Part 3

e Impure water is purified by it changing its characteristics naturally or by cleaning it or by adding enough pure water to it that the alteration is removed.

© If a Muslim is in doubt about whether some water is impure or pure, he acts on the basis of what was known for certainty: the general ruling for anything is that of purity [in other words, something is considered pure unless there is clear evidence demonstrating that it has been made impure].

e If one cannot differentiate liquid that is pure from that which is not, one leaves them both and performs tayammum,

e Ifa person is confused about garments, not knowing which is impure or forbidden from that which is pure, he bases his act on what he knows for certain and prays one prayer only [in that garment; in other words, he uses the garment he believes to be pure and prays once; he does not have to pray, change his clothing and then pray another prayer just to make sure that he prayed in a garment that was not impure or forbidden].

The word al-aaniyah (43!) is the plural of inaa (cil). Lexically, it is any container or utensil used for food or drink. The legal definition of the word is the same.

With respect to the composition of utensils, they can be divided into the following categories: (1) utensils made of gold or silver; (2) silver plated utensils; (3) gold plated utensils; (4) expensive utensils due to their material or way of being made; (5) leather utensils; (6) utensils made out of bone; and (7) any other type of utensils, such as those made of pottery or wood.

Every container or utensil made ofa pure substance, costly or not costly, is permissible to be owned and used except for that made from gold or silver or plated with either of them. Hudhaifah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

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“Do not drink from a_ gold or silver container and do not eat from such plates for they are for them [the disbelievers] in this world and for us [the believers] in the Hereafter.” (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

What is forbidden to use is also forbidden to possess in a form that is to be used, like possessing musical instruments which is also forbidden.

Note that the above prohibition applies to both men and women due to the generality of the text.

Nothing is to be considered impure simply based on conjecture until one is certain that it is impure. That is, the basic or general ruling is that of purity.

This includes the utensils of the People of the Book [Jews and Christians] and the utensils of the polytheists. The ruling concerning these utensils is that they are permissible for use as long as one is not certain that they are impure. This is because the general ruling is that of purity.

e The clothing of non-Muslims is considered pure as long as one is not certain that they contain some impurity.

e The skin of a dead animal from the types of animals that one is normally allowed to eat is purified by tanning.

e What is cut off from a live animal [meaning, flesh or bones] is considered impure like carrion. However, the wool, feathers, hairs and fur are considered pure even if taken from a live animal.

e It is recommended (sunnah) to cover the containers and drinking utensils and to close the mouths of waterskins. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

o oe ter i ote ~ ne Aer ee ° ab pal Sly GeU] “Ade y all Gal S31) Glee A o,- , fogo a lage dele owt yl “Tie and close the mouths of the water containers and mention the name of Allah [over them]. Cover your containers, even if just with a piece of wood, and mention

the name of Allah [over them].” (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

Lexically, impurities or al-najaasah (4\on3!) means something filthy. Something becomes impure when it is tarnished by something filthy.

In the terminology of Islamic law, impurity refers to a specific amount of particular substances, such as urine, blood and alcohol, whose presence prohibits one from being able to perform the prayer.

There are two types of impurities. One is something that is impure due to its essence and the second is impure with respect to its ruling. The first category includes those articles that are impure in and of themselves such that they cannot be made pure, such as dogs and pigs. The second category covers those things that are impure due to an impure substance coming upon something otherwise pure.

Impurities can be divided into three categories: (1) those substances concerning which there is agreement that they are impure; (2) those substances concerning which there is a disagreement that they are impure; and (3) those substances that are pardoned or overlooked by Islamic law.

(1) Carrion of all land animals [except for locusts]. Dead sea animals are considered pure and permissible to eat.

(2) Blood that has been poured forth, that is, the blood that pours forth from a land animal when it is slaughtered.

(3) Pig flesh [and other parts of the pig].

(7) Al-wadi [an uncommon white substance that flows from the male private part due to a medical condition].

(8) Meat from an animal that one is not allowed to consume.

(9) [Flesh or bones] cut off from a live animal. For example, if one were to cut off the foreleg of a live sheep, that foreleg would be considered impure.

(12) Blood from a prolonged flow from the woman’s private part.

[(13) Al-madhi or prostatic fluid which is a fluid that flows out of the sexual parts due to sexual stimulation.!]

(1) The urine of an animal that one is permitted to eat.

(2) The feces of an animal that one is permitted to eat.

(6) Dead animals that do not have flowing blood, such as ants, cockroaches, fleas and so forth.

(3) Pus from a human or from an animal one is permitted to eat.

' This point was not mentioned in the original text but it is something that is agreed upon—JZ

Impurities are purified [or removed] by washing, moistening, scrubbing or wiping, as follows:

The purification of clothing having impurities: If the impurity has some body or weight to it, it is to be rubbed and scraped off and then washed. Ifthe impurity is wet or moist, then it is to be washed.

The urine of a weaning boy who does not yet eat solid foods needs simply to be moistened.

Impurities on the ground are to be physically removed and then water is poured over any liquid impurity.

Shoes are made pure by rubbing them or walking over pure areas,

Finished or polished items, such as glass, knives, tiles and similar items are cleaned by wiping them.

If a dog licks into a bowl, the bowl is to be washed seven times, one of them being with dirt.

Topic Four: Etiquette and Cleaning Oneself After Relieving Oneself

The word al-istinjaa (¢\~Y\) means to remove the remains of one’s feces or urine with water. The word alistiimaar ()\eo:—~Y|) means to remove the remains of one’s feces or urine with rocks, paper or something of that nature.

It is recommended for the person to enter the bathroom with his left foot first and to say,

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“In the name of Allah. I seek refuge in Allah from the male and female devils.”

Upon leaving the bathroom, it is recommended to step out with the right foot first and to say,

ples oS 2 Caf cil al) Mod sige “(I seek] Your forgiveness. All praise be to Allah who removed from me what is harmful and made me healthy.”

It is recommended for the one who is relieving himself to lean on his left leg [meaning the left thigh]. It is also recommended for him to be out of the sight of the people and to conceal himself. For urination, he should choose a place that would prevent his urine from getting on to his clothing.

It is disliked to enter the bathroom with anything containing the name of Allah, unless there is some strong need to do so. One should also avoid raising one’s clothing before getting close to the ground. One should also avoid speaking in the bathroom. He should also avoid touching his private part with his right hand or cleaning it with his right hand.

It is forbidden to face or have one’s back toward the qiblah [the direction in which one prays] while relieving oneself in open lands. If one is in a building, it is permissible, although even then it is best to avoid it.

It is forbidden to urinate or defecate in the roadways, useful areas of shade, under a fruit-producing tree and similar other locations [in other words, any place that will bring harm or discomfort to others].

One should clean oneself with a clean rock, wiping oneself three times, if that totally cleans the person. If that does not clean the person, he should wipe himself more. It is recommended to make it an odd number of times, three, five and so forth.

It is forbidden to clean oneself with bones, dung, food or anything respectable. It is allowed to remove the remains

with water, napkins or paper. To combine both water and rocks is better than to use water alone.

It is obligatory to wash with water the parts of one’s clothing that have impurities on them. If one is not sure exactly where such places are, he is to wash the entire garment. It is from the sunnah for a man to urinate sitting. It is not disliked for him to do so standing given that he can keep himself free from any impurities landing on him.

Toplc Five: The Acts Corresponding to the Nature of Humans (Sunan al-Fitra

In essence, these are the acts that are consistent with the natural and original way that humans were fashioned to be. Hence, they are the acts that a human should fulfill in his life.

(1) Using the toothstick [or toothbrush]: It is recommend to use this at any time, as it is purifying for the mouth and pleasing to the Lord. However, it is even more emphasized while making abilution for prayer, before reading the Quran, upon entering the mosque or house, when rising from one’s sleep and whenever one’s breath has changed its smell.

(2) Shaving the pubic hairs, plucking the underarm hairs, trimming the [finger and toe] nails and washing the finger joints and knuckles.

(3) Trimming the moustache and allowing the beard to grow full and big.

(4) Treating the hair on one’s head properly by oiling and combing it. It is disliked to shave part of the head while leaving the rest unshaved. This is considered a type of mutilation.

(5) Dyeing the gray hairs with henna or katam [a type of herb used in dyeing hair].

(7) Getting circumcised: This is the cutting off of the foreskin of the male organ so that filth and urine cannot build up there. With respect to the female, it is the cutting off of the tip of the clitoris, which looks like a seed. [It is not the same as what is known as “female genital mutilation,” which implies the removal of the entire clitoris and which is forbidden.] It is known to those who specialize in this field. Circumcision is an act of purification and cleanliness. It has many advantages to it. It is a recommended act for males and a noble act for females.

Ablution is the use of purifying water [in washing] the four extremities [and the head] in the manner particularly prescribed by the Law.

The virtues of wudu are indicated in the hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) which states,

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“None of you makes ablution and completes the ablution fully and then says, ‘I bear witness that none is worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His messenger,’ except that opened for him will be the eight gates of Paradise and he enters from any of them he wishes.” (Recorded by Muslim.)

Completing the washing fully of the extremities, without extravagance, entitles one to be among al-ghurr almuhajjaloon on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

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“My nation will be called on the Day of Resurrection by the name ghurr muhajjileen [implying that the parts of the body will be glittering or radiant] due to the traces of ablution.