Removing impurities and impure objects (1)

Sheikh `Abdur-Rahman As-Sa`d (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said in his book "Manhaj As-Salikin": [It is enough to remove all impurities off the body, garment, the spot, or something else until its trace is removed because the Lawgiver did not stipulate in all impurities fixed times of washing except in the impurity of a dog for which He stipulated seven times of washing, one of which should be with soil as was reported in the Hadith that was reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

Explanation:

The definition of impurity:

Linguistically, impurity means filth and dirt which is the opposite of cleanliness.

Idiomatically, it is the name given to objects which the Shari`ah considered as impure.

Impurity is divided into two types: Either tangible or intangible. Here, we shall speak about intangible impurity which falls on impure object turning it impure such as urine when it falls on a garment. As for the tangible is the impure object when another impure object falls on it, in this case you cannot clean it even if you clean it with the entire seawater such as a donkey's dung which cannot be cleaned. Most impurities that fall on the body, a garment, in a vessel, on the floor, or on the bed can be removed by removing the impure object. When the impure object is removed, the place becomes pure whether it was removed by one-time wash, two, or more without fixing certain times of washing because no fixed number had been mentioned in removing impurity except the impurity of a dog which will come later by the permission of Allah.

The proof to that is the Hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) about the story of the bedouin who urinated in the masjid. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "And pour a bucket[1] or a tumbler (full)[2] of water."[3] and did not command people to do something else.

The impurity of a dog is washed seven times, the first of which should be with dust.

The proof to that is the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "If a dog licks [4][4] the vessel of any one of you, let him wash it seven times, the first of which should be with dust."[5]

A benefit: It was reported in Sahih Muslim from the Hadith of `Abdullah ibn Al Mughaffal (may Allah be pleased with him): "And rub it with mud the eighth time."[6]

Ibn Hajar said in Fathul-Bary: And the narration of "the first of which" is more correct in terms of repetition and memorization because washing it with dust needs another wash to clean it.[7]

It is not proper to use potash, lute tree, or other detergents instead of dust because the exact words of the Prophet is dust despite the presence of potash and lute tree at his time without making it a replacement and because dust has a substance that kills germs which come out from the dog's mouth as doctors decided.

However, if a dog urinates or excretes, it will be like other impurities which must be washed for removing the impurity without fixing a certain time for washing; this is the correct opinion of scholars.

Sheikh `Abdur-Rahman As-Sa`dy (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said in his book "Manhaj As-Salikin": [Impure objects are: The human urine, excrement, and blood nevertheless if the amount of blood is small, it will be overlooked. Likewise is blood that comes out of a slaughtered animal unlike the blood which exists in meat and veins for it is pure. Also, of impure objects are the urine and dung of inedible animals. All beasts of prey are impure as well as dead animals except a human dead body and things that have no liquid soul such as fishes and grasshopper because they are pure. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maytatah (the dead animals - cattle-beast not slaughtered), blood...etc." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 3]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A true believer is not impure alive and lifelessly." He also said: "There are two dead things and two kinds of blood are lawful to us: As for the dead things, they are: whales and grasshoppers. As for the two types of blood, they are the liver and the spleen." [Reported by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Majah]].

Explanation:

Impure objects which the author mentioned are the following:

1- The urnie and excrement of a human [8] whether he is young or old because they are tangible impurities. Urine and excrement because they are deemed to be impure and ugly, from which people shun, so when they fall on a garment or something else, they should be washed until their traces are removed.

2- Human blood which the author mentioned among impurities except the small amount which is overlooked because Imam Ahmad (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) reported consensus on the impurity of blood, Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) reported it on his authority.[9]

The more correct opinion, and Allah knows best, is: As long as human blood does not come out of private parts, it is deemed to be pure, and this is the view of the author in the book of Al Ikhtiyarat, and Ash-Shawkany and Sheikh Ibn `Uthaymain (may Allah show mercy to them all) approved this view.

The proof to that is as follows:

A- The Hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) in the story of the man who participated in the battle of Dhat-ur-Riqa` (the Campaign of Rags) and despite his bleeding, he kneeled down and prostrated during Salah, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not command him to repeat Salah.[10]

The Hadith was reported by Abu Dawud and Ibn Khuzaymah.

B- When `Umar ibn Al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was stabbed, he offered Salah while his wound was bleeding intensively as Malik (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) reported.[11]

C- Al Hasan said: Muslims used to offer Salah while their wounds were bleeding. Reported by Al Bukhari (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul).[12]

D- The origin of all things is purity until there is an evidence to prove otherwise, and this is a matter happens to most people, and we do not know that the Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded his Companions to wash blood when it comes out from any spot except private parts.

If a Muslim exerts some efforts and removes blood, it will be better because of the state of consensus which Imam Ahmad reported, and to end up disagreement.

3- Spilled blood: It is blood which flows from animals after slaughtering, for it is impure blood. As for blood which remains in veins, it is not spilled blood, therefore it is overlooked.

The proof to that is Allah's Saying  (may He be Exalted): "Or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork, etc.) for that surely is impure." [Surat Al An`am: 145].

4- The urine and dung of every inedible animal such as dogs, cats, donkeys, and others.

5- Beasts of the prey are all impure such as wolves, lions, and others.

The proof to that is the Hadith of Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) about the purity of a cat, he said: "It is pure, for it is one of those (males or females) who go round among you."[13]

The Hadith indicates the impurity of animals unless they go around people in streets and assemblies, as it is difficult to avoid their impurity. Mules and donkeys are pure as well like cats because they go around people's streets and assemblies, so it is difficult to avoid their impurity; moreover, the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to ride them a lot.

6- Dead animals: When an ewe dies by itself without slaughtering, it will be forbidden and impure.

The proof to that is Allah's Saying: "Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maytatah (the dead animals - cattle-beast not slaughtered), blood...etc." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 3].

                                         

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[1] Dhanub which was mentioned in the Hadith means a big bucket. It was said: Buckets are not called Dhanub unless they are filled with water.

[2] As-Sajl [i.e., tumbler] which was mentioned in the Hadith means a bucket that is filled with water.

[3] Reported by Al Bukhari No. (6128). Reported by Muslim No. (284

[4] Walagha [licks] which was mentioned in the Hadith means inserting its tongue in water and moving it even if it does not drink therefrom.

[5] Reported by Al Bukhari No. (172). Reported by Muslim No. (279).

[6] Reported by Muslim (280).

[7] The meaning of majority is most narrators and the meaning of memorization is their strong memorization and perfection.

[8] The writer of Lisan Al `Arab said: The meaning of Al-`Udhrah is human excrement.

[9] Sharh Al `Umdah (1/105).

[10]Reported by Abu Dawud No. (198) and Ibn Khuzaymah No. (36).

[11] Reported by Malik No. (82).

[12]Al Bukhari mentioned the Hadith in his introduction of chapter on the view of those who do not entail ablution except when blood comes out from private parts.

[13]Reported by At-Tirmidhy and he graded it as authentic No. (92).