PURIFICATION

Abu Sa’id Al-Khudry ask the Prophet, “can we make ablution from the well of Buda ‘ah (i.e., a well in Medina)?” the Prophet, upon whom be peace, told him, “water is pure and nothing makes it impure.”

This hadith is related by Ahmad, Ashad, Ash-Shafi’y Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’y and At-Tirmidhy, who classified it as Hasan. Ahmad said, “This hadith is sahih Yahya bin Ma’in and Muhammad bin Hazm classified it as such.”This is also the opinion of the Ibn ‘abuHurairah, Al-Hasan Al-Basry, Ibn Al-Musyyab, IKrimah, Ibn Abu Laila, Al-Thawry, DawudAzh- Zhahiry, Anakha’y, Malik and others. Says Al-Ghazaly, “I wish Ash- Shafi ‘y’s opinion was like Malik’s.”

There is a hadith from ‘Abullah bin ‘Umar in which the Messenger of Allah is reported to have said, “If there are at least two buckets of water, it will not carry any impurity. This hadith is related by the “five.”However, this hadith is uncertain both in text and chain of narrators. Ibn ‘Adul-Barr said in At-Tamhid, “As to the opinion of Ash-Shafi’y which is based on this hadith, it is weak on scrutiny and is not confirmed by historical reports.”

Leftover water

“Leftover water “is what remains in a pot after some has been drunk. These are five different types of leftover water.

Water leftover after people have drank from the pot

According to the shari’ah, such water is considered pure regardless of whether the one who drank from the pot was a Muslim, an unbeliever, a person in post-sex impurity or a menstruating woman.

Although Allah says in the Qur’an, ”Verily, the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and in the Message of Muhammad) are najasun (impure)” (At-Tawbah,9:28)

This is a reference not to their physical state, but to their false beliefs and creed. They may come into contact with dirt or impurities, but this does not mean that their possessions or bodies are delegations used to visit the Messenger of Allah and enter his mosque. The prophet, upon whom be peace, did not order that the objects they touched be cleansed. As for menstruating woman, Aisha said, “I used to drink (from a container) While I was menstruating. I would then pass it to the messenger of Allah and he would drink from the same spot where had put my lips.”(Recorded by Muslim.)

Water left in a container after an allowable animal has drunk from it

Such water is considered pure. Since the animal qualifies for consumption, its saliva is also pure. Abu Bakr bin Al-Mundhir said, the scholars are agreed that such water is permissible to drink or use for ablution.”

Water remaining in a pot after it has been drank by a donkey, mule, and beasts of birds of prey

Such water is also considered pure, based on the hadith of Jabir in which the Messenger of Allah was asked about making ablution with drinking water left by donkeys? The Prophet (peace be upon him) answered, “Yes and from drinking water left by any of the beasts of prey.” This hadith was related by Ash-Shafi’y, Ad-Daraqutny and Al-Baihaqy who said; when its different chains are put together they become strong. It has also been related from Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah went out at night while he was on a journey, He passed by a man who was siting by a pond. Said Umar, “Did a beast of prey drink four pond tonight?” The Messenger of Allah told him, “O owner of the pond, do not inform him. It is not necessary for him (the beast of prey) is what he carried in his stomach and for us is what he left ,waterbe to use for drinking and purifying.” This is related by Ad-Daraqutny. Yahya bin Sa’id reported that once  Umar was among a group that included Amr bin Al-As and, when they came upon a pond, Amr said; “O owner of the pond, have the beasts of prey discovered your pond?” Umar said; do not inform us, since the people drink after the wild beasts and the wild beasts after the people.” This is lamented by Malik in Al-Muwatta’.

Water left in a pot after a cat drunk from it

Such water is also considered pure. This is proven by the hadith of KabshahbintKa’b, when she was under the care of Abu Qutadah, entered the room to pour some water for him. A cat came, drank some of the water and Qatadah proceeded to tilt the container so the cat could drink more. Kabshah said; “He noticed that I was watching him.” He asked “Are you surprised, O niece?” I answered yes he said. The Messenger of Allah upon whom be peace, said it (the cat) is not impure. They intermingle with you.’”

Water left in a pot until a pig or dog has drank from it

Such water is considered impure and must be avoided. Al-Bukhary and Muslim have recorded on the authority of Abu Hurairah that the messenger of Allah said; “If a dog drinks from one of your containers, wash it seven times.” Ahmad and Muslim also have this addition, “Cleanse one of your containers if a dog licks it by washing it seven times, the first washing being with dirt .” as for the leftover water of a pig, it is clearly considered filth and impure.

Impurities

Najasha refers to impure substances that the Muslim must avoid and wash off if they should happen to contaminate his clothes, body and so on. Says Allah in Qur’an, “And your garments purify! And He says; “truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves (by taking a bath, cleaning and washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies for their prayers, etc.) “(AL-Baqarah, 2:222)

 The messenger of Allah also said,” Purity is half of the faith”.

TYPES OF IMPURITIES

DEAD ANIMALS

This refers to animals which die from “natural causes, “that is without the proper Islamic way of slaughtering. It also includes anything that is cut off of a live animal. Abu Waqid Al-Laithy reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said, “What is cut off of a live animal is considered dead,” i.e it is considered like an animal that has not been properly slaughtered. This is related by Abu Dawud and by At-Tirmidhy, who classifies it as hasan and says that the scholars act according to this hadith.

 To be continued.