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1. The importance of cleanliness
- Islam is a guide for the whole of life. It insists that every Muslim keeps clean.
- Keeping clean is itself an act of worship (ibadah) that brings reward.
| Evidence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Quran (9:108) | Allah certainly loves those who keep themselves pure. |
| Quran (74:4) – from Surah al-Muddaththir, revealed early | (O Prophet!) Keep your clothes clean. |
| Hadith (Muslim) | Cleanliness is half of Iman. |
| Hadith (Muslim) | Allah does not accept any prayer without purification. |
- Cleanliness is a basic condition for the main acts of worship, such as prayer and i'tikaf (staying in the mosque for worship).
Outward and inward cleanliness
- Outward cleanliness: keeping the body, clothes and place free from impurities.
- Inward cleanliness: keeping the heart free from bad qualities such as jealousy, pride, suspicion and hatred.
Islam teaches us to care about both equally.
2. Types of water
Water is essential for outward cleanliness. Jurists divide water into three types:
| Type | Arabic name | Clean in itself? | Can it purify other things? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Purifying water | Al-ma' al-tahur (الماء الطهور) | Yes | Yes |
| 2. Clean water mixed with clean things | Al-ma' al-tahir (الماء الطاهر) | Yes | No |
| 3. Impure water | Al-ma' al-mutanajjis (الماء المتنجس) | No | No |
2.1 Al-ma' al-tahur (purifying water)
- It is clean in itself and can also purify other things.
- There is no change in its natural state.
Examples:
- Water from precipitation (rain, snow, hail)
- Sea water
- River water and spring water
- A large amount of water that has changed because leaves, moss and so on have collected in it over a long time (e.g. water in a tank/pond)
Uses: wudu, the obligatory ghusl, washing the dead body (janazah), removing najis.
Three kinds of tahur water
| Kind | Explanation | If najis falls into it | Using it again |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) Al-ma' al-kathir (a large amount of water) – also called al-ma' al-mutlaq | Water more than the amount of qullatayn (according to the textbook, qullatayn ≈ 210 litres) | It becomes najis only if one of its colour, smell or taste changes | If the change disappears by itself or by adding more water, it becomes tahur again |
| (2) Al-ma' al-qalil (a small amount of water) | Water less than qullatayn | It becomes najis even if there is no change (it does not become najis if a fly, ant or bee – creatures without flowing blood – falls into it) | It may be used after adding water up to qullatayn, provided there is no change in colour, smell or taste |
| (3) Al-ma' al-musta'mal (used water) | Water less than qullatayn that has been used for an obligatory ghusl or wudu | — | It cannot be used for another obligatory act. If clean water is added to make it qullatayn, it may be used again |
Verification: the wording about qullatayn in the textbook is unclear (listed in
VERIFY.md, Grade 10, Chapter 4). The figure of about 210 litres is as given in the textbook.
Easy way to remember:
- A large amount of water → "najis only if it changes"
- A small amount of water → "najis as soon as najis touches it"
- Used water → "not for another obligatory act"
2.2 Al-ma' al-tahir (clean water)
- It is clean in itself, but cannot purify other things.
- Its colour, smell or taste has changed because clean things have been mixed into it.
- Examples: tea, rose water, fruit juice, soft drinks, king coconut water (changed by nature).
- It may be used for food, medicine and similar needs, but not for religious duties such as wudu and ghusl.
2.3 Al-ma' al-mutanajjis (impure water)
- It is not clean in itself and cannot purify other things.
- Examples: liquids that are najis by nature, such as urine; water mixed with najis, such as sewage water.
- It cannot be used for religious duties or for cleaning.
3. Hadath (ritual impurity)
Hadath (حدث): the state a Muslim enters when he has minor or major ritual impurity.
| Impurity | How one becomes pure | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Minor hadath | Wudu | Washing or wiping (mash) parts of the body such as the face, hands, head and feet |
| Major hadath | Ghusl (ritual bath) | Washing the whole body with water |
When ghusl becomes obligatory
- Sexual intercourse between a man and a woman
- Discharge of semen
- The end of hayd (menstruation)
- The end of nifas (bleeding after childbirth)
- Entering Islam
- Death
Taking a ghusl and performing wudu to remove hadath are themselves acts of worship, and they bring reward.
4. Concessions in purification
Islam is an easy and practical religion. If something prevents wudu or ghusl, there are concessions. The main ones are tayammum and jabirah (both are confirmed by the Quran and the Sunnah).
4.1 Tayammum (تيمم)
When water cannot be used for the obligatory wudu or ghusl, wiping (mash) the face and both hands using clean soil.
When tayammum is done:
- When water cannot be used because of illness
- When there is no water
- In situations where water cannot be used
- When there is only enough water for drinking
After tayammum, one may perform prayer and other acts of worship.
4.2 Jabirah (جبيرة)
A bandage or plaster put on a part of the body because of a wound.
- If such a bandage is on one of the parts washed in wudu, tayammum may be done instead of washing that place.
- The other parts of wudu must be washed with water.
Quick revision
- Cleanliness is half of Iman (Muslim); Allah loves those who keep themselves pure (9:108); keep your clothes clean (74:4).
- Three types of water: tahur (clean + purifies), tahir (clean only), mutanajjis (impure).
- Three kinds of tahur water: kathir (mutlaq), qalil, musta'mal.
- Hadath: minor hadath → wudu; major hadath → ghusl.
- Concessions: tayammum (face and hands with soil), jabirah (a bandage over a wound).