Tahara

In the sciences of hadith, there’s something called a “mursal” hadith. What exactly is a mursal hadith? What is it’s status? What are the fiqh rulings on mursal ahadith? And why does it matter?

(Ok, for the answer to the last question, read and learn about the science of hadith. In a sentence: Scholars have devised an extremely rigorous process to determine which hadith are authentic, and which are not. You wouldn’t want to spend your whole life following a “hadith,” only to find out it really wasn’t legit, do you?)

Bismillah

Sitting in a halaqah–in a khutbah–in an AlMaghrib class, learning about the deen of Allah– the emanrush, your heart just flutters with tranquility. With satisfaction. With humility. With peace.

Why do we only feel this way in these gatherings?

Allah azza wa jal provides the answer:

He says in Surah Ra’d ayah 28:<div “class”=arabic> الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوب

Those who have believed and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, it is the remembrance of Allah which provides tranquility to hearts.

The word “khamr” in Arabic refers to intoxicants (in general), but also specifically to alcohol. We all know drinking alcohol is haraam–but is alcohol itself najas? People use alcohol in medicine, in lens-cleaners, even in foods. What have scholars said about this?

Summary: Allahu ‘alim, both sides–those that say alcohol is najas, and those that don’t–have strong proofs. Having said that, all four madhahib say alcohol is najas. The main proof–and there are a few proofs–is the ayah:

Can you re-use water used for purification–wudoo or ghusl? This issue doesn’t apply to most people unless they’re stuck somewhere without much water–like Cambodia, where they get water once a year, during flood season, and keep it for nine months.

(Before you read this, read about the three-fold categorization of water; in summary, water can either be purifying (tuhoor), pure (taahir), or impure (najas), and we can only use purifying water for wudoo and ghusl.)

What utensils and vessels (called inaa’ in Arabic, which includes cups, plates, utensils, and the like–though we’ll call it “utensils” for simplicity) are halal to eat from? This is important–your du’a is at stake! If you eat from haraam, Allah will not accept your du’a.

Scholars agree that all utensils made from pure and clean things–other then silver and gold, because we’re prohibited from eating from those–are pure and clean. So throw out your silverware, even if it’s only partially silver; gold plating is not allowed, either.)

Use the following chart as a quick reference

<th>
  Description
</th>

<th>
  Can I recite from memory?
</th>

<th>
  Can I touch a mushaf?
</th>

<th>
  Comments
</th>

<td>
  The periodic blood that flows as a discharge from womens body
</td>

<td>
  Ok according to stronger opinion.
</td>

<td>
  No
</td>

<td>
  <ul>
    <li>
      There is another opinion that forbids reciting Qur&#8217;an during menstruation
    </li>
    <li>
      May read Qur&#8217;an that is printed with tafseer/ translation (given that the non-Qur&#8217;anic text is more than the Qur&#8217;anic text)
    </li>
    <li>
      May read Qur&#8217;an from the computer screen
    </li>
  </ul>
</td>

<td>
  The state of a person after sexual discharge, whether it was due to intercourse, an erotic dream or anything else
</td>

<td>
  No
</td>

<td>
  No
</td>

<td>
  You can touch a mushaf (a copy of the Qur&#8217;an &#8212; more Arabic then anything else) if there&#8217;s something in between you and it, such as a cloth
</td>

<td>
  The state of a person after wudoo is broken
</td>

<td>
  Yes
</td>

<td>
  No
</td>

<td>
  There is another opinion that allows touching a mushaf in this state
</td>

Type
Menstruation
Janaba
Minor Impurity

There are differences of opinion in some of these issues. I encourage everyone to study the evidences in details.

The Purification Act

The Purification Act is an AlMaghrib Institute course taught by Abdul-Bary Yahya. If you think you know wudoo, think again! This course teaches you the ins and outs of tahara (purity and purification) and salaah (prayer)–everything from whether one adhaan or two is more correct, to the proper way to purify dog-slobber from your best china, to whether a pigskin football (or for that matter, a leather jacket) is najas or not. In addition, you get a firm grasp of scholarly opinions, and learn which opinion–or opinions–are the strongest, and why.

Stuck with only a chest-high sink for wudoo? Maybe you feel really tired and just want to make wudoo quickly so you can pray and sleep?

Then you’re in luck! Pass this quick test, and you can just wipe over your socks for wudoo!

Wudooified feet: Were you in a state of purity (post-wudoo) before you put on your socks?
Permanent socks: Did you leave your socks on after losing wudoo? You can’t take them off if you want to wipe!
Smellified socks: Are you within 24 hours (72 for travellers) of when you first broke wudoo after putting on your socks?

And that’s it! Wipe over the top of your socks, and you’re good to go!

Tahara

What is a Mursal Hadith?

Find Peace

Is Alcohol Najas?

Reusing Purification Water

Utensils and Vessels

My Purity and the Qur’an

The Purification Act

The Sock-Wiping Test