Sharʿī Ruling on Washing Impurities from the Body and Flowing Water
Question:
How many times must one wash an impurity (najāsah) from the body? If impurity is on an upper body part and water flows down, does the lower part become impure?
Answer by:
Shaykh Ḥāfiẓ Khidr Ḥayāt (ḥafiẓahullāh)
1. Number of Washes for Removing Impurity:
- The primary goal in removing impurity is cleanliness, not the number of washes.
- If one thorough wash completely removes the physical impurity, that is sufficient.
◈ Exceptions:
- In specific cases, the Sharīʿah requires a set number of washes, such as:
If a dog licks a utensil, it must be washed seven times, one of them with soil.
(As per ḥadīth in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
- For all other impurities, no fixed number is prescribed—just wash until clean.
2. Rule of Flowing Water Over Other Body Parts:
- If impurity is on an upper body part and water flows down over it to a lower part:
- The lower part does NOT become impure.
- The water purifies as it washes away the impurity.
- The flowing action helps in cleansing, not spreading impurity.
3. Avoidance of Waswasah (Baseless Doubts):
- Once the impurity is visibly removed, do not fall into excessive doubts or scrupulosity.
- Worrying that water flowing downward has caused impurity is usually a baseless waswasah.
- Islam aims for cleanliness with balance, not obsessive compulsion.
Summary:
- One wash is enough if impurity is removed.
- No need to over-wash unless impurity remains.
- Flowing water purifies, it doesn't carry impurity downward.
- Avoid doubts once the area is clean.
