Wudu is not permissible with rose water, tree water, or safflower water; ritual purity is not permissible except with absolute water (ma' mutlaq) to which the name "water" applies. This is because ritual purity is only permissible with water, and this substance does not bear the name of "water" in an absolute sense.
The second category: That which has been mixed with a pure substance from which it is possible to refrain, such that it alters one of its attributes: its taste, color, or odor, such as the water of fava beans, chickpea water, and saffron water.
The scholars have disagreed regarding the permissibility of wudu with it, and there is a difference in narration from our Imam, may Allah have mercy on him, in this regard. It is narrated from him that ritual purity is not achieved by it. This is the view of Malik, al-Shafi'i, and Ishaq. Judge Abu Ya'la said: "This is more correct, and it is the supported view among our companions in the works of disagreement (al-khilaf)."
A group of his companions have transmitted from Ahmad, among them Abu al-Harith (42), al-Maymuni (43), and Ishaq bin Mansur (44), the permissibility of wudu with it. This is the school of Abu Hanifa and his companions, because Allah the Almighty said: {And if you do not find water, then perform tayammum} (45). This is general for all water, because it is an indefinite noun in a context of negation, and an indefinite noun in a context of negation implies generality. Therefore, tayammum is not permissible while it is present. Also, the statement of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in the hadith of Abu Dharr: "The soil is sufficient for you as long as you do not find water (46)." This person is a finder of water. Furthermore, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and his companions used to travel, and the majority of their water containers
(42) Abu al-Harith Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Sa'igh. He narrated many legal issues (masa'il) from Imam Ahmad, filling over ten parts (ajza'), and he refined the narration from him. Tabaqat al-Hanabila 1/74-75. (43) Abu al-Hasan Abd al-Malik bin Abd al-Hamid bin Mihran al-Maymuni al-Raqqi. He was a revered Imam of high status. He accompanied Imam Ahmad from the year 205 AH until 227 AH, and he possessed sixteen parts of his legal issues from him. He died in the year 273 AH. Tabaqat al-Hanabila 1/212-216, al-'Ibar 2/53. (44) Abu Ya'qub Ishaq bin Mansur bin Bahram al-Kawsaj al-Marwazi, the scholar and jurist. He is the one who recorded the legal issues in jurisprudence from Imam Ahmad. He died in the year 251 AH in Nishapur. Tabaqat al-Hanabila 1/113-115, al-'Ibar 2/1. (45) Surah al-Ma'ida 6. (46) The hadith of Abu Dharr was recorded by al-Suyuti in al-Jami' al-Kabir 2/641 with wording close to this in a long story, on the authority of Abd al-Razzaq and Sa'id bin Mansur, in which it says: "Pure soil is sufficient as long as you do not find water."
