and drinking—such as the well of Arīs at Qubā’, or the well in Bayruhā’, Abū Talhah’s garden, and the well that ‘Uthmān purchased and endowed for the Muslims, as well as other wells. They irrigated their date palms and crops with water drawn from wells using camels and other water-drawing animals or similar means, or with rainwater and floodwater. They had no flowing springs.
The springs known as the Springs of Hamzah were established by Mu‘āwiyah during his caliphate. He ordered the people to move the martyrs’ bodies from that location. They began exhuming them, finding their bodies still fresh and without any foul odor. A spade even struck the leg of one of them, and blood gushed forth. The spring of al-Zarqā’ was likewise established later, though I do not know when. None of the scholars familiar with Medina and its circumstances disputes this. Such matters are disputed only by some followers of the scholars of Iraq who lack familiarity with the Prophet’s circumstances, his city, and his life.
Since the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed ablution with water from that well into which menstrual cloths, dog flesh, and foul matter were thrown, how can it be prescribed for us to avoid, out of scrupulousness, something that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did?
It is authentically reported that he rebuked those who scrupulously avoided what he himself did, saying:
“Why do some people scrupulously avoid things that I permit myself to do? By Allah, I fear Allah more than any of you and know best the limits He has set.”