodwaters would carry them into the well. The Companions kept the water free from impurities; rather, the filth reached the well due to floodwaters carrying it there because the well was in low-lying ground. The Companions' use of the water from this well, which was a place for filth, was because the water in it had reached a quantity where nothing could affect it, and well water is constantly renewed. This is why the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, "Indeed, water is pure; nothing makes it impure."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/47197