This article explains the categories of water according to the Hanbali madhhab, including tahur, tahir, and najis water, along with their rulings and uses in purification. The material is summarized from Sharh Muntaha al-Iradat, Kashshaf al-Qina, and Matalib Uli al-Nuha.

The Categorization of Water

The Hanbali scholars categorize water into three types. This classification was established through al-istiqraʾ (induction), a method in which scholars gathered and examined all of the relevant texts of the Qur’an and the Sunnah relating to water before deriving a comprehensive classification.

The three categories are:

1. Tahur (Purifying Water)
2. Tahir (Pure but Not Purifying Water)
3. Najis (Impure Water)

Tahur (Purifying Water)

Tahur is water that remains in its original created state. It is pure in itself and purifies other things, meaning it may be used for wuduʾ, ghusl, removing impurities, and all ordinary uses such as drinking and cooking.

The Hanbali scholars divide tahur water into four categories:

1. Ordinary Tahur Water

This is the default type of water. It includes rainwater, river water, spring water, seawater, and any other water that remains in its original state.

Water remains tahur even if its color, smell, or taste changes due to something that is naturally difficult to avoid, such as fallen leaves, dust, algae, or minerals. These natural changes do not affect its ruling, and it may still be used for purification.

2. Disliked Tahur Water

This is water that remains valid for purification but is disliked to use when better water is available. Examples include:

• Extremely hot or extremely cold water if it may cause harm or prevent proper washing.
• Water affected by substances that do not mix with it, such as oil or similar materials.
• Water heated using impure fuel.
• Water from sources over which there is scholarly caution, such as certain graveyard wells.

If no other tahur water is available, the dislike is removed.

3. Forbidden Tahur Water

This is water that is itself tahur but is unlawful to use because it was obtained unlawfully, such as stolen or usurped water. According to the Hanbali school, wuduʾ performed with such water is invalid, although it may still remove physical impurities.

4. Tahur Water That Does Not Lift Hadath

This is a specific ruling unique to the Hanbali school. It refers to a small amount of tahur water left over after a legally accountable woman has used it alone to complete a full purification from hadath. According to the madhhab, the remaining water may still be used by women for purification, but not by adult men to perform wuduʾ or ghusl. This ruling is one of the distinctive positions (mufradat) of the Hanbali school.

Tahir (Pure but Not Purifying Water)

Tahir is water that is pure in itself but cannot be used for purification. It may be used for ordinary purposes such as drinking, cooking, or cleaning, but it cannot be used for wuduʾ, ghusl, or removing impurities.

The Hanbali scholars mention the following types of tahir water:

1. Water substantially changed by a pure substance

If a pure substance causes a substantial change in the water’s color, taste, or smell, it is no longer considered tahur and becomes tahir. Examples include water mixed with enough tea, juice, or similar substances that it is no longer described as ordinary water.

A slight change does not affect the ruling. For example, water with a small amount of dust, minerals, or a slight trace of rust remains tahur.

2. Used water

This refers to a small amount of water that has already been used to perform wuduʾ or ghusl and has separated from the body. According to the Hanbali school, this water remains pure but can no longer be used for purification.

3. Water into which the hand was dipped after waking from night sleep

If a legally accountable person dips their hand into a small amount of water after waking from night sleep before washing it three times, the water becomes tahir. It remains pure but can no longer be used for wuduʾ or ghusl.

4. Water used to remove an impurity

Water that separates after the final washing of an impurity, once the impurity has been completely removed and the water itself has not changed, is considered tahir. It remains pure but cannot be used again for purification.

Najis (Impure Water)

Najis is water that has become impure due to contact with an impurity (najasah). It is not permissible to use for wuduʾ, ghusl, removing impurities, drinking, cooking, or any other ordinary purpose unless there is a genuine necessity.

According to the Hanbali school, najis water falls into two categories:

1. Water changed by an impurity

If an impurity causes any change to the water’s color, taste, or smell, the water becomes najis. Unlike tahir water, where only a substantial change affects its ruling, even a slight change caused by an impurity is enough to render the water impure.

An exception is water being used to wash an impure object or surface. In this case, the water is considered to be in the process of purification, so the normal ruling does not apply in the same way.

2. A small amount of water that comes into contact with an impurity

According to the Hanbali school, if a small amount of water comes into contact with an impurity, it becomes najis even if its color, taste, and smell remain unchanged.

If the water is at least two qullahs (approximately 191 liters), it does not become impure unless one of its three qualities changes.

The prohibition of using najis water is lifted only in cases of genuine necessity, such as when a person would otherwise perish from thirst and no pure water is available.