What is Purification?
After the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) had been appointed to his mission of Prophethood
and commanded to propagate the Message of Allah the first duty enjoined on him
after the doctrine of Tawhid was to purify.
"...And to purify yourself." (74:4)
This Quranic command was meant to impress
that he should purify his heart and soul of all impurities of belief and creed
of his dress and body of all kinds of filth, defilement and un-cleanliness unsavory
to good taste as well as to the Shariah.
The Quran has time and again impressed the
great importance of personal purification, so much so that it declares:
"...Allah likes those people who like to keep themselves
pure." (9:108)
"Most surely Allah loves the people who refrain from
evil and keep themselves pure and clean." (2:222)
The Holy Prophet has presented by his
personal example the highest sense and level of purification and fine taste. He
has impressed its great importance over and over again on the Muslim community
as well. He is reported to have said:
"Purification is one half of the Faith."
He has enjoined cleanliness and given
detailed instructions about the ways of achieving it and demonstrated
practically how to keep oneself neat and clean all time.
It is, therefore, binding on every Muslim to
know, understand and follow the injunctions to keep his inner and outer self
clean and pure. The impurities of belief and creed have already been mentioned
and explained. In the following pages, the external impurities affecting the
body and clothes will be discussed and ways and means given to cleanse them.
It must be borne in mind at the outset that
the only criteration of cleanliness and un-cleanliness is the Divine Law (Shairah);
one cannot make any changes or alteration in it on the basis of one's personal
taste, good sense or temperament. Anything that has been declared lawful, clean
and pure by the Shairah is certainly lawful, clean and pure, and whatever
it has declared as unlawful, unclean and impure is absolutely so. Then, purity
is certainly deemed to have been obtained by the ways and means that the Shariah
has prescribed and enjoined for the purpose; devising one's own ways and
standards of obtaining purity after one's personal tastes, whims and
temperamental inclinations will only help create unnecessary doubts and render
the straightforward, natural and simple Shariah of Allah complicated and
difficlut to follow. Not only that: it will deprive one of the true
understanding of the Religion of Allah, involve one in undue hardships, and as a
result drive one further and ever further away from the Right Way.
WHAT IS IMPURITY?
Every kind of filth, pollution or defilement which renders
clean things unclean and dirty, is termend Impurity, described comprehensively
by the Arabic world Najasat. Let us first learn the nature of the state
of impurity, its kinds and how to cleanse oneslef of various impurities.
Kinds of Impurity
The impurity may be of two kinds: Impurity in Fact (Najasat
Haqiqi) and Impurity in Effect (Najasat Hukmiyah). Both the kinds
have been treated separately by the Shariah and each has separate ways of
being cleansed.
(Impurity in Fact - Najasat Haqiqi)
It is that impurity which one temperamentally
detests, abhors and avoids. The Shariah too, has enjoined to keep oneself
clean and pure it. This kind includes urine, excrement, semen, blood, etc. It
has further two kinds: Grave Impurity (Ghalizah) and Ordinary Impurity (Khafifah)
Grave Impurity (Ghalizah)
This includes all those impurities which are
so beyond any doubt or suspicion, which are detested by human nature and are
likewise disapproved by Shariah, too. In view of their serious nature,
the Shariah has strictly enjoined that these should be scrupulously
shunned and avoided at all times. This kind comprises the following:
The pig, living or dead, and all its products.
Human urine, excrement, semen, prostatic fluid; animal
semen; and urine and excrement of human babies.
Blood, whether of man or animal.
Mouthful of vomit, whether of an adult or child.
Menstrual and postpartum blood.
Vaginal fluid.
Blood, pus or serum flowing out or oozing out of wounds.
Sweat and saliva of the animals whose left-over is unclean.
Flesh, fat, tissue and un-tanned skin of an animal which has
died its natural death, or been killed without slaughtered in the prescribed
way, excluding those parts of its body which don't have circulating blood,
e.g., horns, teeth, hoofs, feathers, etc.
Milk of unlawful animal, living or dead, and milk of the
lawful dead animal.
Watery fluid oozing out of the carrion of an animal having
circulating blood.
Any kind of extract or product of an unclean thing.
Urine and dung or waste matter dropped by all domestic
animals including poultry and wild beasts, except birds.
Liquor and other intoxicants in liquid form.
Skin of the snake.
Saliva of a dead person.
Blood of the martyr which has dropped from his body.
Ordinary Impurity (Khafifah)
Things whose impurity is deemed to be
slight and ordinary in the eyes of the Shariah are as follows:
Urine of lawful animals, especially cattle, and of the
horse.
Waste matter dropped by unlawful birds like the crow, kite,
hawk, etc., excreta of the bat, however, is not impure.
Excreta of lawful birds, if it stinks.
Note: Any mixture in whatever ratio or
proportion of a grave impurity with an ordinary impurity is deemed to be grave.
Ways and Means of Cleansing Impurity in Fact
There are different ways and means of
cleansing unclean things depending on whether they are solid, liquid or porous.
1. Cleansing of Earth
If a piece of the earth or soil has become unclean by a thin
or thick liquid impurity, it will become clean or drying up.
The unclean earth may be washed up with water, or mopped up
with a cloth so that no trace or smell of the impurity is left behind. It
is, however, better to wash it up thrice and then allowed to dry up.
A loose piece of earth, sand, stone or brick (even porous)
becomes clean on drying up.
Grass, plants or trees, and fixed objects like walls,
pillars, doors, etc. become clean on drying up.
Unclean soil can be cleansed by scraping or turning down, or
by concealing the impurity under loose earth so that it no longer stinks.
Unclean oven by burning fire in it.
Earth ware made from unclean clay can be cleansed by heating
up.
Earth plastered with dung is unclean: one has to spread the
mat on it to offer prayer.
2. Cleansing of Solid Non-porous Articles
Unclean metallic articles like the sword, knife, mirror,
etc., or ornaments of gold, solver and other metals, or utensils of copper,
brass, aluminum and steel can be cleansed by rubbing on the earth, or wiping
with a wet cloth provided that they are not perforated or engraved.
Similarly, chinaware, clayware and dishes made of glass or
marbel, granite, etc., can be cleansed by rubbing against the earth, or
wiping neat with a wet cloth provided that they are not perforated or
engraved.
Metallic dishes and chinaware can also be cleansed by
washing thrice with water.
If, however, these articles are perforated or carved they do
not become clean unless thoroughly washed with water.
Metallic dishes and articles like the knife, blow pipe,
tongs, etc., and clayware can also be cleansed by heating up in the fire.
If a mat, carpet, concrete or wooden floor in soiled with a
thick or solid impurity, it can be wiped off clean with a wet cloth.
3. Cleansing of Porous Articles
Articles made of leather, like socks, shoes, etc., becoming
unclean by a thick or semi-solid impurity like dung, human excrement, blood,
semen, etc., can be cleansed by scarping or rubbing, but if the impurity is
thin which becomes invisible on drying, it can be cleansed by washing at
least thrice at brief intervals.
Unused earthenware or dishes made of stone or wood, which
can absorb liquid impurity, should be washed thrice in such a way that they
stop dripping after each washing; however, if they are washed in running
water, and washed well they will be deemed to have been cleansed.
If corn becomes unclean with a thick or semi-solid impurity,
the impurity should be removed and the soiled grain washed thrice in a way
that it dries up each time.
If a cloth becomes unclean, it has to be washed thrice and thoroughly
wrung each time; then even if the stain remains and it stinks a little, the
cloth will be regarded as cleansed.
If a cloth is soiled with semen and dries up, the semen
should be scarped or rubbed; but if the soiled spot is still wet; it has to
be washed thrice in the usual way.
An unclean cloth may also be washed with other clean liquids
than water, provided that they are not greasy.
There is no need of wringing a cloth if washed well in
running water.
If wringing is likely to damage a cloth, it should only be
washed thrice by squeezing it gently with hand, or otherwise, each time.
If a cloth is soiled by unclean ghee or oil, or fat, it has
to be washed thrice as usual; the cloth will be deemed to have been cleansed
even if the greasiness remains.
If a cloth is defiled by the fat of a dead animal, it is
essential to remove the greasiness as well, even if the cloth has to be
washed more than thrice.
If a floor-mat, carpet or rug is defiled by a liquid
impurity and cannot be wrung, it should be cleansed by throwing water on it
thrice in a way that it dries up each time to the extent that it does not
wet an object placed on it.
If an unused earthenware absorbs a liquid impurity, it
should be filled with water and emptied repeatedly till the color and stink
of the impurity are gone off.
A cloth dyed in an unclean color will be deemed to have been
cleansed if it is washed repeatedly till it gives out clean water on
wringing, no matter if the color does not go off completely.
4. Cleansing of Liquids
Unclean fat or oil can be used up in making soap which will
be regarded as clean.
Unclean ghee, oil, honey or syrup should be mixed up with
and equal quantity of water and heated up till the water has evaporated; the
process has to be repeated thrice to cleanse the ghee or oil, etc.
If unclean oil has been applied to the hair or body, one has
to wash the hair or body thrice, even without the soap, to obtain purity.
5. Cleansing of Semi-Solids
If ghee or fat or honey in the semi-solid state becomes
unclean, the affected portion only has to be removed.
If dough or dry flour is defiled, for instance by a dog, the
affected portion should be separated.
If a cake of soap is defiled, the affected portion only has
to be cut away.
6. Cleansing of Animal Skins
Skin of every animal, lawful or unlawful, flesh-eating or
runminant, is cleansed by tanning, except that of the pig.
The skin of a lawful animal is cleansed when slaughtered in
the prescribed way, and need not be tanned.
If a skin is tanned in the fat of the pig or some other
impurity, it will have to be washed thrice after tanning.
7. Cleansing of One's Body
The human body, if defiled by a physical impurity, has to be
washed thrice; however, if defiled by thick semen, it should be scarped; if
by thin semen, it has to be washed.
If the body or hair is dyed in an unclean color, it has to
be washed thoroughly, no matter if the color does not go off.
If the body is tattooed and some impurity filled in, it has
to be washed thrice.
If a wound is filled with an impurity, it has to be washed
on healing; the impurity need not to be removed. If a broken bone is
replaced by an impure bone, or a wound stitched with an impure thread, or a
tooth adjusted with some impure, the affected part has to be washed thrice
on healing up.
If the body is massaged with impure oil or greasy matter, it
has to be washed thrice, no matter if the grease does not go off completely.
8. Six Principles Relating to Purification
The Shariah as a rule has no intention of putting the
people to unnecessary hardships, and so overlooks certain defilements.
Instance: It is not possible to completely avoid the impure water splashing
from a dead body which is being washed; the Shariah overlooks it.
If an impurity generally becomes unavoidable on account of
weather or climate or circumstances, the Shariah does not mind it.
Instance: During the rainy season it becomes almost impossible to avoid the
dirty water or slush in the street, and clothes generally get soiled.
An unlawful thing that is made lawful only under compulsion
because of a necessity will be considered lawful only to the extent of that
necessity and circumstances. Instance: Urinating by animals while threshing
the corn will not defile it, but this leniency will not be extended to other
occasions.
An impurity which according to the Shariah is deemed
to have been removed, will not relapse. Instance: A cloth from which dried
up semen has been scraped, will neither defile itself nor the water into
which it falls. Similarly, unclean earth which has become clean on drying
up, will not become unclean if it again becomes wet, with a clean liquid.
A thing which is regarded as clean with full certainly will
not be rendered unclean merely on account of a doubt or suspicion.
Human nature and custom will be taken into account when
declaring something lawful. Instance: The food, drink etc. of the
unbelievers will be regarded as clean because human nature abhors impurity
in matters of food, unless, however, there is a clear proof to establish its
impurity.
9. Concessions granted by the Shariah
The Shariah has granted certain
necessary concessions in circumstances and situations which make defilement
unavoidable, e.g.:
Grave impurity equal to dirham (a dirham is
coin of half-inch radius) in area is excused: that is, if one has offered
prayers with that much of impurity sticking on the one's body or
clothes, one need not to repeat the prayer: it is, however, advisable to
wash it off if possible.
Ordinary impurity equal to one-fourth of a dirham on
a garment is excused.
Water spray wetting the body and clothes of the washer of a
dead body is pardonable.
Urinating by animals while threshing the corn will not
defile the corn.
Soiling of clothes and body by the street water and slush in
the rainy season has bee overlooked by the Shariah.
Thin spray of urine or other liquid impurity will not render
the body or clothes unclean. Similarly, the urine or dung of domestic cattle
amounting even to more than a dirham in area or size is excused.
Corn-flour containing a few ground drop lings of the mice is
not unclean; underground drop lings, if cooked in bread, rice, etc., and
remain hard and un-dissolved, do not render the food unclean.
Blood-sucking insects like the fly, mosquito, flea, etc., if
killed leaving a blood mark on the body or clothes, will not render it
unclean.
The ash and the smoke of an impurity that has been burnt are
not unclean. Instance: The ash or smoke of burnt dung will not defile the
food; the ash can even be used for cleaning purposes.
If a person has lain on an unclean ground, floor, mat,
wooden, dais, etc., with a wet body, or has put a wet foot on an unclean
floor, mat, etc., or has perspiration while lying on such a floor, the body
will not be rendered unclean it bears some effect of the impurity.
If while milking an animal, a dropping or two or a little of
dung falls into the milk, it should be taken out immediately, the milk will
remain clean and usable.
A wet cloth spread on an unclean place or object for drying
or otherwise, or if somebody with wet clothes sits on an unclean place, the
cloth or clothes are not rendered clean, unless, however, they bear the
stain or smell of the impurity.
10. Miscellaneous Regulations
The blood of the fish, fly, bug, etc., is not an impurity;
the body or clothes soiled by it will not be rendered unclean.
If a part of a floor, mat, carpet or rug is unclean, one may
offer prayers on the clean portion.
If a person has applied henna to his hands, feet or hair,
and then comes to know that it was unclean, he has to wash the part thrice
to obtain purity, no matter if the color does not go off.
If a person has applied collyrium to the eyes and then comes
to know that it was unclean, he may not wipe or wash it off, but has to wash
off that part only which has flowed out.
The saliva of the dog is impure but not its body; therefore
if a dog, whether wet or dry, has touched a person's body or clothes, these
would not be rendered unclean unless the dog has an impurity sticking to its
body.
Prayer is allowed to be offered on the clean side of a thick
board or plank of timber whose other side has become unclean.
The sweat or left-over of all human beings, Muslim or
non-Muslim, male or female, menstruating woman or one having bleeding of the
child birth, is clean, even if that person needs to have bath to obtain
purity.
If an impurity is burnt, its smoke and vapors will be clean
and can be used anywhere.
Musk, musk-bag and ambergris are clean and pure.
The saliva flowing out from a sleeping person's mouth is
clean.
The rotten egg of a lawful bird or poultry is clean.
If an article becomes impure, and it is difficult to locate
the impure spot, it is advisable to wash up the article wholly.
If a metallic or clay vessel is soiled by the dog's saliva,
it should be rinsed thrice, better seven time, once by rubbing it with earth
and six times with clean water.
Impurity in Effect (Najasat Hukmiyah)
The impurity in Effect is that state of
impuity which is not visible to the eye, but which is known through the Shariah
injunctions, for instance, the state of being without Wudu (ablutions) or
Ghusl (bath) when it is enjoined and needed. This impurity is termed Hadath
in the language or the Shariah. It is of two kinds: Minor Impurity (Hadath
Asghar) and Major Impurity (Hadath Akbar).
Major Impurity (Hadath Asghar)
The Minor Impurity is caused by the
following:
Passing of urine or stool.
Releasing wind.
Issue of blood or pus from any part of the body.
Vomiting is mouthful.
Discharge of blood (other than menstrual) from the uterus.
Going to sleep with body reclined against a support.
Wudu (Partial Ablutions) is the means
of removing the minor impurity, or if water is not available, or its use is
deemed to be harmful, Tayammum (cleaning with dust) may be restored to.
In the state of minor impurity one can neither perform prayers nor touch the
Quran. There is, however, a little concession for those who have to handle the
Quran constantly, but cannot perform Wudu time and again, and for the
children who are learning to read the Quran. There is, however, no harm in
reciting the Quran from memory.
Major Impurity (Hadath Akbar)
This is that state of impurity which
is caused by sexual intercourse, or lustful discharge of semen during sleep, and
menstrual and postpartum discharges. One can neither perform prayers in this
state nor touch the Quran, nor even recite the Quran from memory, nor enter the
mosque. However, if one has to enter the mosque because of necessity, one is
permitted to do so. Ghusl (Major Ablution) is the only means of achieving
purity from this state.
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