- A human being’s carcass is pure, and the carcass of a fish is pure. This is explained by the fact that a fish’s blood is pure because its carcass is pure. Likewise, it may be said that human blood is pure because a human carcass is pure.
If it is said: This analogy is countered by another analogy: what exits the human being in the form of urine and feces is impure, so blood should likewise be impure...
The response is that there is a difference between urine and feces on the one hand, and blood on the other. Urine and feces are foul, impure substances with an offensive odor from which people naturally recoil. Moreover, you yourselves do not analogize blood to them, since a small amount of blood is excused, whereas even a small amount of urine or feces is not excused. Thus, one cannot be analogized to the other.
If it is said: Should it not be analogized to menstrual blood? Menstrual blood is impure, as evidenced by the Prophet’s instruction that a woman should scrape it off, then rub it with water, then sprinkle water over it, and then pray in the garment (1).
The answer is that there is a difference between the two:
A. Menstrual blood is a natural and innate blood specific to women. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “This is something Allah has decreed for the daughters of Adam” (2). Thus, he clarified that it has been decreed by Allah’s universal, preordained decree. Regarding non-menstrual bleeding, he said: “It is blood from a vein” (3), thereby distinguishing between the two.
B. Menstrual blood is thick and foul-smelling, with a repugnant odor; it therefore resembles urine and feces. Thus, it is not valid to analogize blood that exits from other than the two private passages to blood that exits from the two private passages—namely menstrual blood, postnatal bleeding, and non-menstrual bleeding.