Purification in Islam

 

Purification in Islam: The Importance of Thaharah and the Purity of Water

Introduction

Purification (thaharah) is one of the most essential aspects of Islam, especially before performing acts of worship such as prayer (shalat). Allah commands believers to purify themselves before praying, as stated in the Quran:

"O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows and wipe your heads and [wash] your feet…." (Surah Al-Maa’idah [5]: 6)

From this verse, we understand that cleanliness is a fundamental requirement for worship. Allah has created water as a means of purification, and all natural water sources—rain, rivers, wells, and even seawater—can be used for ablution (wudu) and ritual bathing (ghusl).

The Purity of Water in Islam

Water plays a crucial role in purification. However, certain conditions must be met for water to remain pure and valid for religious use.

1. Seawater and Its Ruling

A companion once asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

"O Messenger of Allah, we travel by sea and carry only a small amount of freshwater. If we use it for ablution, we will suffer from thirst. Can we perform ablution with seawater?"

The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied:

"The sea is pure, and its dead creatures are lawful to eat." (Narrated by Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah)

From this hadith, we learn that seawater is permissible for purification despite its salty nature.

2. Types of Water and Their Rulings

Islam categorizes water into two types based on its movement:

a) Flowing Water

• If an impurity, such as a dead animal or blood, enters a flowing water source, the water remains pure as long as it exceeds five jars (approximately 200 liters) and its color, smell, and taste do not change.
• However, if the water is less than five jars and contaminated, it becomes impure and cannot be used for purification.

b) Still Water

• If still water is less than five jars and comes into contact with impurity, it is considered impure.
• However, if it is increased to more than five jars or the impurity disappears without altering its physical properties, the water becomes pure again.

3. Water That Becomes Impure

Not all water remains pure. Some conditions can render it impure:

• When mixed with impurities such as blood, carcasses, or animal waste, and its properties change.
• When the water is small in quantity (less than five jars) and is contaminated, it becomes impure.

However, certain things do not make water impure, such as:

• Human sweat, including that of non-Muslims, those in a state of major ritual impurity (janabah), or menstruating women.
• Sweat from animals, except for dogs and pigs.

4. Severe Impurity: Dog and Pig Saliva

There is one type of impurity that requires special cleansing: the saliva of dogs and pigs. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

"If a dog licks the vessel of any one of you, he must wash it seven times, one of which should be with soil." (Narrated by Muslim)

This means that if a container or dish is licked by a dog, it must be washed seven times, one of which should be with soil to ensure its purification.

Conclusion

Purification is a vital aspect of Islamic worship. Allah has provided various natural water sources for this purpose, as long as they remain pure and uncontaminated.

Key Takeaways:

✔ Flowing water exceeding five jars remains pure unless its properties change.
✔ Seawater is permissible for purification.
✔ Small amounts of water can become impure if contaminated.
✔ Dog and pig saliva is considered a severe impurity and requires special cleansing.

By understanding these principles, we can maintain cleanliness and ensure our worship is performed in a pure state.