Ruling on using sewage water after treatment

13-2-2012 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the ruling on using sewage water, after treatment and after purifying it fully from all impurities, in household affairs and worship, i.e. drinking, cooking, ablution, washing and all types of purification?
Note that this water, according to government statements, is purer than ground water that was used earlier and a great portion of it has dried out already. Please advise. May Allaah reward you.

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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.

 

If sewage water can be made clean again by filtration and distillation so as to get rid of all traces of impurities in the taste, color, and smell of the water, then it is permissible to use such water for ritual purification. There is also no harm in using it in cooking and drinking if it is proven to be free of harm. Muslim scholars stated that if a large amount of water whose properties have been altered by an impure substance regains its original color, smell and taste, or was rendered pure by adding pure water to it, or because of its being in a place for a long period of time or the like, then it is regarded pure again. The reason for labeling such water impure is the fact that its properties, i.e. taste, color, or smell, have been altered, and if this reason ceases to exist, then it is considered pure.

Allaah Knows best.