How Many Liters of Water Is Considered Sunna to Use for the Ritual Bath?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam ‘aleykum. 

How many liters is a sa’ of water?

How many liters of water is considered sunna for women to use for the ritual bath?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that this message finds you well, insha’Allah.

The measure of water that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) used for ablution (wudu) was approximately one litre (mudd), and for the ritual bath (ghusl), four litres (sa`) as mentioned in the tradition of Bukhari and Muslim.

The jurists tell us that we should be wary of using too little or too much water, both of which are blameworthy, yet at the same time striving to behave in a manner which will be most pleasing to Allah Most High.

[`Itr, I`lam al-Anam Sharh Bulugh al-Maram]

Please see: How Can I Avoid Taking 20 Minutes to Make Wudu? and: Global Warming and Wastefulness

And Allah alone knows best.​

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani