Sea water is pure

25-3-2006 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is the sea water pure? Is it forbidden to urinate in the sea and in the swimming pool?

---

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

Sea water is pure and a purifier so it is not disliked to urinate in it, and urinating in it, does not affect it. As regards the swimming pool, if it reaches the level of swimming in it to the extent that one does not feel disgust at it, then it is not disliked to urinate in it. However, if the swimming pool does not reach that level, then it is disliked to urinate in it and that is whether or not it reaches the measure of two Qullah (a measure of volume equivalent to 160.5 litres). This is the view of the Shaafi'ee and Hanbali school, however, the Hanafi and Maaliki schools are of the view that it is forbidden to urinate in a small quantity of stagnant water as it renders it impure and affects other things by its use.

The Shaafi'ee and Hanbali schools did not forbid urinating in a small quantity of stagnant water as additional water is not added to it, but it can be purified by adding more water to it.

However, to be on the safe side, it is better to act according to the opinion of the Hanafi and Maaliki schools.

Allaah Knows best.