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Imam's Corner
Various Topics
The Basics of Fiqh
Prepared by
Prepared by:
Mohamed Baianonie
(Imam of the Islamic Center of Raleigh, NC)
What
are Physically Impure Things?
They can be placed in three
different categories:
1.
Confirmed Impurities (agreed upon by all scholars).
2.
Controversial Impurities with the Stronger Opinion being Impure.
3.
Controversial Impurities with the Stronger Opinion being Pure (because
everything is pure unless clear-cut evidence states otherwise).
*Details to follow.
What are Physically Impure Things?
First: Confirmed Impurities (agreed upon by all scholars).
1.
Human Urine.
2.
Human Excrement.
3.
Wadi:
Thick white secretion that might be discharged after urination.
4.
Mathi:
a white sticky (Prostatic) fluid (other than sperm or semen).
5.
Menstrual Blood.
6.
Defecation and
Urine of animals whose meat is not permissible to eat.
7.
Carcass of
terrestrial animals (i.e. those which do not live in water) that have running
blood when cut or killed (which does not apply, for example, to insects).
Second: Controversial Impurities with the Stronger Opinion being Impure.
1.
Dog’s Saliva.
2.
Water remaining after the Beasts have drunk from it.
Third: Controversial Impurities with the Stronger Opinion being Pure (because
everything is pure unless clear-cut evidence states otherwise).
1.
Alcoholic Drinks.
2.
Sperm.
3.
Human Vomit.
4.
Blood of Human & Living Terrestrial Animals.
5.
The Body of a Dead Person.
6.
Urine and Defecation of Animals Whose Meat is Permissible to Eat.
7.
The Tanned Skin of a Dead Animal (Carcass).
8.
Pork.
What
are Physically Impure Things?
First: Confirmed Impurities (agreed upon by all scholars).
1.
Human Urine:
Based on an authentic Hadith(1) reported by Imam Bukhari and Muslim that
a Bedouin urinated in the Mosque (of the Prophet (S.A.W.)) and the Prophet
Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: “Leave him alone and do not make him interrupt his
urination.” After the Bedouin ended his urination, the Prophet (S.A.W.)
requested a bucket of water and poured it on the urine.
2. Human
Excrement: Based on an authentic Hadith reported by Imam Abu Da’ud that
the Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “If one of you steps on Al-Atha (excrement),
dirt will purify his shoes.”
3. Wadi:
Thick white secretion that might be discharged after urination. Based on an
authentic Hadith by Imam Abu Da’ud and Al-Baihaqi that Ibn Abbas in his
answer said: “In regards to Wadi and Mathi, you should wash your
private parts then make Wudu (ablution) for prayer.”
4. Mathi:
a white sticky (Prostatic) fluid (other than sperm or semen) that flows
(secretes) from the sexual organs (male and female) because of thinking about
sexual intercourse or foreplay that might not be noticed when it comes out, but
is noticed on the clothes or the body. Based on an authentic Hadith
reported by Imam Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet (S.A.W.) commanded Ali to
wash his private parts from Mathi then make Wudu (ablution) for
prayer.
5.
Menstrual
Blood: Based on an authentic Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and Muslim
that a woman asked the Prophet (S.A.W.) that if one of us (women) has menstrual
bloods on her clothes what should she do? The Prophet (S.A.W.) answered that
“She should scrape the blood, rub it with water, then wash that part of the
clothing, and then she may pray in it.”
6.
Defecation and
Urine of animals whose meat is not permissible to eat: Based on an authentic
Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and others on the authority of Abdullah Bin
Mass’oud, it was related that the Prophet (S.A.W.) went to answer the call of
nature. “He asked me to bring him three stones. I could not find three stones,
so I found two stones and a donkey’s defecation. He took the two stones and
threw away the defecation, and said: ‘It is Rijss (impure).’ ”
7.
Carcass of
terrestrial animals (i.e. those which do not live in water) that have running
blood when cut or killed (which does not apply, for example, to insects): Based
on an authentic Hadith reported by Imam Muslim and others the Prophet (S.A.W.)
said: “When the Ihab (skin of an animal which died by itself or was not
killed according to Islamic law) is tanned, it becomes purified.”
However,
Dead Sea
animals are pure based on an authentic Hadith reported by Imam At-Tirmithi,
An-Nasa’i and Abu Da’ud that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said about the sea that “its
water is purifying and its dead (animals) are permissible (to eat).”
As for the insects that do
not have running blood when cut or killed (example, flies or locusts), they are
also pure based on an authentic Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and
others that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said, “When a fly falls in the drink of one of
you, he should fully dip it and then throw it (the fly) away because there is
disease in one of its wings and cure in the other.” And also in a part of
another authentic Hadith reported by Imam Ahmad and Al-Baihaqi that the
Prophet (S.A.W.) said, “Two types of dead animals … have been made lawful for
us, the two types of dead animals are locusts and fish (sea animal)...”
Second: Controversial Impurities with the Stronger Opinion being Impure.
1.
Dog’s Saliva:
Based on an authentic Hadith reported by Imam Muslim that the prophet (S.A.W.)
said: “Tahour To purify (cleanse) the utensils belonging to one of you,
if it has been licked by a dog, wash it seven times, using soil the first time.”
The Prophet’s (S.A.W.) use of Tahour is evidence that the dog’s saliva is
Najiss (impure) because purifying is only needed when things are impure.
This opinion is adopted by the Hanafi Madh-habs (School of Islamic Law).
The Shafe’e and Hanbali Madh-hab are of the opinion that the entire dog
is Najiss (impure), not just its saliva. The Maliki Madh-hab
considers the entire dog Tahir (pure), and the cleansing of the utensils is
needed only to follow the commands of the Prophet (S.A.W.).
2.
Water
remaining after the Beasts have drunk from it: Based on an authentic Hadith
reported by Imam Abu Da’ud, At-Tirmithi, An-Nasa’i and Al-Haakim that the
Prophet (S.A.W.) replied to a person who asked him about the purity of the water
found in the open areas like ponds with the possibility of beasts drinking from
them. The prophet (S.A.W.) answered: “If the quantity of the water is two Quillah
(pots) or more, it does not carry any impurity.” This proves that the leftover
water of beasts is impure, because if it were pure the Prophet (S.A.W.) would
not have mentioned the minimum quantity of two pots or more as a condition for
it to be pure. This opinion is adopted by the Hanafi Madh-hab while the
other three Madh-habs consider the remaining water after the beasts have
drunk from it as being pure with no minimum required. Imam An-Nawawi said that
this opinion is based on three weak ahadith.
Third: Controversial Impurities with the Stronger Opinion being Pure (because
everything is pure unless clear-cut evidence states otherwise).
1.
Alcoholic Drinks: It is considered impure by the four Madh-habs based on the verse
of the Qur’an (Surah 5 (Al-Ma’idah), Verse 90) what can be translated as
“O you who believe! Surely Al-Khamer (alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansab(2), and Al-Azlam(3) are Rejss.” They said that Rejss
means Najiss, impure. Other scholars adopted the opposite opinion, like
the Tabe’e(4) Rabeea Al-Rae’e and after him Imam Al-Laith
Ibn Sa’ad and Ismail Bin Yahya Al-Muzni, also Imam Ash-Shawkani and As-Sana’ani.
These scholars interpret the word Rijss as Moral (Conceptual) Impurity.
2.
Sperm: Is
impure according to the opinion of Hanafi and Maleki Madh-hab. Pure
according to the Shafe’e and Hanbali Madh-hab and others, based on the
saying of Aeysha as reported by Imam Bukhari and Muslim: “I used to scrape it
(the sperm) off the garment of the Prophet (S.A.W.), and then he used to perform
prayer with it.” In another hadith reported by Imam Ad-Daraqatni, Bayhaqi
and At-Tahawi on the authority of Ibn-Abbas who said, “I asked the Prophet
Muhammad (S.A.W.) about Sperm on the clothes. He said: ‘It is the same as mucus
and spittle. It is sufficient to rub the area with a rag or cloth.’”
3.
Human Vomit:
Is impure according to the four Madh-habs(5). Pure according to the
opinion of Imam Ibn Hazm and Ash-Shawkani and others as there is no Quranic
verse or Hadith.
4.
Blood of Human
and Living Terrestrial Animals: Is impure according to the four Madh-habs(6). Pure according to the opinion of Imam Bukhari, Ibn Hazm and others as there
is no Quranic verse or Hadith. In addition, the companions of the Prophet
(S.A.W.) used to pray while their wounds were bleeding and the Prophet (S.A.W.)
knew about it. Also, it was reported by Imam Bukhari and Ahmad that a man from
Ansar(7) was praying at night when a disbeliever shot him with arrows
and he continued praying while he was vigoursily bleeding.
5.
The Body of a
Dead Person: Is impure according to the Hanafi Madh-hab. Pure according
to the opinion of the other three Madh-habs, based on the saying of the
Prophet (S.A.W.) that a Muslim does not become impure. In addition, everything
is pure unless clear-cut evidence suggests otherwise.
6.
Urine and
Defecation of Animals Whose Meat is Permissible to Eat: Is impure according to
the Hanafi Madh-hab and some Shafe’es. Pure according to the Madh-hab
of Malik, Ahmad and some Shafe’es. Imam Ibn Taymeah said that none of the
companions of the Prophet (S.A.W.) said that it is impure. In addition, they
also base it on the Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and Muslim that some
people from A’klen and Oreina (two Arab tribes) became sick and came to the
Prophet (S.A.W.) who told them to drink from the urine and milk of the female
camel.
7.
The Tanned
Skin of a Dead Animal (Carcass): Is impure according to the Maliki and Hanbali
Madh-habs. Pure according to the Hanafi and Shafe’e Madh-habs,
based on an authentic Hadith reported by Imam Muslim and others that the
Prophet (S.A.W.) said that when the skin of a dead animal is tanned, it becomes
purified.
8.
Pork: Is
impure according to the Hanafi, Shafe'e, and Hanbali Madh-habs based on the verse of Quran (Sura
6 (Al-An’am) Verse 145) which means “Say (O Muhammad (S.A.W.)) I do not find
that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who
wishes to eat it, unless it be a dead animal or blood poured forth or pork for
that surely is Rijss….”. These scholars said that the word Rijss
means Impure. Pure according to the opinion of Imam Malik, Imam Ibn Hazm, and others, who
said that this verse is evidence for prohibition of eating and not evidence for
proof of physical impurity.
How to Purify Things?
-
Purifying the body and clothes.
-
Purifying the clothes from the male infant’s urine.
-
Purifying the hem of a woman’s clothes from what may touch it from impurity on
the ground.
-
Purifying the bottom of shoes.
-
Purifying the ground.
-
Purifying the utensils if they were touched by a dog’s saliva.
-
Purifying mirrors and similar objects (as knives, glass and other smooth
surfaces that have no pores).
-
Purifying ghee (cooking butter) and other similar substances.
-
Purifying the skin of a dead animal (not slaughtered according to the Islamic
law).
How to Purify Things?
The
Scholars agreed that purification from impurities is performed by using water
based on a verse from Quran (Surah 25 (Al-Furqan), Verse 48) what can be
translated as, “… And We send down pure cleansing water from the sky”,
and on another verse (Surah 8( Al-Anfal), Verse 11) what can be translated as,
“… and He sends down on you from the sky water to purify you with it…”
And the
Scholars agreed that purification from urine and excrement is performed by
wiping with paper, stones or any similar pure material based on many authentic
narration of sayings and actions of the Prophet (S.A.W.), like an authentic
Hadith reported by Imam Abu Da’ud and An Nasa’I, “If any of you goes to
relieve himself, let him take three stones with him to clean himself, as it is
enough for him.”
It is
also allowed to use water for purification from urine and excrement based on an
authentic Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and Muslim that Anass Bin Malik
narrated: “Whenever Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W.) went to answer the call of
nature, I along with another boy used to accompany him with a tumbler full of
water for him to clean himself with.”
1.
Purifying
the body and clothes:
This is performed by washing them with water until they are cleansed of the
impurities. This is especially the case where the impurity is visible, such as
the menstrual blood. If there are some stains that remain after washing which
would be difficult to remove, they can be overlooked based on an authentic
Hadith reported by Imam Abu Da’ud and Baihaqi that a woman came to the
Prophet (S.A.W.) and said “O Messenger of Allah, I don’t have but one outfit and
I have my monthly period when I am wearing it, and sometimes I see blood on it.
What should I do?” The Prophet (S.A.W.) replied: “After the menstrual cycle is
over, wash the blood stained area and then you can pray with it.” The woman said
“O Messenger of Allah, what if the blood traces don’t come out?” He replied: “It
suffices for you to clean it with water, and the traces of blood will not harm
you.” If the impurity is not visible, such as urine, it is sufficient to wash it
once.
2.
Purifying the
clothes from the male infant’s
urine: This is performed by sprinkling water on it. The urine of a female
infant needs to be washed. This is based on an authentic Hadith reported
by Imam Bukhari, Abu Da’ud and An-Nasa’i that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said, “The
urine of a baby girl should be washed off and the urine of a baby boy should be
sprinkled (with water)”. This opinion is adopted by the scholars except by Imam
Malik.
3.
Purifying the
hem of a woman’s clothes from what may touch it of the impurity on the ground:
This is
performed by touching the pure ground after it. Based on an authentic Hadith
reported by Imam Abu Da’ud, At-Termithi and Ibn Majah that a woman asked Um
Salamah (the Prophet’s wife) “I am a woman who makes my clothes extra long and I
may walk on impure places.” Um Salamah replied that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said
“touching pure ground after it will purify it.”
4.
Purifying the
bottom of shoes:
This is performed by rubbing them against the ground as long as the remains of
the impurity (Najassah) are removed. Based on an authentic Hadith
reported by Imam Abu Da’ud that the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: “If any of
you step on impurities (Najassah) with his shoes, rubbing them against
the soil will purify it.” This opinion has been adopted by the scholars except
by Imam Ash-Shafe’e who requires that they should be washed with water.
5.
Purifying the
ground:
(a)
By pouring
water over it: Based on the Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and Muslim
that a Bedouin came and urinated in the Masjid of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.),
and he said to them: “Leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over his urine.
You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them hard.” This opinion
has been adopted by the scholars except by Imam Abu Hanifah who requires that in
case the ground is solid, it needs to be dug and the impure soil removed.
(b)
Drying of
the ground is its purification if the impurity is gone: Based on a Hadith
reported by Imam Bukhari that Ibn Umar said that “dogs used to urinate in the
Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) during his time and his companions did
not pour any water on it (i.e. let it dry by itself).” This opinion has been
adopted by the Hanafi Madh-hab contrary to the majority.
6.
Purifying
the utensils if they were touched by a dog’s saliva:
This is performed by washing them seven times with water, the first mixed with
soil. This is based on an authentic Hadith reported by Imam Muslim: “Tahour
to purify by cleaning utensils belonging to one of you. If it has been licked by
a dog, wash it seven times, using soil at the first time.”
7.
Purifying
mirrors and similar objects (as knives, glass and other smooth surfaces that
have no pores):
This is performed by wiping them and removing any impure remains.
8.
Purifying
ghee (cooking butter) and other similar substances:
This is performed by taking out the impurity and what is around it. Based on an
authentic Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.)
was asked regarding ghee in which a mouse had fallen. He said: “Take out the
mouse and throw away the ghee around it and use the rest”. As for a liquid
substance, there is some difference of opinion. The majority of scholars are of
the opinion that the entire liquid becomes impure. Imam Az-Zuhri, Al-Auza’i and
Al-Bukhari and some companions of the Prophet (S.A.W.) like Ibn-Abbas and
Ibn-Mas’ud say it is pure.
9.
Purifying
the skin of a dead animal (not slaughtered according to the Islamic law):
This is performed by tanning. Based on an authentic Hadith reported by
Imam Muslim that the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: “When the skin is tanned it
becomes purified.” This opinion has been adopted by Hanafi and Shafe’e
Madh-habs and not by Maliki and Hanbali Madh-habs. Imam Ash-Shawkani
supports and adopts the opinion of Ath-Thahiriah Madh-hab that tanning
purifies all kinds of animal skin, including dogs and pigs, because the
authentic ahadith do not differentiate between these two kinds of animals
and others. It is obvious that if an animal is permissible to eat and is
slaughtered according to the Islamic law, then it is already pure.
Sunan Al-Fitrah
The
State (Condition) That Allah (S.W.T.) Likes the Humans to Be In
1.
Circumcision.
2.
Shaving pubic
hair
3.
Pulling out
underarm hair.
4.
Clipping one’s
fingernails and toenails
5.
Trimming or
shaving his mustache.
6.
Letting the
beard grows and become thick.
7.
Using the
Siwak (a piece of a root of a tree called Al-Arak found in the region of Hejaz
in the Arabian Peninsula).
Sunan Al-Fitrah
The
State (Condition) That Allah (S.W.T.) Likes the Humans to Be In.
1.
Circumcision: is obligatory according to Shafei’s and Hanbali’s, based on a
fair Hadith reported by Imam Abu Da’ud and Al-Baihaqi that the Prophet Muhammad
(S.A.W.) had said to a man who converted to Islam: “Get rid of the Kufr hair and
circumcise.” It is only recommended according to Hanafi’s and Maleki’s, because
they consider the above-mentioned Hadith as weak. Imam Ash-Shawkani also favors
this opinion. They all base their opinion on an authentic Hadith reported by
Imam Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said that five acts
are considered from the (Sunan) Al-Fitrah and he mentioned circumcision as one
of them. Since this Hadith does not include any commands, it is proof that it
is a recommended act. The scholars who preferred it to be done on the seventh
day after birth based their opinion (according to Imam Ash-Shawkani) on two weak
Ahadith.
2/3.
Shaving pubic hair and pulling out underarm hair: These are two recommended
acts. If either hair is shaved, trimmed or pulled out, it will suffice. Based on
an authentic Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet
Muhammad (S.A.W.) said that five acts are considered from the (Sunan) Al-Fitrah
and he mentioned shaving the pubic hair and pulling out the underarm hair as two
of them. It is preferred that they are removed whenever they get long, not
exceeding forty days. In an authentic Hadith reported by Ahmad, Abu Da’ud and
others that Anass (R.A.A.) said: “The time period for us to trim the moustache,
cut the nails, pluck out the underarm hair and cut the pubic hair was forty
nights.”
4/5.
Clipping one’s fingernails and toenails, and trimming or shaving his mustache:
Based on an authentic Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and Muslim that the
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said that five acts are considered from the (Sunan)
Al-Fitrah and he mentioned clipping one’s fingernails and toenails, and trimming
or shaving his mustache as two of them. It is preferred that they are removed
whenever they get long, not exceeding forty days as reported in the Hadith by
Anass (R.A.A.) mentioned above in 2&3.
6.
Letting the beard grow and become thick: It’s prohibited to shave it according
to the opinion of the four scholars, because it is considered as changing
Allah’s creation of the male and imitation of the female. In many authentic
Ahadith, the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) ordered the believers to grow their
beards. Among this is a Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and Muslim that the
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: “Be different from the Mushrikin (idolaters) and
let your beards grow and trim your mustaches”. Imam Bukhari added “Ibn Umar (R.A.A.)
used to grab his beard with his full hand and trim any excess, after performing
Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) or Umrah (a visit to Makkah different from Hajj)”.
And the same act was done by Umar Ibn Al-Khattab and Abu Hurierah (R.A.A.)
during the life of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
7.
Using the Siwak (a piece of a root of a tree called Al-Arak found in the region
of Hejaz in the Arabian Peninsula): It is recommended whether the person is
fasting or not, based on many authentic Ahadith like the one reported by Imam
Bukhari and Imam Muslim that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “Had I not feared
burdening my Ummah (Muslims), I would have ordered them to use the Siwak before
every prayer.” In another narration reported by Imam Ahmad “… to use the Siwak
with every ablution.” The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) used the Siwak when he
entered his home and when he woke up for the Tahajjud (late night prayers). If
a Siwak is not available, it can be replaced with a toothbrush or any similar
object to clean one’s teeth. Continue Reading
(1) (Plural:
authentic Ahadith) The sayings, actions and approvals accurately narrated
from the Prophet (S.A.W.). Return to Text
(2) Al-Ansab
is plural of
An-Nusub . They were stone-altars at fixed places or graves, etc., whereon
sacrifices were slaughtered on certain occasions in the name of idols, jinns,
angels, pious men, saints, etc. in order to honor them, or to expect some
benefit from them. Return to Text
(3) Arrows for
seeking luck or decision. Return to Text
(4) The
generation that came after the Prophet’s (S.A.W.) companions. Return to Text
(5) Because
they assumed it mixes with impurities inside the body. Return to Text
(6) Because
they include them in the general prohibition of blood; and also because they
made an analogy with the impurity of menstrual blood. Return to Text
(7) Al-Ansar
are the natives of Madinah who accepted Islam and supported the Prophet
Muhammad (S.A.W.). Return to Text
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