Chapter on Removing Impurity

Every object that has become impure must be washed seven times, provided the seven washes render it clean; otherwise it must be washed until it is clean (1). The washing is done with purifying water, together with ḥatt (rubbing) and qarṣ (scraping) when needed, and with wringing after each wash outside the vessel. If the impurity is from a dog or a swine, one of the washes must contain clean earth or something similar—such as alkali ash (2)—so that, along with the water, it covers the entire affected area; where this would cause harm, a token amount suffices.

For soil that has been soiled by a liquid impurity, a single wash that removes the impurity is enough.

The ground is not purified by exposure to sun or wind, nor by mere rubbing, nor by transformation (3), except in the case of wine that turns into vinegar on its own.

Oil is not purified by washing, nor is grain (4) that has absorbed impurity, nor a knife that has been quenched in it (5).

With regard to the urine of a male infant who has not yet eaten solid food out of desire, it suffices to drench the affected area with water.

If the location of the impurity is uncertain, the area must be washed until it is certain that the impurity has disappeared.

A small amount of blood, pus, or ichor on one’s garment or body that comes from an animal whose flesh is pure is excused, as is the trace of