Chapter on the Rulings Governing the Removal of Impurity

Just as a Muslim is required to be free from ritual states of impurity (ḥadath) when he intends to pray, he is likewise required to keep his body, clothing, and the place of prayer free from physical impurity (najāsah). The Most High says, “And purify your garments” (Q 74:4), and the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—commanded a woman to wash menstrual blood from her garment.

In view of this obligation, we deemed it appropriate to shed some light on the subject of removing impurity, presenting its most important rulings in the hope that our Muslim brothers and sisters who read these lines will benefit. The jurists—may Allah have mercy on them—used to devote a separate chapter to this topic, calling it “The Chapter on the Removal of Impurity,” that is, purifying anything upon which impurity has fallen—purifying the places where impurity is found—such as garments, utensils, bedding, locations, and the like that were originally pure.

The principal means by which impurity is removed is water, for it is the foundation for