removing an impurity other than that of a dog or pig, seven washings without soil are required. Thus, there must be seven: it is washed once, then wrung out; washed a second time, then wrung out; and so on, until seven washings have been completed. If scrubbing is needed, then it must be scrubbed. If the impurity is removed by the first washing and the affected area remains clean, with neither smell nor color, it is still not purified until all seven washings have been completed. This is the madhhab. …
They cited as evidence what was narrated from Ibn Umar: “We were commanded to wash impurities seven times.” (1) When a Companion says, “We were commanded,” the one giving the command is the Prophet ﷺ; thus, it is considered legally traced back to the Prophet.
Some scholars held that three washings are necessary. (2) They cited as evidence that the Prophet ﷺ would repeat matters three times, even in wudu, at most three times, (3) and that an impurity generally cannot be removed without this.
Others held that a single washing is sufficient, provided that it removes the substance of the impurity, thereby purifying the affected area. (4)
They cited the following evidence:
- The Prophet ﷺ said concerning menstrual blood that gets on a garment: “Scrape it off, then rub it with water, then sprinkle water over it, and then pray in it.” (5) He did not mention a number, although this was a context requiring clarification, since it was an answer to a question. Had there been a specified number