Rat or Lizard Falling into a Water Tank

Ruling on a Mouse, Gecko, or Bird Falling into a Water Tank and Dying

If the area of a water tank is less than 225 square feet, it will be treated as a small quantity of water. If a mouse or any other animal whose body contains flowing blood falls into such a tank and dies, the entire water of the tank will become impure.

To purify the tank, it is first necessary to remove all remains of the dead animal. As long as its remains are present in the water, the tank will not be considered purified. After removing the remains, the tank should be emptied and washed three times, with the water being removed each time.

If completely emptying the tank in this manner is difficult, then after removing the remains of the animal, pure water should be allowed to enter the tank from one side and flow out from the other side until the odor disappears and the taste of the water returns to its normal state. By doing this, the tank will become purified.

However, if the area of the tank is 225 square feet or more, its water will be treated according to the ruling of a large reservoir. In such a case, if an animal or bird falls into the water and dies, but it is removed before its body swells, bursts, or begins to decompose, and no trace of impurity—such as a change in the smell, taste, or color of the water—remains, then the water will not become impure, and purification may be performed with that water.

Ruling Regarding a Small Gecko

If a small gecko falls into the water and dies, and it does not have flowing blood, its death will not make the water impure, even if the quantity of water is small. Therefore, in such a case, the water in the tank will not be considered impure.

Ruling Regarding the Prayer and Clothes Washed with the Impure Water

If a mouse or any other animal whose body contains flowing blood falls into the tank and dies, causing the water to become impure, then any prayers performed with wuḍūʾ made from that water will have to be repeated according to whether the time of the animal’s death is known or unknown.

If the time of the animal’s death is known, then all prayers performed with wuḍūʾ made from the impure water after that time must be repeated.

If the time of death is not known, then, if the animal had not swollen or burst, the prayers of one day and one night must be repeated. If the animal had swollen or burst, the prayers of three days and three nights must be repeated.

Likewise, any clothes or other items that can be purified which were washed with this impure water during that period must also be purified again.

And Allah Most High knows best.