❀ Shar‘ī Methods for Purifying 8 Things — In Light of Authentic Hadiths ❀
From: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ – Vol. 1, p. 343
1. Purifying the Ground (Earth or Floor)
If impurity falls on the ground, it becomes pure by pouring water over it.
Evidence:
Narrated by Anas (رضي الله عنه):
A Bedouin urinated in the Masjid. The Prophet ﷺ instructed not to stop him, and later ordered a bucket of water to be poured over the spot.
(Bukhārī 1/35, Muslim 1/138, Abū Dāwūd 1/61)
➡ No need to dig the earth or wash multiple times unless the impurity’s traces remain.
Drying by sun and air also purifies it, based on:
- Abū Dāwūd (1/61): "Chapter: The Earth becomes pure when it dries."
- Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه):
“Dogs used to come into the Masjid and urinate, but we never poured water over those areas.”
(Aḥmad 1/71, Bukhārī 1/29)
Other scholars like Abū Jaʿfar, Ibn al-Ḥanafiyyah, and Abū Qilābah also held this view.
➡ If impurity is liquid, it is removed by pouring water or letting it dry.
If solid, it must be physically removed.
2. Purifying Socks, Shoes, or Similar Items
If visible impurity is found on footwear, it may be purified by rubbing it on clean ground.
Evidence:
Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
“If someone enters the Masjid and sees impurity on their shoes, they should rub them on the ground, then pray in them.”
(Abū Dāwūd 1/128, al-Dārimī 1/160, al-Mishkāt 1/73)
Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
“When one steps on impurity with their shoes, the soil purifies them.”
(Abū Dāwūd 1/128)
➡ No distinction is made between wet or dry impurity.
➡ This highlights the flexibility of the Sharīʿah and avoids hardship.
3. Purifying a Vessel Licked by a Dog
If a dog licks a vessel, it must be washed seven times, one of which must be with soil.
Hadith:
“If a dog licks your utensil, wash it seven times, the first with earth.”
(Ṣaḥīḥayn – al-Mishkāt 1/52)
➡ Scientific findings also support that dog saliva’s bacteria are only neutralized with soil-based cleansing.
➡ No fatwā can override this direct, authentic command.
4. Purifying Clothes or Body from Impurity
- If impurity is visible, washing is mandatory.
- If the trace remains after washing but impurity is gone, it is excused.
- If impurity is not visible, like dried urine, a single wash suffices.
➡ The Prophet ﷺ did not order three separate washes during ghusl of janābah—he poured three handfuls of water over his head.
(Bukhārī 1/45)
➡ Asmāʾ bint Abī Bakr (رضي الله عنها) reported that the Prophet ﷺ did not instruct women to wash cloth three times.
5. Purifying Non-Absorbent Surfaces
Surfaces like mirrors, knives, swords, nails, glass, metalware:
➡ These are purified by simply wiping off the impurity.
Practice of the Companions:
They used to wipe blood off swords and then perform ṣalāh.
Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said:
“The butcher’s knife does not need to be washed—wiping it is sufficient.”
(Al-Fatāwā 21/522)
6. Purifying Fat or Oil Contaminated by a Dead Mouse
If a mouse falls and dies in cooking fat:
- The mouse and the surrounding fat must be removed.
- The rest may be used, whether the fat is solid or liquid.
Hadith:
Narrated from Maymūnah (رضي الله عنها) via Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
“Remove the mouse and what surrounds it, and use the rest.”
(Bukhārī 1/37, 2/831)
➡ No distinction is made between solid or liquid fat.
➡ This was also the view of Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn ʿAbbās, Ibn Masʿūd, Imām al-Bukhārī, and Imām al-Awzāʿī.
(See: Fatāwā Ibn Taymiyyah 21/524; Fatḥ al-Bārī 9/549; Fiqh al-Sunnah 1/30)
7. Purifying Leather of a Dead Animal
A dead animal’s hide becomes pure through tanning.
Hadith:
Narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه):
“Any hide that is tanned becomes pure.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1/158; Sunan 2/989)
➡ Tanning removes impurities and renders the leather suitable for use.
8. Other Forms of Purification
In general:
- Washing,
- Wiping,
- Drying,
- Tanning, and
- Pouring water
are all valid methods depending on the nature of the impurity and type of material.
➡ The Sharīʿah always prioritizes ease and cleanliness, avoiding hardship.
Conclusion:
✔ These eight methods of purification are proven by authentic hadiths and practiced by the early generations.
✘ Practices based on weak or fabricated reports, such as unnecessary washing or excessive scrubbing, have no basis and may constitute innovation or extremism.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best.
