Types of Purification
Types of Purification (Anwāʿ al-Ṭahārah)
Purification is divided into two types:
- Purification for removing najāsah (physical impurity)
- Purification for removing ḥadath (ritual impurity)
Purification from Najāsah (Physical Impurity)
Definition of Najāsah
- Linguistically: anything that is dirty or filthy
- In Islamic law: anything whose presence invalidates prayer
such as urine, blood, and similar substances
Things That Are Considered Najāsah
1. Intoxicants and Everything That Causes Intoxication
Allah says:
“Indeed, intoxicants, gambling, stone altars, and divining arrows
are filth from the work of Satan.”
(Qur’an, Al-Mā’idah 5:90)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Every intoxicant is wine, and every wine is prohibited.”
2. Dogs and Pigs
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The purification of the vessel of one of you,
when a dog licks it,
is to wash it seven times, one of them with earth.”
3. Dead Animals (Carrion)
This refers to animals that die without proper Islamic slaughter.
Allah says:
“Carrion has been forbidden to you.”
(Qur’an, Al-Mā’idah 5:3)
Carrion is najis, including animals slaughtered while invoking a name other than Allah.
Exceptions: Dead Things That Are Not Najāsah
There are three exceptions:
1) The Human Body
Allah says:
“Indeed, We have honored the children of Adam.”
(Qur’an, Al-Isrā’ 17:70)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“A Muslim is not impure,
neither when alive nor after death.”
2) Fish and Locusts
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Two dead things and two kinds of blood
have been made lawful for us.
The two dead things are fish and locusts,
and the two kinds of blood are the liver and the spleen.”
3) Flowing Blood
Allah says:
“Or flowing blood.”
(Qur’an, Al-Anʿām 6:145)
Flowing blood is najis,
while blood that is exempted includes the liver and spleen.
4. Urine and Feces
Urine and feces of humans and animals are najis.
A Bedouin once urinated in the mosque,
and the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Pour a bucket of water over it.”
5. Parts Cut from a Living Animal
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whatever is cut from an animal while it is alive
is considered carrion.”
Exception:
Hair, fur, and wool from animals that are lawful to eat are pure.
Allah says:
“And from their wool, fur, and hair,
He made furnishings and provision for a time.”
(Qur’an, An-Naḥl 16:80)
Najāsah ʿAyniyyah and Najāsah Ḥukmiyyah
- Najāsah ʿAyniyyah (visible impurity)
Impurity that can be seen or clearly identified
such as urine, feces, or blood - Najāsah Ḥukmiyyah (invisible impurity)
Impurity whose traces have dried and are no longer visible
such as dried urine on clothing
Levels of Najāsah
There are three levels:
- Severe (Mughallaẓah)
- Light (Mukhaffafah)
- Moderate (Mutawassiṭah)
Methods of Removing Najāsah
1. Severe Impurity
Includes dogs and pigs
Must be washed seven times, one time with water mixed with earth
2. Light Impurity
Includes urine of a male infant
who has not consumed food other than milk
Purified by sprinkling water over the affected area
3. Moderate Impurity
Includes general impurities such as
urine, feces, and blood
Must be washed until color, smell, and taste disappear
Purifying the Skin of Dead Animals
(Except Dogs and Pigs)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When a hide is tanned, it becomes pure.”
Tanning means removing grease, moisture, and odor from the skin,
and it must then be washed with clean water.
Impurities That Are Excused by Islamic Law
Islam is a religion of ease,
therefore certain impurities are excused, such as:
- Small splashes of urine that are not visible
- Small amounts of blood, pus, or yellow discharge
- Blood from wounds that occur naturally
- Small traces of animal or fish droppings
- Fish droppings in water
- Small amounts of blood on clothing during slaughter
- Blood remaining in meat
- A baby’s mouth soiled from vomiting or regurgitation
- Mud and dirt from the road
- Dead animals without flowing blood
such as flies, bees, and ants,
provided they fall into liquid on their own
and do not change its properties
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If a fly falls into the vessel of one of you,
immerse it completely, then remove it,
for one wing carries disease and the other carries a cure.”