It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): One day we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when a fisherman came and said: "O Messenger of Allah, we go out to sea for fishing, and one of us takes a water vessel with him, hoping to catch something soon. Sometimes he does find it so, and sometimes he does not find any catch until he reaches a place at sea he never thought he would reach. There he may have a wet dream or need to perform ablution. Now if he performs the ritual bath (ghusl) or ablution with this (drinking) water, he fears perishing from thirst. So in your view, may we take the ritual bath or perform ablution with sea water?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Take the ritual bath from it and perform ablution with it, for its water is pure and its dead (animals) are lawful." Imam Muslim used al-Julah Abu Kathir as evidence.