Worship Purification

Lesson 31 Purification - Toiletry

Purification is obligatory in the Qur’an and Sunnah. It means: -to be purified from any filth, i.e. dirt that accumulates on the whole body, clothing, and the ground used for prayer -to be purified by performing ablution in order to attain a state of ritual purity

Purification is attained by means of clean water that has not been mixed with anything impure. In the absence of water, pure soil (earth) can be used

Purification is nullified by: -anything that is emitted from the private parts (feces and urine), -animal urine and stool, blood, pus, -vomit, and dead body, and untanned animal skins or hides

Good manners of relieving oneself are: -avoiding public places and water supplies,

- screening oneself,

-avoiding speaking throughout the process,

-avoiding carrying anything that bears Allah's Name, and

-doing one’s best to not face the Qiblah

Cleansing oneself after defecation: water is the most preferable means for doing this. The left hand is to be used, and a certain invocation should be said after leaving that place.

Whenever the Prophet (SAWS) would come out of the privy, he would say: “Grant me Your forgiveness”

Evidence from Qur'an and Sunnah

Purification is obligatory: Allah says:  وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُباً فَاطَّهَّرُوا﴾ [ المائدة : 6]

This means: “And if you are in a state of Janabah (i.e. had a sexual discharge), purify yourself (bathe your whole body).” (Al-Ma’idah: 6)

Allah says:  وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ  [ المدثر : 4]

This means: “And your garments purify!” (Al-Muddathir: 4)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Cleanliness is half of the faith.” (Reported by Muslim)

Avoiding public places and not speaking with others: The Prophet (SAWS) said: “When two persons go together for relieving themselves uncovering their private parts and talking together, Allah, the Great and Majestic, becomes wrathful at this (action).” (Reported by Abu-Dawud)

Avoiding public places and water supplies: The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Be on your guard against three things which provoke cursing: easing in the watering places, on the thoroughfares, and in the shade (of the tree).” (Reported by Abu-Dawud and Ibn-Majah)

Not to bear anything that has the Name of Allah written in it: Anas (RA) narrated: “When the Prophet (SAWS) entered the privy, he removed his ring.” (Reported by Abu-Dawud and at-Tirmidhiyy)

Avoiding facing the Qiblah: “It was said to Salman: Your Prophet teaches you everything, even about excrement. He replied: Yes. He has forbidden us to face the Qiblah at the time of easing or urinating.” (Reported by Muslim, at-Tirmidhiyy, an- Nasa’iyy, and Abu-Dawud)

Cleaning oneself after defecation: Anas Ibn-Malik (RA) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) entered an enclosure while a servant was following him with a jar of water and he was the youngest amongst us and he placed it by the side of a lote-tree. When the Messenger of Allah, (peace be upon him) relieved himself, he came out and had cleansed himself with water. (Reported by Abu-Dawud)

With the left hand: The Prophet (SAWS) said: “None of you should hold penis with his right hand while urinating, or wipe himself with his right hand in privacy.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)