Its water is purifying, and its dead animals are lawful

Explanation

A man asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), saying: We travel by sea for fishing, trade, and the like, and we carry with us a small amount of potable water. If we use the drinking water for making ablution and Ghusl (ritual bath), it will run out and we will find nothing to drink. So, is it permissible for us to make ablution using seawater? Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said about the seawater: Its water is pure and purifying, so it is permissible to use it for ablution and Ghusl; and it is lawful to eat what comes out of it, including fish, whales, and others, even if found dead and floating on its surface without being fished.

Lessons

• The dead animals of the sea, i.e., what dies therein of the animals that only live in the sea, are lawful.
• Providing the questioner with more information than what he requested to complete the benefit.
• If there is a change in the taste, color, or smell of water due to something pure, it remains purifying as long as the water retains its original entity, even if there is an increase in its saltiness, hotness, coldness, or the like.
• The seawater eliminates the states of major and minor ritual impurities and removes the material impurity that affects what is pure, such as the human body, a garment, or anything else.