REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- In Islam, clean water is not equal. Each has its own Sharia law, one of which is absolute water.

Abdul Qadir Muhammad Manshur in his book The Prayer Guide An-Nisaa explains that absolute water consists of several types: rainwater, snow water, dew water, sea water, and zamzam water.

All that is water that thahur. It is holy to itself and sanctifying to others. The evidence for the purity of these waters is based on Surah Al Anfal verse 11, which means, “And Allah sent down water (rain) from heaven to you to purify you with it.” Then in Surah Al Furqan verse 48, “And We sent down from heaven very clean water.”

As for the proof of the sanctity of dew and snow, it is the story of Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (PBUH) finished taking a nap in prayer, he was silent for a while before reciting Al Fatihah. Abu Hurairah asked, “O Messenger of Allah, for the sake of my father and mother, tell me what you said when you were silent before reciting Al Fatihah.

” The Prophet said, “I say, 'Allahumma baidni wa baina khataya kama ba'adta bainal masyriqi wal maghribi, Allahumma naqqini mi khathayaa kama yunaqqats tsaubul abyadhu minaddanas, Allahummaghsilni min khatayaya bisalji wal-maai wa baradi'/O God, keep me from my sins, as you have kept the east from the west. O Allah, cleanse me of my sins as a white cloth is cleansed of filth. O God, wash me from my sins with snow, water, and dew.”

As for the proposition of the purity of seawater, when the Prophet was asked about whether or not seawater was holy, the Prophet replied, “Huwattahuru ma-uhu al-hillu maytatahu.” Which means, “The sea is holy in its waters and lawful in its carcasses.”