It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): "Indeed, we travel by sea and carry only a small amount of water with us. If we use it for ablution, we become thirsty due to the small quantity of water we have. So can we perform ablution with sea water?" The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: "Its water is purifying and its dead (animals) are lawful."

(Second chain) Indeed, some people came to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "We travel far into the sea, because without going far we do not find any game, and we carry (drinking water) with us in one or two small vessels. So can we perform ablution with the water of the sea?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes, indeed its dead (animals) are lawful and its water is purifying."

Abdullah bin Mughira Kanani, may Allah have mercy on him, says that some individuals from Banu Mudlij informed him that they used to go out to sea on planks for hunting, and they would take water with them for drinking, but the time for prayer would also occur while they were at sea. They presented this situation before the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: "If we perform ablution with the water we have brought with us, we become thirsty, and if we perform ablution with the sea water, there remains some doubt in our hearts." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to them: "The water of the sea is purifying and its dead (animals) are lawful."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with both of them) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding the sea: "Its water is purifying and its dead (animals) are lawful."

Musa bin Salamah (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Sinan bin Salamah (may Allah have mercy on him) asked Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) about the ruling of sea water, so he said: "The water of the sea is purifying."

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), describing the manner of the Hajj of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), says: Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the Tawaf al-Ifadah and had a bucket of Zamzam water brought, from which he drank and also performed ablution. He said: "O Banu Abd al-Muttalib! Draw water. If I did not fear that you would be overpowered, I would have drawn water with you."