If someone says the water is pure, can I accept what they say?
The question, as received
If a Muslim (like sibling) claimed they saw impurity on something and its spread, but you have not and are not certain of it and there is no obvious signs (stuff like diluted impure water), do you have to believe them and does that make it certain for you?
The answer
Imām Muḥammad Ibn al-Ḥassan al-Shaybānī (d.189 AH) states that if one is informed of water being impure (Najis)by an individual who they deem to be an upright Muslim, Wudhū should not be performed with such water. However, if one is not content with the someone’s character, integrity and reliability, then they should apply their discretion and judgement (Taharrī ), and act upon that which he is more inclined to.
Condition: Accept the report if the informant is upright; otherwise use your own judgement (taharri).
Fiqh basis
Shamsul A’immah al-Sarakhsī (d.483 AH) and Ibn Māzah al-Bukhārī (d. 616 AH) have both stated that in principle, the information of an upright Muslim must be accepted and acted upon. It is due to this very same principle that Ḥadīth transmissions of lone narrators are accepted by the Muḥaddithīn and moreover, have been used as evidence by the Fuqahā’.
The rationale
A Muslim of sound nature and fear of Allah will always possess good character and morals. Trustworthiness and truthfulness are obligatory traits for every Muslim. Moreover, these noble qualities exemplify the Taqwā (Allah consciousness) in a person. A fellow well-wishing Muslim must not be doubted in matters pertaining to worship without reasonable cause.
And Allah knows best.
Maulana Ammar Y Badat
Reviewed and approved by Mufti Asim Patel
References
وَقَالَ مُحَمَّد بن الْحسن إِذا حضر رجل مُسَافر يُرِيد الصَّلَاة فَلم يجد مَاء إِلَّا مَاء فِي إِنَاء أخبرهُ رجل أَنه قذر أَو قَالَ بَال فِيهِ صبي أَو وَقع فِيهِ دم أَو عذرة أَو غير ذَلِك مِمَّا يُنجسهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَنْبَغِي للرجل أَن ينظر فِي حَال الرجل الَّذِي أخبرهُ فان كَانَ يعرفهُ وَكَانَ عِنْده عدلا مُسلما رَضِيا لم يتَوَضَّأ بذلك المَاء وَتيَمّم وَصلى وَكَذَلِكَ إِن كَانَ الرجل عبدا أَو كَانَت امْرَأَة حرَّة مسلمة أَو أمة بعد أَن تكون عدلا ثِقَة فِيمَا قَالَت
فان كَانَت غير ثِقَة أَو كَانَ الَّذِي لَا يدْرِي أخبرهُ ثِقَة أَو غير ثِقَة فَإِنَّهُ ينظر فِي ذَلِك فان كَانَ أكبر رَأْيه وظنه أَنه صَادِق فِيمَا قَالَ تيَمّم أَيْضا وَلم يتَوَضَّأ بِهِ
وَإِن كَانَ أكبر رَأْيه أَن الَّذِي أخبرهُ بذلك كَاذِب تَوَضَّأ وَلم يلْتَفت إِلَى قَوْله وَصلى وأجزاه ذَلِك وَلَا تيَمّم عَلَيْهِ(الأصل محمد بن الحسن الشيباني ج 3 ص 80)
إدارة القرآن والعلوم الإسلامية – كراتشي
قَالَ (وَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَتَوَضَّأَ بِمَاءٍ فَأَخْبَرَهُ بَعْضٌ أَنَّهُ قَذِرٌ لَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ بِهِ)؛ لِأَنَّ خَبَرَ الْوَاحِدِ فِي أَمْرِ الدِّينِ حُجَّةٌ إذَا كَانَ الْمُخْبِرُ ثِقَةً حَتَّى كَانَ رِوَايَتُهُ الْحَدِيثَ مُوجِبًا لِلْعَمَلِ فَكَذَلِكَ إخْبَارُهُ بِنَجَاسَةِ الْمَاءِ مِنْ أَمْرِ الدِّينِ فَيَجِبُ الْعَمَلُ بِخَبَرِهِ. (المبسوط ج 1 ص 87 شمس الأئمة السرخسي دار المعرفة – بيروت)
وخبر الواحد حجة في أمور الدين إذا كان المخبر مسلماً عدلاً بالآثار والمعقول (ج 5 ص 285 المحيط البرهاني في الفقه النعماني دار الكتب العلمية، بيروت – لبنان)
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.