Fundamentals of Purity and PrayerLecture 7March 9, 2014

Purification from Impurities

Light and Heavy ImpuritiesPhysical impurities fall into 2 categories: light and heavy• Light impurity:• Urine of halal animals• Droppings of predatory birds (eagle, falcon, hawk, etc.)

• Droppings of non-predatory birds that fly (sparrow, pigeon, dove, etc.) are pure

• Droppings of non-predatory birds that do not fly (ducks, chickens, geese, turkeys and hens ) are considered heavy impurities

• Heavy impurity:• Alcohol• Pig (all its parts and derivatives)• Saliva of dogs and predatory animals• Urine of humans (and babies) and all haram animals• Feces of all animals and humans• Those substances which cause wudu to break (i.e. blood that has

flowed, puss, vomit, sperm, etc.)

Effect of Impurities

• Liquid heavy impurity which is equal to the size of a dirham (about 5 cm) or more must be removed before praying• Solid heavy impurity which is equal to the weight of a

dirham (about 3.5 g) or more must be removed before praying• Light impurity which soils ¼ or more of something must

be removed before praying

• Prayer will not be considered valid with amounts equal to or greater than any of these impurities

Means of Purification• Washing with water• If an impurity comes onto an absorbent material (fabric, carpet,

etc.), that area must be washed such that no trace remains• If impurity cannot be seen, should be washed and wrung 3

times under running water• If object cannot be wrung, pour water over it 3 times

• Rubbing off• If an impurity with thickness (feces, blood, etc.) falls onto a

semi-porous article (leather or human skin), the impurity can be rubbed off without water until no trace remains

• Thickness: that which remains and can be seen on outer surface after drying

• If impurity is liquid, must be washed off

Means of Purification• Wiping off• Impurity on a non-porous item (glass, metal, ceramic, etc.) can

simply be wiped away until no trace remains• Removal • If any impurity falls into a semi-solid (butter, dough, honey), the

affected area should be removed and separated• Molecular change• If an impurity undergoes a total molecular change (i.e. wine to

vinegar), it becomes pure• Drying up• The ground or natural earth can be purified by drying as long as

no trace remains• Cannot be used for tayammum

Means of Purification• Tanning• The hides of all animals, except pig, will become pure through the

process of tanning

Istinja

Istinja

• Istinja refers to cleansing those areas of the body that become physically impure after relieving oneself• Istinja can be performed with anything pure,

able to remove impurity, and not valued or respected• One should use only left hand of istinja• Makruh tahrim to face or have one’s back toward

Qiblah during istinja

Istinja

Urination• After one has urinated they should ensure all drops of urine

have passed• Clean area with toilet paper, water or both (optimal)• If urine does not spread past the exit hole• Istinja will be sunnah muakkadah

• Doubt about urine drops should be ignored• Unless proof to contrary

Defecation• If impurity does not spread past the exit hole• Istinja with toilet paper is sunnah makkadah

• If spreads beyond exit hole• Istinja with water is necessary

Chronic Excuse

Chronic Excuse• For a person with a chronic excuse toward maintaining purity

(i.e. continuous bleeding, constant gas, urinary incontinence, etc.)• The person would perform a wudu at the beginning of each

prayer time, and would be considered to have maintained purity throughout that time

• Conditions:• The excuse must continue for the duration of an entire prayer

time, such that a person is unable to make wudu and pray without the act which would normally nullify wudu occurring

• Would extend to each prayer time in which the excuse occurs• Once an entire prayer time passes without the excuse occurring,

the person will be no longer considered excused

Questions?