Purification (Taharah)

Purification (taharah) is the foundational chapter of Islamic jurisprudence. Allah Most High says: "Truly, Allah loves those who constantly repent and loves those who purify themselves" (al-Baqarah 2:222). The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Cleanliness is half of faith" (Muslim). Without valid purification, the prayer and certain other acts of worship are not accepted, making this chapter the gateway to all that follows.

Taharah has two major dimensions: removing ritual impurity (hadath) and removing physical impurity (najasah). Hadath is a legal state affecting the body that prevents certain acts of worship; it is removed by wudu, ghusl, or tayammum depending on its type. Najasah refers to physically impure substances that must be washed from the body, clothing, or place of prayer.

Types of Water: Jurists classify water into categories relevant to purification. Pure and purifying water (tahir mutahhir) is water that has remained in its natural state — water from rain, rivers, wells, seas, and snow. This water may be used for wudu and ghusl without restriction. Water that has been used in an act of purification (musta'mal) is considered by most Hanbali scholars to be pure but no longer purifying, though some scholars hold it remains fully purifying. Water that has been mixed with a pure substance to the extent that it changes one of its three qualities — colour, taste, or smell — loses its purifying capacity if the change is significant. Water mixed with an impure substance (najis) is impure and may not be used for purification if the impurity has altered any of its qualities, or, in the view of the Hanbali school, if the water is less than two qullahs (approximately 190 litres) and has come into contact with najasah.

Removing Najasah: Impure substances must be removed from the body, clothing, and place of prayer before prayer is valid. Most impurities are removed by washing with water until the substance and its trace are gone. Dog saliva requires seven washes, the first of which is with soil mixed with water. Urine of a nursing infant boy who has not yet eaten solid food may be purified by sprinkling water over the area without washing. The ground is purified from liquid najasah by pouring water over it until it is absorbed. If a solid najasah dries and disappears leaving no trace, scholars differ, but the Hanbali position is that water must still be applied.