Fatwa ID: 07397

 

 

Answered by: Maulana Ubaidur Rahman

 

Question:

 

I am trying to learn more about Islamic purity and when things are considered unclean. I have a more specific question right now.

 

1) When does impurity transfer occur if someone touches a wet and impure shirt with hands that are already wet with water? Is the transfer determined solely by the visible presence of the impurity on the hand?

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

It is narrated regarding the Messenger of Allah (PBUH):

 

قَالَ سَمِعْتُ حُمْرَانَ بْنَ أَبَانَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ أَضَعُ لِعُثْمَانَ طَهُورَهُ فَمَا أَتَى عَلَيْهِ يَوْمٌ إِلاَّ وَهُوَ يُفِيضُ عَلَيْهِ نُطْفَةً ‏.‏ وَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ حَدَّثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عِنْدَ انْصِرَافِنَا مِنْ صَلاَتِنَا هَذِهِ – قَالَ مِسْعَرٌ أُرَاهَا الْعَصْرَ – فَقَالَ ‏“‏ مَا أَدْرِي أُحَدِّثُكُمْ بِشَىْءٍ أَوْ أَسْكُتُ ‏“‏ ‏.‏ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنْ كَانَ خَيْرًا فَحَدِّثْنَا وَإِنْ كَانَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَاللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏“‏ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَتَطَهَّرُ فَيُتِمُّ الطُّهُورَ الَّذِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَيُصَلِّي هَذِهِ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسَ إِلاَّ كَانَتْ كَفَّارَاتٍ لِمَا بَيْنَهَا¹

 

 

Humran bin Aaban reported:

I used to fetch water for ‘Uthman for his purification. Never was there a day that he did not take a bath with a small quantity of water. Uthman said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at the time of our returning from our prayer told us (certain things pertaining to purification). Mis’ar said: I find that it was afternoon prayer. He said: I do not know whether I should tell you a thing or keep quiet. We said: Messenger of Allah, tell us if it is good and if it is otherwise, Allah and His Apostle know better. Upon this he said: A Muslim who purifies (himself) and completes purification as enjoined upon him by Allah and then offers the prayers, that will be expiation (of his sins he committed) between these (prayers).

 

The presence of impure things can transfer across surfaces and materials if the means by which they can travel or transfer are present. This can be in cases such as from a wet surface to a dry surface, because the wet surface carries on its effect on to the dry surface. If one surface is already wet, like the hands in this question, then the impurity will transfer from one wet surface to the hands as the water and wetness is a carrier of the impurity.

 

The transfer is determined by the effect of impurity being carried across from surface to surface which is not always visible. The impure surface will only need to carry across its colour, taste or smell in order for the transfer of impurity.

 

 

²Badaai us Sanaai, Page 71, Volume 1, Maktabatus Shaamila.

 

³Badaai us Sanaai, Page 87, Volume 1, Maktabatus Shaamila.

 

⁴Al Mawssooatul Fiqhiyya, Page 10, Volume 1, Maktabatus Shaamila.

 

 

 

 

 

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Ubaidur Rahman.

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah.

Darul Ifta Birmingham.