THE CHAPTER OF PURIFICATION · 34 – ABOUT THE WATER OF THE WELL OF BUZAA
66 – Narrated by Abu Sa’id al-Hudri:
They asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) whether they should perform ablution from Buza'a well, for women’s menstrual cloths, dead dogs, and foul things are thrown into it. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The water is pure; nothing can make it impure.”
67 – Narrated by Abu Sa’id al-Hudri:
They said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): Water is brought to you from Buza'a well, and indeed it is a well into which dog meat, women’s menstrual cloths (or soiled rags), and human filth are thrown. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The water is pure and purifying; nothing can make it impure.” [79]
Abu Dawud said:
I heard Guteyb bin Sa'id say: I asked the keeper of Buza’a well about its depth, and he said: "When the water is most abundant, it reaches up to the groin; and when it is least abundant, it goes down to the ankles."
Abu Dawud said: I measured Buza'a well by stretching my cloak over it. Then I measured my cloak, and its width was six cubits. I asked someone who opened the gate of the garden for me to enter the garden whether it had been altered from its original form. He said: “No, it has not.” I saw that the color of the water there had changed.
EXPLANATION
Buza'a is either a place name or a designated area where impurities are thrown. However, the most correct view is that Buza’a is the courtyard of Banu Sa’id. It is somewhat low-lying and has a well in it. Everyone takes water from it, yet it never runs dry. When heavy rains fall and floods begin to recede, the floodwaters inundate the well, touching dead animals thrown up, menstrual cloths that have been used and then discarded, and foul leftovers thrown out of the city.
Because Buza’a well was stepped on, there was a possibility that it had also been polluted.
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) sought to dispel this doubt by asking the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the ruling concerning this well. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) informed them that because of the abundance of water in this well, it is considered flowing water and said: “The water is pure; nothing can make it impure.”
Although the wording of the hadith implies that dead dogs, foul leftovers, and dirty cloths were directly thrown into the well, they were asked as if they were being thrown into the well itself because of the floodwaters inundating it.
Otherwise, how could the Companions, who are among the people of highest faith, throw filth into a well from which everyone takes water?
As will be mentioned in hadith no. 67, this well was located within a garden that had a keeper. Its width was six cubits, and it contained water up to the height of a man’s waist. When it decreased, the water reached the shins.