Book of Purification

[Chapter on Waters]

It is the lifting of ritual impurity, ............

His statement, “Book”: kitāb (book) is a form with the sense of a passive participle; that is, “something written.” In other words, this is what has been written concerning purification.

Linguistically, purification means cleanliness. One says that a garment has become purified of filth, meaning that it has become clean.

In the legal sense, it is used in two meanings:

The first is foundational: purification of the heart from associating partners with Allah in worship, and from rancor and hatred toward Allah’s believing servants. This is more important than purification of the body; indeed, bodily purification cannot be valid while the defilement of polytheism is present. Allah Most High says:

“Indeed, the polytheists are impure.” [al-Tawbah: 28]

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Indeed, the believer does not become impure.” (1)

The second is subsidiary: physical purification.

His statement, “and it is the lifting of ritual impurity,” means its removal.

Ritual impurity is a state pertaining to the body that prevents one from prayer and similar acts for which purification is a condition.

For example, a man urinates, cleanses himself, and then performs ablution. While in the state resulting from his urination, he is unable to pray; but once he performs ablution, the ritual impurity is lifted, and he is thereby able