1. Allah the Exalted says: “And purify your garments.” [al-Muddaththir] Here, “garments” is an object placed before the verb “purify”; that is, “Purify your garments.” Its apparent meaning is that what is intended is garments worn as clothing.

Some scholars said that “And purify your garments” means: purify your deeds of polytheism (1), for deeds are a garment, as Allah the Exalted says: “But the garment of righteousness—that is best.” [al-A‘raf: 26] Thus, what is meant is to cleanse one’s deeds of polytheism. This is why He then says: “And shun all defilement.” [al-Muddaththir] We say: the verse can bear both meanings, and there is nothing to prevent it from being understood in both senses, since they do not conflict. Whenever a Quranic or Prophetic expression can bear two meanings that do not conflict, both are intended by that expression.

2. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was brought a young boy who had not yet eaten solid food. He seated him in his lap, and the boy urinated in his lap. So he called for water and poured it over the urine (2). This indicates that the garment must be pure, which is why the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, hastened to purify it.

3. One day, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was leading his Companions in prayer when he removed his sandals, so the people removed their sandals as well. When he concluded the prayer, he asked them why they had removed their sandals. They said, “We saw you remove your sandals, so we removed ours.” He replied, “Gabriel came to me and informed me that there was filth on them” (3). This indicates that one must avoid anything containing impurity.

4. The hadith of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, passed by ….