Minimum Amount Of Water Needed For Ablution

Question

I have one litre water. Can I use this water for wudhu before shalah? How much water minimum we use for wudhu?

Fatwa

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 sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

One litre of water is sufficient for performing ablution; rather a Mudd (which equals 0.688 litre) is enough. It is confirmed that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used to perform ablution only using one Mudd and would perform Ghusl (ritual bath) using one Saa' (which equals 4 Mudds), as reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim may Allaah have mercy upon them. Therefore, whoever uses a Mudd properly in ablution; it will be enough for him.

As regards the minimum quantity of water which is sufficient for ablution, then most of the scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them are of the view that there is no minimum quantity of water. What should be considered is that the limbs which must be washed in ablution are washed. Therefore, if a person performs ablution and washes all the limbs that should be washed in ablution even with a quantity lesser than a Mudd, then his ablution is acceptable. Indeed it is confirmed that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) performed ablution with a third of a Mudd. [Al-Haakim].

Ibn Qudaamah may Allaah have mercy upon him said: “This is the view of Ash-Shaafi'i and the view of the majority of the scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them.”

However, some scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them are of the view that less than a Mudd is not sufficient as the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “A Mudd is enough for ablution and a Saa' is enough for Ghusl.” [Ahmad and Ibn Maajah]. According to this view, the narration sets the estimation of the quantity of water which is sufficient for ablution and that anything less than that is not sufficient.

Any way, according to both views, if the limbs that must be washed in ablution are not properly washed with a Mudd, and there is a need for more water, then it is acceptable as long as there is no extravagancy.

Allaah Knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb