Fatwa ID: 07842
Written by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat
Question:
My brother has been struggling with purity. I have laid out a couple of scenarios.
1. Over the past few months, he told me he has been putting his Najis clothes (e.g. with urine) in the washing machine with our pure clothes. He is concerned that all our clothes are now najis as they were mixed in with the impure clothes. Are all these clothes now najis? He is saying we must buy everything new. If not, how do I explain this to him? He has read many books of Fiqh and done a lot of research on this and says he has made up his mind about this.
He says that he has googled and researched how washing machines work and doesn’t believe a washing machine was sufficient to clean the impurity. We have since washed our clothes many times.
2. My brother was sick a few weeks ago and vomited. He says that his mouth is now Najis as this got stuck in his braces when he used a plate, or spoon, drooled on the bed when sleeping or accidentally spit on a surface at that time that surface is now Najis. Since then we have cleaned our surfaces as part of regular cleaning but he said this only spread the Najis around.
Please advise, he is very distressed and we don’t know how to explain to him or calm him down.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
I understand your brother’s concern with the conditions of purity, and though it is admirable, you should console your brother that Islam is an easy religion and Allah will not burden a soul more than it can bear (surah Baqarah:286)
The ahadith are filled with affirmations in stating that Islam is an easy religion.
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
“The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Indeed, this religion is easy, and no one will ever overburden himself in religion, except that it will overcome him. So, seek what is appropriate, and come as close as you can, and receive the glad tidings (that you will be rewarded), and take it easy, and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, afternoons, and during the last hours of the nights. (Sunan an-Nasa’i 5034)
In the Hanafi school, if Najis (impure) clothes are washed with pure clothes in a washing machine and the impurity is removed (washed away), all clothes become pure.
The water must flow over the impurity and remove it.
Detergents and clean water cycles in modern washing machines are typically sufficient for this.
Scholars have explained that washing machines function in a way that meets the criteria for purification:
The impure water is drained, and freshwater is used during the rinse cycle.
The soap/detergent enhances the cleaning process. Thus, once the clothes are washed and no traces of impurity (colour, smell, or taste) remain, they are considered pure.
With regards to the vomiting- Vomit is considered Najis only if it is a mouthful (so large that it cannot be held back). It contains solid food remnants or impurities from within the stomach.
Small amounts of vomit or saliva mixed with vomit are overlooked in Hanafi Fiqh.
Impurity on Surfaces and Braces: If the vomit left traces on the braces, mouth, or surfaces, they can be purified with water. Once cleaned, these areas are no longer impure. Regular cleaning of surfaces is sufficient. Impurity does not “spread” if it is cleaned, and secondary contact does not transfer najasah unless there are visible traces
Therefore, to summarise, Islam emphasises ease and practicality in worship. The concept of istihsan (juridical preference) in Hanafi Fiqh allows for leniency to prevent hardship in such cases.
Encourage him to trust the rulings of scholars and the effectiveness of modern cleaning methods.
Reassure him that Allah does not require extreme or excessive efforts to achieve purity.
If his distress persists, gently suggest he consult a therapist familiar with OCD-related waswasah.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ نَافِعٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مَعْنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ هَذَا الدِّينَ يُسْرٌ وَلَنْ يُشَادَّ الدِّينَ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا غَلَبَهُ فَسَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا وَيَسِّرُوا وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالْغَدْوَةِ وَالرَّوْحَةِ وَشَيْءٍ مِنْ الدَّلْجَةِ
لكن لو أصابت النجاسة ثوباً أو محلاً فإنه يطهر بالغسل مرات مختلفة حسب انفصاله عن المحل بعد الغسلة الأولى أو الثانية.
ص68 – كتاب فقه العبادات على المذهب الحنفي – الباب الثامن الطهارة من النجاسات الحقيقية – المكتبة الشاملة
https://shamela.ws/book/11446/13
لْخُرُوجِ مُتَيَقَّنٌ فَمِنْ أَيْنَ حُكِمَ بِالِانْتِقَاضِ وَفِي الصُّورَةِ الَّتِي يَكُونُ الْقَيْءُ أَقَلَّ مِنْ مِلْءِ الْفَمِ وَلَكِنْ خَرَجَ مِنْ الْفَمِ الْخُرُوجُ مُتَيَقَّنٌ فَالْقَوْلُ بِعَدَمِ الِانْتِقَاضِ نَقْضٌ لِلْعِلَّةِ قَوْلٌ مَبْنَاهُ جَعْلُ ضَمِيرِ لِأَنَّهُ رَاجِعًا إلَى الْقَيْءِ وَلَيْسَ كَذَلِكَ بَلْ هُوَ رَاجِعٌ إلَى النَّجَسِ وَقَوْلُهُ لِأَنَّهُ. . . إلَخْ.
https://shamela.ws/book/11446/13
ص14 – كتاب درر الحكام شرح غرر الأحكام – نواقض الوضوء – المكتبة الشاملة
(، وَالْبَلْغَمُ لَا يَنْقُضُ مُطْلَقًا) أَيْ سَوَاءٌ نَزَلَ مِنْ الرَّأْسِ أَوْ صَعِدَ مِنْ الْجَوْفِ وَسَوَاءٌ كَانَ مِلْءَ الْفَمِ أَوْ لَا لِأَنَّهُ لِلُزُوجَتِهِ لَا تُدَاخِلُهُ النَّجَاسَةُ (إلَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي يُوسُفَ فِي صَاعِدٍ مَلَأَهُ) أَيْ الْفَمَ لِتَنَجُّسِهِ بِالْمُجَاوَرَةِ (وَإِنْ اخْتَلَطَ) الْبَلْغَمُ (بِالطَّعَامِ اُعْتُبِرَ الْغَالِبُ) فَإِنْ غَلَبَ الطَّعَامُ وَمَلَأَ الْفَمَ نَقَضَ وَإِنْ غَلَبَ الْبَلْغَمُ لَا يَنْقُضُ إلَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي يُوسُفَ إذَا مَلَأَ الْفَمَ.
https://shamela.ws/book/11446/13
