1/34. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 63 — Two Pitchers and Water Purity
What Impurifies Water
Water Purity Hadith: Two Pitchers and Impurity
Sunan Abi Dawud : 63
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 63
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، وَعُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، وَغَيْرُهُمْ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْمَاءِ وَمَا يَنُوبُهُ مِنَ الدَّوَابِّ وَالسِّبَاعِ فَقَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا كَانَ الْمَاءُ قُلَّتَيْنِ لَمْ يَحْمِلِ الْخَبَثَ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَهَذَا لَفْظُ ابْنِ الْعَلاَءِ وَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبَّادِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَهُوَ الصَّوَابُ .
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ), was asked about water (in desert country) and what is frequented by animals and wild beasts. He replied: When there is enough water to fill two pitchers, it bears no impurity.
[2] Since Al-'Alā' narrated it: "From Muḥammad bin Ja'far bin Az-Zubair."Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 63In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 63English translation : Book 1, Hadith 63
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 63
This water purity hadith answers a practical question about water in desert country. People asked about water that animals and wild beasts come to. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied that when the water is enough to fill two pitchers, it bears no impurity. The wording gives a clear rule within the hadith itself: a certain amount of water is treated differently when impurity is a concern. The focus is not on fear or doubt, but on how to judge water that is shared by animals in open places. For readers searching for the two pitchers hadith, the key message is that Islamic purity guidance is tied to clear measures.
What we learn from this hadith
- People asked about water used around animals and wild beasts.
- The answer mentions the measure of two pitchers.
- The hadith links water quantity with the issue of impurity.
- The ruling is stated for the situation described in the question.
