In the same way as the first chapter, there will be a collection of religious verdicts called ahkam, for example, obligatory actions, in which the prayer is one of the fundamental and most important ones.

Religious duties in regard to prayer are divided into three parts:

• preliminaries of prayer

• associations of prayer

• abrogation1 of prayer

Preliminaries are things that the person who wants to offer prayer must do before the prayer.

Associations are things that are involved with the performance of the prayer, starting with the takbirat al-ihram and ending with the tasleem.

Preliminaries Of Prayer

One of the things that one who wants to perform this great worship has to pay attention to is tahara (purity).

One who wants to offer the prayer has to clean his body and clothes from najis2 things. If one wants to clean himself from najis things he must know what najis things are and how to clean them. For this reason, we will busy ourselves with this information.

Before we learn what is najis we should become familiar with a general Islamic rule:

Everything in the world is tahir3 (pure), except eleven things or those things that from touching something najis become najis.

The eleven najis things are the following:

(1) Urine

(2) Feces

These two are from mankind and animals that it is forbidden to eat their meat and if their vein is cut, blood would flow from the wound, such as a cat or mouse.

(3) Sperm

(4) Dead body

(5) Blood

These three things are from mankind and animals of running blood such as sheep.

(6) Dog

(7) Pig

What is meant by these two are the dogs and pigs that live on land, but dogs and pigs that live in the sea are not najis.

(8) Wine and any other intoxicating drinks

(9) Beer that is not for medicine

(10) Unbeliever

(11) The sweat of a camel that eats something najis.

Tahara is not cleanness and najasa is not dirtiness. It is possible for something to be clean but in the viewpoint of the Islamic regulation it is najis. Islam wants man to be both clean and pure (tahir). Man must think about the cleanliness of himself and his environment, but right now we talk about tahara.

(1) The urine and feces of a human and all the animals that if their vein is cut, blood would jump out of the wound is najis.

(2) The urine and feces of an animal whose meat is halal (lawful to be eaten), for example a cow, sheep, and any animal that if their vein is cut, blood would not flow out of the wound, such as snake or fish, are tahir.4

(3) The urine and feces of an animal whose meat is Makruh to be eaten is tahir, like horse or donkey.5

(4) The feces of birds whose meat is haram (unlawful) to be eaten, like crow, is najis.6

Rulings On A Dead Body

The whole body of a dead human being, no matter whether he has just died or not and his body has not turned cold (except the body parts that do not have a soul, for example, fingernails, hair, and teeth) is najis, except:7

• if he is a martyr who dies in the battlefield.

• if he has been done the ritual wash (after all three ghusls8 are completed).

Only the martyr who dies in the battlefield is tahir. So, the people who become martyrs as a result of bombing or terrorism, or ones who are injured in the battlefield but die outside the battlefield are not included in this rule.9

The Limits Of A Battlefield

The battlefield is to the extent that the enemy gunfire reaches the place where two armies are fighting one another. It is not limited to the front lines or the exact time of the attack.10

Animal's Dead Body

(1) A dead animal of not running blood,11 like fish, is tahir.

(2) The soulless parts of a dead body (for example, hair or antlers) of an animal of running blood is tahir. But the parts of the body that has a soul, for example, meat or skin, is najis.12

(3) The parts that are separated from the body of man or an animal of running blood, (before death) have the same ruling of purity and impurity after death. If it is from the soulless parts, it is tahir, but if it is from the parts that have a soul it is najis. So, if, as a result of a surgery, a part of the human body that has a soul is removed from the patient it is najis.13

(4) If a part of a human body, while he is still alive, is cut but the severed part is still hanging onto the body by the skin, no matter how thin the skin is, it is tahir and is not under the ruling of dead bodies, until it is separated from the body.14

The Following Cases Should Be Ruled As Tahir

(1) The urine or feces of an animal that one does not know if its meat is halal or haram. For example, the feces of a bird that a man does not know if its meat is halal or haram.15

(2) Feces that one does not know whether it is of an animal of running blood or not. For example, in food feces are found and it is not known whether they are of a mouse or a roach.16

(3) A meatless bone is found, and it is not known whether it is from an animal that is najis al-ayn17 (dog or pig) or not.18

(4) A meatless bone of a human has been found and it is not known whether the human was an unbeliever or a Muslim.19

(5) Skin or meat that is not known whether it is from an animal of running blood or not.20

Rulings Of Leather

(1) Things that are made from the soulless parts of animals are tahir, even if they were not slaughtered due to the Islamic law. Clothes made from the wool or the hair of an animal are tahir, even if a non-Muslim has made them or they are bought from a non-Islamic store. But, if the clothes are from an animal whose meat is haram to eat, and a prayer is performed with them, the prayer will be void.21

(2) Things that are made from the animate parts of a dead animal of running blood are najis. For example, things that are made from leather such as shoes, bags, hats, belts, gloves and watchbands.22

(3) Things that are not known whether they are leather or not should be considered as tahir. They are not najis.23

(4) Things that are not known whether they are made from an animal of running blood or not should be ruled as tahir. For example, a belt that is not known if it is made from the skin of a snake or another animal.24

If leather is made from the skin of an animal of running blood but it is not known if the animal was slaughtered due to the Islamic way or not, there are different rulings in different cases. For example, leather shoes that are made from the skin of a cow, but it is not known which way this cow was killed. The following cases should be studied:

• If it is bought from a Muslim and is made in an Islamic country, it is considered as Tahir.

• If it is bought from a Muslim and is made in a non-Islamic country; for example, shoes that are bought in Kuwait but are made in Italy are considered as Najis, unless it is known that the animal has been killed due to the Islamic law, and the importer was aware of that when he brought the goods.

• If it is bought from a non-Muslim and is made in an Islamic country; for example, shoes that are bought in London but have been made in Syria are Tahir.

• If it is bought from a non-Muslim and is made in a non-Islamic country, it is considered as Najis.25

• If it is bought from a Muslim but it is not known in which country it has been made, it is Tahir.

• If it is bought from a non-Muslim but it is not known in which country it has been made, it is Najis.26

Dairy Products

Dairy products that are gotten from an animal whose meat is halal to eat and when the animal is alive, such as milk, yogurt, cheese, butter and cream from either a cow or a sheep, are tahir and to eat them is halal, even if an unbeliever prepares them and/or they are bought from a non-Islamic market; unless, one is certain that those products have touched the body of the unbeliever and because of that become najis. Doubt or probability is not enough to rule it as najis. Searching to find out that if those products have got najis is also not necessary.

Questions And Answers

Question: Is leather that is sold in France (shoes or other things), and because there is a probability that it might be imported from Algeria, tahir? Does wearing or using such product have a problem (not permissible)?

The answer: They have the ruling of a dead body. [They are Najis]27

Question: Is skin that comes from abroad and is used to make shoes or the likes, tahir or najis?

The answer: Skin that is brought from an Islamic country should be ruled as tahir, unless, it is proven that the animal has not been killed due to the Islamic law. Skin that is brought from a non-Islamic country should be ruled as najis, unless, it is known that the animal has been slaughtered due to the Islamic law or there is a probability that the importer is a Muslim, and has slaughtered the animal due to the Islamic law and sold the skin for other Muslims.28

Rulings Related To Blood

• The blood of a human or any animal of running blood such as chicken or sheep is najis.

• The blood of an animal of not running blood such as mosquito and fish is tahir.

• Blood that is sometimes found in an egg is not najis. But, as an obligatory precaution, it must not be eaten, except if it is mixed with the yolk and cannot be seen.

• Blood that comes from between the teeth (gums); if it is mixed with saliva in the mouth and disappears, it is tahir. Even if this saliva (mixed with blood) is swallowed, there is no problem.29

The Following Cases Should Be Considered Tahir

(1) Something that is red but is not known if it is blood or not.30

(2) Blood that is not known whether it is from an animal of running blood or not; for example, someone sees blood on his clothes and does not know whether it is from a mosquito or his own body.31

(3) The blood from an animal that is not known whether it is of running blood or not, such as a snake.32

(4) If it is not known whether the liquid that comes out of a wound is blood or puss [in the case that the wound is tahir, but if it is najis, the puss or plasma that comes out, because it touches the najis wound, would become najis].33

(5) Wetness comes out of the body due to a scratch, but it is not known whether this wetness is blood or not.

Alcohol

(1) Alcohol and any liquid substance that causes intoxication is najis.34

(2) Liquid substances that cause intoxication (that are originally liquid), even if they have become a solid, are najis.35

(3) Solid substances that cause intoxication, for example, marijuana, are not najis, even if they are chopped up and mixed with water to the point that they turn to liquid.36

(4) Grape juice that has been boiled; if it causes intoxication, it is najis. If (after boiling) it does not cause intoxication, drinking it is not permissible, but it is not najis.37

(5) It is not haram to cook dates and raisins with food (with rice for example) even if they are boiled.38

Unbeliever

The persons who are unbelievers and najis are:

(1) Someone who denies God (who denies the existence of God)

(2) Someone who denies the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings be upon him and his holy family)

(3) Someone who denies the oneness of God (who associates with God a partner)

(4) Someone who denies the necessities of the religion39, with the condition that that person knows that it is a necessity of religion and denies it anyways, by denying the mission, or saying that the prophet lied or there is an imperfection in the religion.

(5) Someone who abuses or curses the infallible Imams (‘a) or makes an enemy of them, even if against only one of them.40

Some Rulings

• The whole body of an unbeliever is najis; even his hair, fingernails and sweat.41

• A person who it is not known whether he is a Muslim or not is tahir, but he does not have the rest of the privileges of being a Muslim; for example, he cannot marry Muslim women or be buried in a Muslim cemetery.42

How Something Tahir Becomes Najis

In the previous points we have learned that everything in this world is tahir, except a few things. Things that are tahir may become najis by touching something that is najis, when one of the two (the tahir thing or the najis thing) is wet enough that its wetness may be transferred to the other.43

• If something that is tahir touches something that is najis and one of the two is wet enough that its wetness is transferred to the other, the tahir thing becomes najis.

• The following cases should be ruled as tahir:

a) If it is not known whether the tahir thing and the najis thing have touched each other or not.

b) If it is not known whether the tahir thing or the najis thing was wet or not.

c) If it is not known whether the wetness of one thing was transferred to the other or not.44

Some Rulings

Eating or drinking something najis is impermissible.45

If one sees someone else eat something najis, or offer prayer with najis clothes, it is not necessary to inform him.46

If someone doubts whether or not something tahir has become najis, it should be ruled as tahir. Searching to find out its being tahir or najis is also not necessary, even if it is possible to find out if it is either tahir or najis. As a result, the following cases should be ruled tahir and questioning or searching is not necessary:47

• Cologne or perfume that is made in a non-Islamic country and it is not known whether or not it has touched the body of a person from that country or not is considered as tahir.

• Equipment found in a hotel in a non-Islamic country, such as dishes, towels, showers, toilets, soap, pillows, beds and anything else, even the doorknob, if there is no certainty that they have touched the body of an unbeliever or wetness has been transferred to them or in some other way become najis, are tahir.

• Furniture that is left in a rented house that an unbeliever used to live in, or was bought from him, such as kitchen utensils, rugs, carpets, dressers and even the doorknobs, are tahir, unless there is certainty that they have become najis.

• The seat in a bus or taxi of a non-Islamic country, on a rainy day that makes everyone's body wet, but without certainty that the seat has become najis, sitting on the seat would not make the body najis.

• A spoon, fork, plate, or any other dish in a restaurant, without the certainty that they have become najis, should be considered as tahir.

• Soft drinks or any other drinks that are, in themselves tahir and drinking them is permissible, and it is not known whether or not they have touched the body of an unbeliever, are ruled as tahir. Nowadays, most of these things are made and canned by machines.

• Foods like sugar cubes, sugar, biscuits, chocolate, chewing gum, etc., that non-Muslims make, and we do not have certainty that they have touched the body of an unbeliever or become najis in another way, are tahir.

• Plants, vegetables and fruit that are sold by an unbeliever, without certainty that they have become najis, are tahir, even if the non-Muslim grows, picks and transports them.

• Vegetable oil, animal oil or whatever else, without certainty that it is, or it has become najis, is tahir.

• Liquids that are needed for a motorcycles, cars or houses, such petrol, gasoline, oil, lubricants or grease that are taken out, refined and canned by an unbeliever, without the certainty that they have become najis, are tahir.

• Things given to an unbeliever to mend or repair such as a piece of cloth or a car, are considered as tahir when they are given back if there is no certainty that they have become najis.

• Clothes that are given to the laundry, where a non-Muslim works, for either washing or ironing, in the case that there is no certainty that the clothes have become najis, are tahir.

• Bread or anything else that is cooked by a non-Muslim and the original ingredients are tahir, if there is no certainty that it has become najis, is tahir.

• Shaking the hands with an unbeliever, in the case that his hand is not wet or the wet is not enough to be transferred, or there is certainty that the wetness does not get transferred, the Muslim’s hand does not become najis.

Things That Purify Najis Things

How Najis Things Are Made Tahir

Everything that is najis can be tahir, and the things that make najis things tahir (that purify uncleanness) are as follows:

(1) Water

(2) Earth

(3) Sunlight

(4) Changing

(5) Transferring

(6) (Turning to) Islam

(7) Taba’iyya48 (consequentiality)

(8) Disappearance of the najis substance49

(9) Istibra50 of a camel that has eaten something najis

(10) Absence of a Muslim

Water makes many things, which are najis, tahir. It also has many divisions, which if we learn, will help us in understanding how to purify najis things.

Divisions (kinds) of water:

(1) Mixed

(2) Pure:

A. Well water

B. Running water

C. Rain water

D. Still water:

a. Kurr51

b. Less than kurr.

Mixed water is water that is either juiced (for example apple juice or watermelon juice) or it has become mixed, to the point that, people would not call it water anymore, for example, mud.

Pure water is that is not mixed.

Kinds Of Pure Water

Water either gushes out of the ground or falls from the sky or it comes neither from the ground nor from the sky. The water that comes from the sky is called rain.

The water that gushes out of the ground, if it flows, it is called running water but if it is still, it is called well water.

The water that does not come from the ground or the sky is called still water.

If there is a lot of still water it is called kurr, but if it less than that, it is called “little water”.

The Amount Of A Kurr

The Amount Of A Kurr:52

A Kurr is about 42.875 square spans weighing about 377.419 kilograms.53 Water that is less than a kurr is called little water.

The only water that purifies najis objects is mutlaq (absolute) water. It is possible that mixed water would make something clean, but it would never make a najis thing tahir.

In the following lessons we will learn, with the rules regarding pure (absolute) water, how to purify najis objects.

Rulings Of Water That Is Less Than A Kurr

• When water that is less than a kurr touches a najis object, it becomes najis (with no difference if it is poured over something najis or the najis thing reaches it first).54

• If the water that is less than a kurr is poured at a high pressure over something that is najis, the water that reaches that najis thing becomes najis and any water that does not reach the najis thing yet is tahir.55

• If the little water shoots up from below, with pressure (such as a fountain), and the najis object is above the water, the water below will not be najis, but if the najis substance reaches the low part of water, the water above will also be najis.56

• If the kurr water or running water reaches water that is both less than a kurr and najis and then they mix together, the water becomes tahir (for example; a cup of najis water put under a faucet that is connected to kurr water and the two waters mix with each other).57

• Little water that is used to clean a najis substance and is poured over the najis substance, and then the water is separated from the najis substance, is najis and other water must be used to purify the najis thing. Even when this water is separated from that thing, it should be avoided.58

Rulings Of Kurr, Running, And Well Water

• All kinds of absolute water, except the water that is less than a kurr, remain pure unless the smell, color, or taste, due to a najis substance, changes. If the smell, color, or taste of pure water, due to a najis substance changes, then it becomes najis (running water, well water, kurr water and even rainwater undergo this ruling).59

• The water flowing in pipes that is used in buildings and that is connected to a source of kurr water has the same rulings as kurr water.60

Rulings Exclusive To Rainwater

• If it rains one time on something najis that the najis substance is not seen in it, it becomes tahir.

• If it rains one time on rug or clothes that are najis, they will be tahir. Pressing them is not necessary.

• If it rains on a najis part of the ground, the ground will be tahir.

• If a little quantity of rainwater gathers, even if it is less than a kurr, and as long as it is still raining, najis things can be washed with it. This water is tahir until any of its smell, color, or taste changes.61

Rulings Of Doubts About Water

• The amount of water that is not known whether it is a kurr or not; if a najis substance touches it, the water does not become najis, but the rest of the rulings regarding kurr water are not applied to it.

• The amount of water that was kurr before, but now it is not known whether it is less than kurr or not; it should be considered as kurr.

• Water that is not known whether it is tahir or najis should be considered as tahir.

• The water that was tahir, but now there is a doubt whether it is najis or not; this water should be considered as tahir.

• The water that was najis, but now there is a doubt whether it is tahir or not; this water should be considered as najis.

• Water that was pure, but now there is a doubt whether it is mixed or not; this water should be considered as pure.

How Can Najis Things Be Purified By Using Water?

Water, the source of life, purifies most najis things.

Purifying najis things:
• Dish:

a. with kurr water, it is washed one time.

b. with little water, it is washed three times.

• Other than dish:

Things that become najis by urine:
a. with kurr water, they are washed one time.

b. with little water, they are washed two times.

Things that become najis by something else, other than urine:
a. with kurr water, they are washed one time.

b. with little water, they are washed one time.

Explanation

When purifying something najis, first the najis substance must be removed and then, following the rules above; that is to wash the najis thing with the appropriate amount of water. For example, first, you must remove the najis substance from a dish that is najis. Then, with kurr water, washing the dish one time is enough.

Clothes, beddings and the like that absorb water must be pressed after each time of washing when being washed with little water so that the water inside them should get out. With running water and kurr water carefulness in that is obligatory too.

Running and well water have the same rulings as kurr water in regard to purifying something najis.

A Ruling

A najis dish can be washed in the following manner:

With kurr water: it is put under the water one time and taken out.

With little water: it is filled up with water and emptied for three times or some water is poured in it and moved to cover the najis part, stirred and drained for three times.

Some other rulings:

A dish that a dog licks or drinks from; if it is washed with little water –as an obligatory precaution it should be washed two times. If it is washed with kurr water – as an obligatory precaution it should be washed two times. Before washing, the dish should be smeared with soil.

A dish that a pig drinks or eats from; if it is washed with little water, it should be washed seven times. If it is washed with kurr water – as an obligatory precaution it should be washed seven times. Before washing the dish, it is recommended to smear it with soil.

A dish that becomes najis because of alcohol; if it is washed with little water, it should be washed three times, but it is better to wash it seven times. If it is washed with kurr water, it should be washed one time.

Two Questions

The soil that is used to smear the dish with must be tahir.

A dish that is licked by a pig, as an obligatory precaution, has the same ruling that if the pig has drunk something from it.62

How To Wash Najis Ground With Water

Purifying The Najis Ground

Purifying The Najis Ground:63

With kurr water: first, the najis substance must be removed, and then either the kurr water or running water should be poured over all the parts that have become najis.

With Little Water

The ground that water does not run on (that water sinks into it), cannot be purified with little water.

The parts of the ground that water runs over become tahir.

Rule 1: A wall that has become najis is purified in the same way as the ground is purified.64

Rule 2: When purifying the najis ground, if running water goes into a well or comes out of it and runs over the najis parts, they become tahir.

How To Purify Grains With Water

The outer parts of grains have become najis; by putting grains into kurr or running water or pouring little water over them, they become tahir.

The inside parts of grains have also become najis; the inside parts of grains can be purified neither by little water nor by kurr water.

If there is a doubt whether the inside parts of grains have become najis or not; purifying the outside parts is enough.65

Some Rulings

If long hair of the head and beard is washed with little water, it should be squeezed to push away the water that is between the hairs. 66

Meat and fat that have become najis are like anything else that can be purified by water, just like the body or clothes that have some little sebum that do not prevent water from reaching them.67

If something becomes najis by the urine of a little boy who still drinks his mother's milk, and who has not eaten any food and has not drunk milk of pig, it should be washed one time and all the parts that water reaches become tahir. It is not necessary for clothes, beddings and the like that become najis by this urine to be pressed when being washed. 68

Conditions Of The Water That Purifies Najis Things

Conditions Of The Water That Purifies Najis Things:69

Pure water (mixed water does not purify najis things)

Tahir (najis water does not purify najis things)

When purifying something najis, water should not be mixed.

When purifying something najis, water should not get smell, color, or taste.

After rinsing the najis thing, the najis substance should not remain.

The Ground

If the bottom of the foot or the bottom of the shoe becomes najis, while walking and due to touching the ground, the najis substance is taken off and the foot or the shoe becomes tahir. The ground only makes the bottom of the foot or the bottom of the shoes tahir in the following conditions:

• The ground must be tahir.

• The ground must be dry (not to be wet).

• The ground that purifies najis objects must be soil, sand, brick, and the like.70

If, due to touching the ground by the bottom of the foot or shoe, the najis substance is taken off, the foot or the shoe becomes tahir. But it is better to walk at least for fifteen steps.71

The following things do not purify najis objects: a) Asphalt, b) Rug, c) Wooden floor, d) mats, e) plants, except if they are so few that one would say that he walks on the ground and not on plants.72

As an obligatory precaution the ground does not purify the following things:

A. The arm and the knee that a handicapped person walks on

B. Horseshoe of quadruped animals

C. The bottom of a stick

D. Socks (except if the bottoms of the socks are made from skin)

E. The bottom of an artificial leg

F. The wheels of a vehicle73

Some Rulings

After the bottom of the foot or the shoe becomes tahir, the sides of the shoe or the foot, if they touch the ground as well, become tahir.74

The inside of the shoe or the part of the foot that does not touch the ground while walking, does not become tahir.75

It is not necessary for the najis bottom of the foot or shoe to be wet, but even if they are dry, they will be purified by walking on the ground.76

Sunlight

The sunlight, under certain conditions that we shall discuss later, purifies the following things:

• The ground

• Buildings and things that are connected to the buildings, such the window of a building

• Trees and plants77

Conditions For Sunlight To Purify Najis Things

The thing that is najis must be wet enough that if something else touches it, it will also become wet. (a) It must be dry, (b) the sunlight. If it remains damp, it does not become tahir.

Nothing should prevent the direct sunlight, such as clouds or curtains, unless they are so thin that they do not block the sunlight.

The sunlight, alone, must make the najis thing dry, that it must not be dried by the help of wind.

When the light is shining on a najis thing, the najis substance must not be there. The najis substance must be removed first.

The inside and outside parts of should be dried at one time. If, for example, the outside part is dried today and tomorrow the inside part, only the outside part becomes tahir.

If the ground or the likes are najis, but they are not wet, it is possible to put water or any other liquid that may make them wet, and then, when the sunlight dries them, they will be tahir.78

Pebbles, soil, mud, and rocks are part of the ground if they are on the ground. They become tahir by the sunlight. If they are separated from the ground, they will not become tahir by the sunlight.

Along the same lines, a nail or a piece of wood that is a part of a building has the same ruling as the building, but if it is taken off or out of the building, it would not become tahir by the sunlight.79

Changing

If the original substance of something that has become najis changes into something that is tahir, it will become tahir and this is called a change. For example, (1) a dead body that changes into earth, (2) a najis seed that changes into a plant, (3) a najis piece of wood that is burned and changes into ash, (4) Fuels that burn and turn into smoke, (5) a najis liquid that changes into steam, and (6) alcohol that changes into vinegar.80

If the original substance of something that has become najis does not change, then it does not become tahir. For example, (1) Najis wheat that is made flour or bread, (2) Najis grapes that become vinegar,81 and (3) Something that is najis and it is not known whether it has changed should be considered as najis.82

Transferring

If a part of the body of an animal of running blood is transferred to the body of an animal not of running blood and is considered as a part of that animal, it will be tahir.

The same is said about such a part that if it is transferred to a living animal, that is not najis in itself (such as a dog, pig or unbeliever), and is considered to be as a part of that animal.

For example, (1) Blood from a human body that is transferred into a mosquito or fly, (2) The part of the body of an animal (for example an eye) that is transferred to a human, (3) The piece of flesh of the body that is cut and put on another part of the body.83

If someone kills a mosquito that is sitting on his body and then he sees some blood but does not know if the blood is from the mosquito or it is the blood that the mosquito has just sucked (to be its food), the blood should be considered as tahir. But if there is some blood and he does not know if it is from a mosquito or from his body, the blood is considered as najis.84

If he knows that the blood is from the mosquito but does not know if it is the blood that the mosquito has sucked at that moment or from before, it is ruled as tahir. Likewise, if it is known that the blood has been sucked from him and it has been considered as a part of the mosquito’s body. But, if there is a doubt whether the blood is a part of the mosquito or not, that blood is considered as najis.85

Conversion To Islam

If an unbeliever announces the shahada,86 he becomes a Muslim. When he becomes a Muslim his whole body (even the sweat and saliva) becomes tahir.

If an unbeliever recites the shahada, but it is not known whether he has become a real Muslim87 or not, he is considered as tahir. But if it is known that he has not become a real Muslim, as an obligatory precaution, one should avoid him.88

If the body of an unbeliever becomes najis with another najis substance; for example, if he has a wound that blood gushes out of, that other najis substance does not become tahir by his turning to Islam.89

The clothes of an unbeliever that, before turning to Islam, have been najis because of his sweat, do not become tahir by turning to Islam. Even the clothes that someone is wearing at the time of turning to Islam and have become najis by sweat, as an obligatory precaution, should be avoided.90

Taba’iyya (Consequentiality)

Taba’iyya is that something najis becomes tahir after making something else tahir. In the following cases, najis things are made tahir by taba’iyya:

When alcohol becomes vinegar, the dish that the alcohol was in becomes tahir consequently, and even the places that have been najis by the boiling of alcohol become tahir.

After performing the three ghusls of the dead person (who is najis before the ghusl), the sofa that the dead person is put on, the hands of the person who performs the ghusl and the cloth that is put on the dead person become tahir.

When someone purifies something najis and his hand are washed with that water, they (the hands) become tahir and they do not need to be washed by another washing.

After wringing out clothes or the likes, whatever water is left in them is tahir.

If a dish is made tahir with water that is less than a kurr, the drops of water remaining in the dish are tahir.91

Disappearance Of The Najis Substance

In two cases, if the najis substance is removed, the thing that has become najis will be tahir. There is even no need to wash it with water. The two cases are as follows:

• The body of an animal; for example, the beak of a chicken that has eaten something najis becomes tahir whenever the najis substance is removed from the beak.

• The inner parts of the human body; for example, inside the mouth, the nose, or the ear.

For this reason, if there is some blood on someone’s gums or that someone has eaten some najis food, when the najis food or the blood is swallowed or it is so little in the mouth that it dissolves in the saliva, the mouth becomes tahir.92

Istibra Of An Animal After Eating Something Najis

The urine and feces of an animal that used to eat najis food are najis (even if the meat of the animal is permissible to eat). To make the urine and feces of that animal tahir, istibra must be done. What is meant here by istibra is that the animal should be prevented from eating najis food and only be given tahir food. As an obligatory precaution, the following periods are required for the istibra:

• Camel – 40 days

• Cow – 20 days

• Sheep – 10 days

• Duck – 5 days

• Domestic chicken – 3 days93

Absence Of A Muslim

If the clothes, body, or something else of a Muslim (for example a dish or a carpet) become najis and that Muslim leaves for some time, these things are considered as tahir if one thinks it is possible that that Muslim has purified those najis things.94

Rulings Of Using Water Closet

Because one of the rulings of using the water closet is the matter of purifying the openings of urine and excrement, we have mentioned them at the end of the section of purification.

It is obligatory to cover the private parts from others, even the insane and children who can distinguish between the right and the wrong (except from the spouse).

It is impermissible to face or give the back to the qibla (the Kaaba) during urination and excretion.

Things that are recommended when using the water closet:

• One should sit in a place that nobody can see him.

• Stepping into the water closet with the left foot first

• Leaving the water closet with the right foot first

• Covering the head while using the water closet

• Putting one's weight on the left leg while using the water closet

Things that are Makruh (not recommended) while using the water closet:

• Staying in the water closet for a long time

• Facing either the sun or the moon

• Facing the wind

• Speaking, unless it is necessary or for glorifying Allah

• Purifying the najis parts with the right hand

• Eating or drinking while using water closet

• Standing up while urinating95

Places Where Urination And Excretion Are Unlawful

• In the dead end of street where the owners of that place do not give permission

• In the property of someone who did not give permission

• In a place that is entailed on certain persons

• On the graves of the believers when causing disrespectfulness to them96

Places Where Urination And Excretion Are Makruh

• In the road, street, alley or before the doors of houses

• Under a fruitful tree

• On hard ground

• In the houses of animals

• In water97

As an obligatory precaution, a child is not let to face or give his back to the Qibla during urination or excretion, but if the child himself does that, it is not obligatory to prevent him.98

Purifying The Openings Of Urination And Excretion

The opening of urination cannot be made tahir by using something other than water (such as rocks, tissue, cloth, etc.).
After removing the urine, it is enough to wash the opening of urination with water for one time.99

Purifying The Opening Of Excretion

• With water: it will be tahir.

• With things other than water: it’s becoming tahir is a matter of mediation (as an obligatory precaution it will not be tahir), but it is allowed in this case (after removing the najis substance and before purifying the opening of excretion with water) to offer prayers.100

Questions

(1) What rulings do a dead snake, a dead scorpion and a dead frog have?

(2) What rulings do the dung of a donkey and the dropping of a crow have?

(3) What ruling does the blood that is seen when brushing the teeth have?

(4) Is it possible to make use of the wool of a dead sheep?

(5) Is the person, who has not offered even one prayer in all his life, najis?

(6) Is the whole body of a person, who becomes junub (ritually impure), najis?

(7) What is the difference between pure water and mixed water?

(8) How is well water, that has become najis, made tahir?

(9) Is a washing machine that washes clothes and pumps water as well, enough for making the clothes tahir?

(10) A container of water has dimensions of 25 spans long, 5 spans wide and one span deep. Is the water in this container a kurr or not?

(11) A person walked on a najis rug with damp feet. He did not know whether the dampness of his feet was transferred to the rug or not. Were his feet najis?

(12) How does kurr water become najis?

(13) If the capacity of a container is more than kurr water and it is doubted whether the water in it is kurr or less than kurr, what is the ruling then?

(14) A part of a wall in a house becomes najis. Would you explain how it is possible to make this wall tahir?

(15) When does the bottom of a shoe that has stepped in najis mud become tahir by mere walking?

(16) Does the ground make the wheels of a car, bicycle and motorcycle tahir?

(17) Does the sunlight make wood, wheat, and rice tahir?

(18) Does the unbeliever, who recites the shahada in the Persian or English language, become tahir?

(19) Explain what Taba’iyya is and give two examples on that.

• 1. Abrogation: verdicts of things that abrogate the prayer
• 2. Ritually impure.
• 3. Religiously or ritually pure.
• 4. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1, p. 55.
• 5. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1, p. 55.
• 6. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 85. Ayatollah Khamene’i: The feces of birds whose meat is haram to be eaten is not najis. (Muntajaba az istifta'at, question 4).
• 7. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1, p. 58, p. 61, rule 12.
• 8. Ritual washing.
• 9. Istifta’at, vol. 1, p. 83, question 206.
• 10. Istifta’at, vol. 1, p. 504, question 42.
• 11. Running blood means that blood flows in veins and arteries of some creatures such as man, cow, cat, etc. whereas other kinds of creatures, like fish, have no running blood.
• 12. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 48, Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p. 115.
• 13. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 62, rule 14.
• 14. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa.
• 15. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 57, rule 3.
• 16. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 57, rule 3.
• 17. Something that in itself is religiously unclean; one of the eleven najis substances.
• 18. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 62, rule 17 and 18.
• 19. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 62, rule 17 and 18
• 20. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 62, rule 17 and 18
• 21. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 58.
• 22. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa
• 23. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa vol. 1 p. 62.
• 24. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa vol. 1 p. 62.
• 25. Ayatollah Khamene’i: Question: What are your rulings regarding meat, leather and parts of an animal that are prepared in a non-Islamic country? The answer: If it is probable that the animal has been killed according to the Islamic law, these parts are tahir, but if there is certainty that it has not been killed according to the Islamic law, then these parts are najis.
• 26. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 557, rule 9, and p. 559, rule 10, and p.60, rule 6 and 7.
• 27. Istifta'at, vol. 1 p. 97, question 252.
• 28. Istifta'at vol. 1 p. 97, question 253.
• 29. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 96, and 98 to 101.
• 30. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 64, rule 7.
• 31. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 64, rule 7.
• 32. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa
• 33. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 65, rule 9.
• 34. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, p. 69. Ayatollah Khamene’i: Liquid substances that cause intoxication, as a precaution, are najis. (Muntajaba az istifta'at, question 5)
• 35. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, p. 69. Ayatollah Khamene’i: Liquid substances that cause intoxication, as a precaution, are najis. (Muntajaba az istifta'at, question 5)
• 36. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 65, rule 9.
• 37. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, p. 65, rule 12.
• 38. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, p. 70, rule 3.
• 39. The necessities of religion are those things that Muslims consider as parts of Islam, such as prayer or fasting.
• 40. Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p. 118. Ayatollah Khamene’i: It is not improbable that the people of the Book may be in their essence tahir (Ajwibat al-Istifa’at, vol. 1 p. 97, question 324); The people of the Book are: Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians and Sabians. (Ajwibat al-Istifa’at, vol. 1 p. 98, question 327).
• 41. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 107.
• 42. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 109.
• 43. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 125.
• 44. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 126; Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 79, rule 1.
• 45. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 141.
• 46. Tawdih al-Masa’il., rule 143.
• 47. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 123, Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 79, rule 1.
• 48. This point will be explained later in the next chapter.
• 49. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 148.
• 50. In this case istibra means keeping the animal away from najis food for a certain period of time.
• 51. A specified quantity of water weighing about 377 kg that purifies any najis object as long as its color, taste, and smell have not been altered.
• 52. Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p. 14, rule 14, Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 16.
• 53. Ayatollah Khamene’i: 42, 7/8 spans are about 384 liters.
• 54. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 26.
• 55. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 26.
• 56. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 26.
• 57. Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p. 14, rule 11.
• 58. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 27.
• 59. Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p. 13, rule 4.
• 60. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 35.
• 61. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 37, 40-42.
• 62. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 150, 152 and 153
• 63. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 179-180
• 64. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 180.
• 65. Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p. 128, rule 5 and 6, Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 115, rule 20.
• 66. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 173
• 67. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 175
• 68. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 161
• 69. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 149
• 70. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 183 and 192.
• 71. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 125. Ayatollah Khamene’i: walking for ten steps on dry and tahir ground the foot or the shoe that has become najis becomes tahir.
• 72. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 125. Ayatollah Khamene’i: walking for ten steps on dry and tahir ground the foot or the shoe that has become najis becomes tahir.
• 73. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 126, Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 188.
• 74. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 187.
• 75. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 190
• 76. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 186
• 77. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa vol. 1, p. 129; Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1, p. 13.
• 78. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa vol. 1 p. 129 until 130, Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p.130.
• 79. Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p. 130, rule 10.
• 80. Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p. 131, Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 197.
• 81. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 197.
• 82. Tawdih al-Masa’il.
• 83. Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1, p. 132.
• 84. Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1, p. 132.
• 85. Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1, p. 132.
• 86. Shahada is to announce: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p. 132.
• 87. It means that it is not known whether he has accepted Islam with his heart or just with his tongue.
• 88. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 209.
• 89. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 141.
• 90. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 208.
• 91. Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p. 131, Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 211-215.
• 92. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 216 and 217
• 93. Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p. 132.
• 94. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 221, Tahrir al-Wasa’il, vol. 1 p. 132. Ayatollah Khamene’i: When one is certain that the clothes, body or something belonging to a Muslim become najis and then he does not see this Muslim for some time, and after that when he sees that Muslim using the thing that was najis in the way he uses things that are tahir (for example, he offers prayers with those clothes), those things should be considered as tahir, on condition that that person knows about the najis thing and knows the rulings of purifying najis objects.
• 95. Al-Urwat ul-Wuthqa, vol. 1 p. 178, Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 57-59, 64.
• 96. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 64.
• 97. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 79 and 80.
• 98. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 63.
• 99. Ayatollah Khamene’i: As an obligatory precaution, the opening of urination will be tahir after two washes. (Muntajaba al-Istifaa’at, question 10)
• 100. Tawdih al-Masa’il, rule 66-67. Ayatollah Khamene’i: It is possible to purify the opening of excretion in two ways; first, washing it with water until the najis substance is removed, and then it is not necessary to wash it again. Second, with three pieces of rock or cloth or the like that are tahir, the najis substance is to be removed and if it is not, other pieces of rock or cloth are to be used so that the najis substance is completely removed. Instead of using three rocks or pieces of cloth, one can use three parts or sides of one rock or one piece of cloth.