Purification

The Chapter of Purification

Lesson One: Definition of Purification, Its Importance, Types of Water, and Types of Ritual Impurity

First: Definition of Purification

Linguistic Meaning

Purification means cleanliness and freedom from impurities.

Islamic Definition

Purification means removing ritual impurity and removing physical impurity.

This includes:

Removing physical impurities from the body, clothes, or place

Or lifting ritual impurity through wudu, ghusl, or tayammum

Second: The Importance of Purification in Islam

Purification is not merely cleanliness; it is an act of worship through which a Muslim draws closer to Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Purification is half of faith."

Allah تعالى says:

"Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and loves those who purify themselves."

Purification is:

A condition for the validity of prayer

The key to all acts of worship

A sign of complete faith

A cause for earning Allah’s love

No prayer, tawaf, or touching the Mushaf is valid without purification.

Third: Types of Purification

Purification is divided into two main types:

1) Physical Purification

This is the removal of physical impurity from:

The body

Clothing

The place

Such as removing urine, blood, or other impurities.

2) Ritual Purification

This is the removal of ritual impurity through:

Wudu

Ghusl

Or tayammum when water is unavailable

Fourth: Definition of Ritual Impurity (Hadath)

Linguistic Meaning

Hadath means something that occurs or happens.

Islamic Definition

Hadath is a spiritual state that prevents a person from performing prayer, tawaf, and touching the Mushaf until purification is performed.

Fifth: Types of Ritual Impurity

Ritual impurity is divided into two types:

1) Minor Ritual Impurity

This requires wudu to be removed.

Examples include:

Anything that exits from the private parts (urine, stool, wind)

Deep sleep

Loss of consciousness due to fainting or intoxication

Touching the private parts directly according to some scholars

Minor impurity is removed by: Wudu or tayammum when water is unavailable.

2) Major Ritual Impurity

This requires ghusl to be removed.

Its causes include:

Janabah (sexual impurity)

Menstruation

Post-natal bleeding

Major impurity is removed by: Ghusl or tayammum when water is unavailable.

Sixth: Types of Water Used for Purification

1) Purifying Water (Pure and Purifying)

This is water that is pure in itself and purifies others. It is valid for wudu, ghusl, and removing impurity.

Examples include:

Rainwater

Sea water

River water

Well water

Spring water

Melted snow and hail

The Prophet ﷺ said about sea water:

"Its water is pure and its dead animals are lawful."

2) Pure but Not Purifying Water

This is water that is pure in itself but cannot remove ritual impurity.

Examples include:

Water used previously for wudu or ghusl

Water that has changed significantly due to a pure substance

3) Impure Water

This is water that has been contaminated by impurity which changed its:

Color

Taste

Or smell

This water is not permissible for purification.

An Important Jurisprudential Principle

The original ruling regarding water is purity, and it is not considered impure unless one of its characteristics changes due to impurity.

Lesson Summary

Purification is a great act of worship

Purification is of two types: physical and ritual

Ritual impurity prevents acts of worship

Ritual impurity is of two types: minor and major

Purifying water is the foundation of purification

The original ruling regarding water is purity unless proven otherwise

Madrasat Al-Quran

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