Musta’mal Water Guide: The ‘Aghraf’ Mistake & Invalid Wudu (Shafi’i Fiqh)

In our daily lives, we often perform ablution using small buckets or bathtubs that don’t have a large volume. Unknowingly, that still clear water may have already changed its status to used water (musta’mal – one of the types of water in Islamic jurisprudence). As a result, our ablution or obligatory bath becomes invalid, and our prayers will not be accepted.

Understanding the definition of musta’mal water is not just about theory, but real practice. Many subtle details in the Shafi’i fiqh texts are often overlooked, such as the status of water used by young children or fatal errors when scooping water (aghraf).

Based on references from the book Asna al-Mathalib Sharh Raudh at-Thalib, let us thoroughly analyze this issue so that our worship is better preserved.

What is Musta’mal Water, Really?

Simply put, we often interpret it as “used water.” However, Sheikh Zakariya al-Anshari provided a strict limitation. Not all used water is musta’mal.

In the book Asna al-Mathalib (Volume 1, page 5) it is mentioned:

(لا قليل مستعمل في فرض)

Meaning: (Absolute water is) not a small amount of water that has been used for an obligatory (fardhu) purification.

From this definition, there are two main keys for water to be considered musta’mal:

1. Small Amount of Water: Its volume is less than two qullahs (approximately 216 liters).
2. Used for Fardhu (Obligatory Acts): The water was previously used for lifting ritual impurity (wudu/obligatory bath) or removing impurities.

Why can’t this water be used again? The reason is because the water has “taken on” or borne the impediment to worship (ritual impurity/hadas) from our bodies. The early scholars also never collected leftover water from ablution to use again, but rather they would switch to dry ablution (tayammum) if clean water ran out.

Unique Case: Small Children and Differences in Madhhabs

Perhaps you are wondering, “If a small child is not yet obligated to pray, is the water from their ablution still pure?” Or, “What if someone performs ablution without intention?”

1. Water Used for Ablution by a Small Child (Shabi)

It turns out, water used for wudu (ablution) by a young child who is mumayyiz (able to distinguish between good and bad) is still considered musta’mal (used water).

The original reference states:

(ولو من حنفي بلا نية, وصبي)

Meaning: (Water becomes used [musta’mal] even if it is from someone of the Hanafi school who performs ablution without intention, and from a child.)

The reason is, although small children are not sinful for leaving prayer, their prayers are still considered valid if they perform ablution. Because ablution is a requirement for the validity of prayer for them, the water used has the same status as that of adults: becoming musta’mal (used water).

2. Cases of People from the Hanafi School

In the Hanafi school of thought, intention is not a condition for the validity of ablution (it is only sunnah). However, for us followers of the Shafi’i school, if a friend from the Hanafi school performs ablution in front of us without intention, the remaining water is still considered *musta’mal* (used water) by us. We judge the water based on our belief, not theirs.

The Trap of “Ightihraf”: Be Careful When Scooping Water

This is the most crucial point that many people often violate when performing ablution using a ladle or small bucket. This issue is known as the aghraf problem (scooping).

Imagine you are performing wudu. After washing your face (which is the first pillar of wudu), you put your hand into a bucket to take water to wash your hands.

The rule: When the hand touches the water in the bucket, you MUST have the intention to scoop (ightiraf).

If you insert your hand without the intention of scooping, then the water in the bucket immediately becomes musta’mal (used water). Why? Because your hand is due for washing. When the hand enters without the intention of “taking,” the Sharia counts it as “the hand being washed inside the bucket.” Consequently, the water in the bucket is considered water used for washing hands.

The wording in Asna al-Mathalib (p. 6) reads:

(ولو غرف بكفه جنب … محدث بعد غسل وجهه … من ماء قليل, ولم ينو الاغتراف صار مستعملا)

Meaning: If a person in a state of major ritual impurity (junub) or minor ritual impurity (hadas) after washing their face scoops with the palm of their hand… from a small amount of water, and they do not intend to scoop (ightiraf), then that water becomes used (musta’mal).

Solution: Ensure in your heart you intend “I want to take water,” not “I want to wash my hands in it,” just before your fingers touch the water.

Strategies for Ghusl (Ritual Bathing after Major Impurity): The Issue of Immersion

For those of you who like to perform the ghusl (ritual bath) by immersing yourselves (inghimas) in a bathtub (with water less than 216 liters), pay attention to the timing of the intention (niyyah).

If you intend to perform a “Ghusl (ritual bath)” while only a part of your body has entered (for example, only your feet have entered), then the remaining water will become *musta’mal* (used water) for the upper parts of the body that have not yet been touched by the water.

وإن (نوى جنب) رفع حدثه الأكبر (ولو قبل تمام الانغماس في ماء قليل أجزأه) الغسل به (في ذلك الحدث) لا في غيره

That water is only valid for body parts that were submerged before the intention (niyyah) was uttered. The remaining body parts cannot be purified with that water because the water’s status has changed to *musta’mal* due to the touch of the first body part.

The correct way: Enter the water until the entire body is submerged (or up to the neck), then intend “Nawaitu Ghusla…” (I intend to perform Ghusl…). Or, intend with each scoop of water if not submerging.

When Can Used Water (Musta’mal) Become Pure Again?

Do not rush to dispose of used water (musta’mal). Fiqh provides a clever solution. If the musta’mal water is collected in a large container until its volume reaches two qullahs (and its properties do not change), then the water returns to being pure and purifying (thahur).

(فإن جمع … فبلغ قلتين صار طهورا)

Meaning: If water (used water) is collected until it reaches two qullahs, then it becomes pure and purifying.

Summary Table: Which is Musta’mal, and Which is Not?

To make it easier to differentiate, refer to the following table based on Asna al-Mathalib:

Condition of Water Usage	Status of Residual Water	Reason
First wash in Wudu (Obligatory)	Musta’mal	Used for obligatory purification.
Second & third wash in Wudu	Still Pure	These washes are Sunnah (Nafil), not obligatory.
Sunnah bath (e.g., Friday)	Still Pure	Not for removing obligatory ritual impurity.
Washing away impurity	Musta’mal	Removing impurity is obligatory.
Wudu of a young child (Mumayyiz)	Musta’mal	A requirement for the validity of their prayer, even though prayer is not yet obligatory for them.
Ghusl of a deceased person	Musta’mal	A Kifayah obligation (right of the deceased).
Washing a bandage (as a substitute for washing)	Musta’mal	A substitute for an obligation (Badal).

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Hopefully this explanation clarifies our understanding of musta’mal water. Let us improve the way we perform ablution, especially regarding the intention when taking water, so that the prayers we establish are truly valid in the sight of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. Don’t forget to send blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, Allahumma shalli ‘ala sayyidina Muhammad wa ‘ala ali sayyidina Muhammad.