About Tahara

About Taharah, Our Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (S A) said:

“Purity is half of faith”
(Muslim)

“Cleanliness is half of faith.”
(Muslim)

“The key to Heaven is the prayer. And the key to prayer is cleanliness.”
(Ahmad)

WHAT IS TAHARAH?

The word “Taharah” means cleanliness or purification. In Shariah, it refers specifically
to one’s body and clothes (and the place where one performs the Salah - prayer). Personal hygiene is very important in Islam: a Muslim should always keep him/herself and the clothes clean from impurities such as urine, blood, pus, emetic,

prostatic fluid, stool/excrement, etc. When you have reached the age of adolescence you should shave the private parts of the body (i.e. armpits and genital region) to remove impurities and to prevent carrying germs, dirt, etc.


TYPES OF IMPURITIES/DIRTINESS (“NAJASAAT”)

There are basically two types of impurities:

(i) Najaasat-e-Hukmiyyah – this is impurity that is not visible to the human naked eye and it consists of two kinds:

Hadath – this is lesser impurity and you have to do the Wudu (Ablution). Examples are: urine, stool, blood, wind, vomiting (mouthful) fainting, intoxication, pus, laughing during Salaat, sleeping with support and lying down, unconsciousness.

Akbar – this is greater impurity and you have to do the Ghusal (ritual
bath). Examples are: discharge of semen (whether during sleep or not), menstruation, after birth of a baby, and after relations between husband and wife.

(ii) Najaasat-e-Haqiqi – this is impurity that is visible and apparent to the human eye and it consists of two kinds:

Ghalizah – this is heavy impurity that covers the body being half an inch and you have to wash the body and clothes three times each.Examples are: human blood, semen and pus, human urine and excrement, menstrual blood, vomiting, spillage of alcohol on the body or clothes, urine, excrement and blood of animals, ducks and hens droppings, and the saliva of some animals (e.g. dogs).

Khafifah – this is light impurity that covers the body or clothes 1/4th and for this too, you must wash the body and clothes three times. Examples are: urine of Halaal (permitted) animals, the droppings of Haraam (prohibited, e.g. birds of prey) animals and the roppings of Halaal birds (i.e. it has a bad smell).


THE PROPHETIC SUPPLICATIONS WHEN ENTERING AND LEAVING THE BATHROOM

The Prophet (S A) has recommended the following:

a). One should not touch the private parts with the right hand when
urinating,

b). One should not also use the right hand to clean oneself from
excrement.

c). Neither urinate nor defecate with one’s front or rear towards the
direction of Prayer when outdoor.

d). One should not urinate in flowing water

e). One should not talk with anyone in the bathroom.

Bhukari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi

1. On the authority of Anas t, ‘The Prophet r used to say when entering the bathroom :
ALL HUMMA INN. A`DHU BIKA MINAL KHUBUTHI WAL KHAB’ITH

O Allah! I seek refuge in You from demons, male and female.
(Bukhari)

2. On the authority of ‘Aishah y ‘The Prophet r used to say when
leaving the bathroom :

GHUFRNAK

(O Lord!) I beseech Your forgiveness.
(Ahmad and Abu Dawud)