Question: Am I obliged to wash away the istihada blood on my clothes before praying?
Answer:
Bismi Llahir Rahmanir Rahim
Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuhu
In the Hanafi madhhab, the excused amount of filth that is permitted to remain on a person’s clothes and body such that the prayer remains valid is:
- less than 5 grams in weight of solid filth, or
- less than 5 centimeters in diameter of liquid filth.
If a person prays with with the excused amount of filth on their clothes or body, it is slightly disliked (makruh tanzihi). Thus, it is recommended to remove the filth before praying – although the prayer will still be valid if it is not removed.
If a person prays with more than this amount on their clothes or body – and they possess the means to remove it – then the prayer is not valid.
This is the general ruling that applies to everyone.
The Excused Person Exception
There is an exception for someone who has the excused person status.
The excused person status is a special status which permits ease in practicing specific rulings related to ritual purity. For more details about the excused person, click here.
Thus, this ruling is in relation to the filth that exits from the excuse and it soils the excused person’s clothes.
If it is believed that by the time the prayer that the excused person is praying finishes:
- No new filth would soil the clothing again; then YES, the existing filth must be removed and it is not permissible to pray with it before purifying the garment.
- More than the excused amount would soil the clothing again; then NO, the filth does not need to be removed and it is permissible to pray in the garment.
For example, a woman established the excuse for abnormal vaginal bleeding (istihada). Her blood flow is very heavy and her underwear is soiled with blood. Based on her reasoned judgment, she believes that by the time she finishes making wudu and praying the prayer, more than 5 centimeters in diameter of blood will exit. In this situation, she is not obliged to purify the garment before praying.
Otherwise, she must and it is not permissible to offer the prayer in it. Alternatively, she can change her clothing before praying if she has access to another clean garment.
Check out these articles related to istihada:
The Excused Person’s Rulings: A Complete Breakdown
How do I pray with abnormal vaginal bleeding (istihada)?
Istihada: What Is It? And Examples
Check out our courses for more details about the general rulings of worship and menstruation.
Jazak Allah khayran
Naielah Ackbarali
References:
- Imam ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar
- Imam ibn Abidin, Manhal al-Waridin
- Imam Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah
- Imam Ala al-Din Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-Alaiyya
- Imam Tahtawi, Hashiyya al-Tahtawi