Rulings and Methods of Removing Impurities in Islam

Jurisprudential Rulings and Issues in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith
Volume 01 – Page 67

Question​

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Rulings and Methods of Removing Impurities

Answer​

وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته!
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!

Just as purifying the limbs of the body through ablution is obligatory upon a Muslim for the performance of prayer, it is likewise required that he keeps his body, clothing, and place of prayer clean from every kind of filth and impurity. Allah Almighty says:

﴿وَثِيابَكَ فَطَهِّر﴾

Reference: Al-Muddaththir: 74/4

Translation:
“And keep your garments pure.”

Similarly, it is reported in the Hadith that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed a woman to wash off menstrual blood from clothing.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 227, 307; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 291

Due to the sensitivity of this matter, it is appropriate to explain in detail the rulings and methods related to the removal of impurities, so that Muslim brothers and sisters may benefit from them correctly.

Because of this importance, jurists have established a separate chapter titled “Izālat an-Najāsah (Removal of Impurity)” in their books, in which they discuss in detail the rulings related to removing impurities from the limbs of ablution, the body, clothing, utensils, bedding, mats, and places of prayer. Below is a summarized presentation of these rulings:

① The Primary Means of Removing Impurity​

The fundamental and primary means of removing impurity and attaining purity is water. Allah Almighty Himself has described this quality of water:

﴿وَيُنَـزِّلُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ بِهِ وَيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمْ رِجْزَ الشَّيْطَانِ﴾

Reference: Al-Anfāl: 8/11

Translation:
“And He sends down upon you water from the sky so that He may purify you with it and remove from you the filth of Satan.”

② Impurity on the Ground and Hard Surfaces​

If impurity falls on the ground, wall, pond, stone, or rock, then pouring water over it once is sufficient, provided the impurity is removed. It is reported that an Arab Bedouin urinated in the mosque, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered that a bucket of water be poured over that place.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 219; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 284

Likewise, the flow of rain or floodwater also purifies the ground; that is, if rainwater washes away the impurity, the place is considered pure.

③ Ruling Regarding the Saliva of Dogs and Swine​

If the saliva of a dog or a swine comes into contact with something, or if they drink from a utensil, then purification requires washing that item seven times with water, one of which must be with soil. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"طَهُورُ إِنَاءِ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا وَلَغَ فِيهِ الْكَلْبُ أَنْ يَغْسِلَهُ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ، أُولاهُنَّ بِالتُّرَابِ"

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 172; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 279; Sunan an-Nasā’ī: 339

Translation:
“The purification of the utensil of one of you, if a dog drinks from it, is to wash it seven times, the first of them with soil.”

This ruling applies not only to utensils but also to clothes, bedding, and mats.

④ Impurities Such as Urine, Feces, and Blood​

If impurities such as urine, feces, or blood are present, then if they are dry, they should first be scraped off, and then washed with water until the substance and color of the impurity are completely removed.

Washable items are of three types:

◈ Items that can be wrung out: such as clothing, which must be wrung after washing
◈ Items that cannot be wrung but can be turned over: such as leather and carpets, which should be turned while washing
◈ Items that can neither be wrung nor turned: such items should be beaten with a stick and a heavy object placed over them so that the water drains out

⑤ When the Place of Impurity Is Uncertain​

If impurity has affected the body or clothing and its exact location is unknown, then the area where impurity is suspected should be washed until one is certain of its removal. If the location is completely unknown, then the entire item must be washed.

⑥ Urine of a Breastfeeding Infant​

If an infant who has not yet begun eating food urinates, then sprinkling water over the affected area is sufficient. Sayyidah Umm Qays رضي الله عنها narrated that she brought her young child to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the child urinated on his garment, so he ﷺ asked for water and sprinkled it over the garment without washing it.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 223; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 287

⑦ Urine of a Child Who Eats Food​

If a child has begun eating food willingly, then his urine is impure like that of an adult. Similarly, the urine of a young girl is like that of an adult woman. In all these cases, washing with water is necessary.

⑧ Types of Impurity​

There are three types of impurity:

① Severe impurity (Najāsah Ghalīẓah): such as the saliva of a dog
② Light impurity (Najāsah Khafīfah): such as the urine of a breastfeeding infant
③ Moderate impurity (Najāsah Mutawassiṭah): all other impurities besides the above

⑨ Dung and Urine of Lawful Animals​

The dung and urine of animals whose meat is lawful are also pure, such as camels, cows, goats, and sheep. It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed people of the tribe of ʿUraynah to go to the camels of charity for treatment and drink their milk and urine.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 233; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1671

If it is argued that this was due to necessity, the response is that the Prophet ﷺ did not command washing those effects at the time of prayer. Furthermore, it is reported in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī that before the mosque was built, the Prophet ﷺ would pray in sheep pens.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 234; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 360

Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:

“The basic ruling regarding dung is purity, except for that which the Sharīʿah has explicitly excluded.”

Reference: Al-Fatāwā al-Kubrā: 5/313

⑩ Rulings Regarding Leftover Water (Sū’r)​

◈ The leftover water of animals whose meat is lawful is pure
◈ The leftover water of a cat is also pure. Sayyidunā Abū Qatādah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"إِنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ بِنَجَسٍ إِنَّهَا مِنْ الطَّوَّافِينَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَالطَّوَّافَاتِ"

Reference: Jāmiʿ at-Tirmidhī: 92

Translation:
“Indeed, it is not impure; it is among those that roam around you.”

Based on this reasoning, some scholars have also considered the leftover water of animals and birds smaller than a cat to be pure.

Apart from cats and animals included in this ruling, the dung, urine, and leftover water of animals whose meat is unlawful are impure.

⑪ The Importance of Purity​

For a Muslim, maintaining both outward and inward purity is essential. Inward purity is attained through Tawḥīd and sincerity, while outward purity is achieved by removing impurities. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"الطَّهُورُ شَطْرُ الْإِيمَانِ"

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 223

Translation:
“Purity is half of faith.”

He ﷺ also stated that the punishment of the grave generally occurs due to negligence regarding urine.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 216; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 292; Al-Mustadrak: 1/183–184

Therefore, whenever impurity occurs, purification should be attained promptly, especially when intending to pray. Before entering the mosque, one should carefully check the shoes, and if any impurity is present, it should be cleaned.

May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to act upon these rulings of purification.