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1. Introduction
- An-Najasah (النجاسة) is an Arabic word meaning impurity. An impure substance is called najis.
- To stay clean and healthy, a Muslim must always keep away from najis.
- Scholars divide najis into three types according to how it is cleaned.
| Type | Examples | How it is cleaned (summary) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ordinary najis | Faeces, urine, blood… | Remove the najis, then wash until its taste, colour and smell are gone |
| 2. Light najis | Urine of a baby boy under 2 years old who is fed only on breast milk | Squeeze it out, then sprinkle water over the place |
| 3. Severe najis | Anything from dogs and pigs | Wash seven times, once with water mixed with soil |
2. Ordinary najis
What it includes
- Faeces, urine, blood, pus, vomit
- Madhy (pre-seminal fluid) and wady (thick white fluid discharged after urination)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Saliva that flows from the mouth during deep sleep
- Milk of animals that are not permitted to be eaten
- Dead bodies of animals
- Parts cut off from living animals
Exceptions (these are NOT najis)
- Fish and locusts that die by themselves (they are permitted to be eaten)
- Creatures that have no flowing blood, such as ants and bees
- Bones, horns, nails, hair and feathers of dead animals that are permitted to be eaten
- A very small amount of blood on clothes or the body
- Breast milk
How to clean it
- First, remove the najis from the place.
- Wash until all three of its features – taste, colour and smell – are gone.
- If water alone cannot remove it, soap or washing powder may be used.
If, after cleaning, both colour and smell remain, or taste alone remains, the place is not considered clean.
3. Light najis
- The urine of a baby boy under two years old who takes only breast milk as food.
How to clean it
- After squeezing out the najis, it is enough to sprinkle a sufficient amount of clean water over the place.
Remember all three conditions: baby boy + under 2 years + only breast milk. If even one condition is missing, it is not light najis.
4. Severe najis
- Everything from dogs and pigs, such as their faeces, urine, saliva, sweat and blood.
How to clean it
- Follow the method used for ordinary najis, and
- Use water mixed with soil (in the first washing or in one of the middle washings), and
- Pour water and wash seven times.
Washing seven times is compulsory even if none of the three features (colour, smell, taste) of the najis can be seen.
Cleaning in a large body of water or running water
- When cleaning in a large body of water (such as the sea or a tank/pond) or in running water: stir the water a little, dip the item in it, and then rinse it six times in the water. This is sufficient.
Verification: the "six times" figure is given as stated in the Tamil textbook (see
VERIFY.md, Grade 10, Chapter 5). Confirm with a teacher.
5. Cleaning and using impure things
In general, things that are najis in themselves cannot be made clean. However, there are some exceptions:
| Item | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Animal skin | The skin of any animal except dogs and pigs may be used for purposes other than food once it has been properly tanned |
| Alcoholic drink (toddy) | If toddy with nothing else added turns into vinegar by itself, it may be used as food |
| Solid dairy food with najis on it | If najis falls on solid ghee, butter or cheese, remove the part touched by the najis and use the rest |
Quick revision
- Najasah = impurity; 3 types: ordinary, light, severe.
- Ordinary → remove it, then wash until taste, colour and smell are gone.
- Light → urine of a baby boy under 2 who drinks only breast milk → sprinkling water is enough.
- Severe → dogs and pigs → wash 7 times, once with water mixed with soil; in a large body of water or running water, rinse 6 times.
- Exceptions: fish and locusts that die by themselves; creatures without flowing blood; breast milk; a very small amount of blood.
- Can be cleaned and used: tanned skin (except dogs and pigs), toddy that turns into vinegar by itself, solid dairy foods (remove the affected part).