Answered by: Alimah Habiba Akhtar
Question:
I would like to discuss the topic of Tahara and what the rules according to the Hanafi Fiqh are regarding:
-Splashes on one’s clothes and legs during intinja
-Drops from hands from washing after relieving one’s self
– how to remove impurity with water (is pouring g water ok, or is wiping rubbing required)
– wudu washing of face, water not reaching sides of the face
– wudu, washing arms, when does it becomes wiping and not washing (to save water)
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The following discussion will be split into two:
- The method of washing unseen impurity (invisible impurity)
- The verdict on waswasa
Purity is the foundation and a vital element for our Deen. It is the means of our Salah.
Allah SWT mentions in Surah Anfal, Verse 11:
“[Remember] when He overwhelmed you with drowsiness [giving] security from Him and sent down upon you from the sky, rain by which to purify you and remove from you the evil [suggestions] of Satan and to make steadfast your hearts and plant firmly thereby your feet” (1)
Therefore, we can see that water is a blessing and its purpose is to purify us by cleaning us. This cleaning is not restricted to removing filth physically but internally too.
Also, the verse refers to the purification of a person from the evil suggestions of Shaitan which is what we call waswasa which will be discussed.
Moreso, purity is that action that is recommended to us by Allah SWT via which he expresses his favour upon the believers. In the following verse of Surah Baqarah, Allah SWT mentions purity alongside repentance:
“Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves” [Quran, 2:222] (2)
Therefore, we can establish the great importance Islam gives to cleanliness and purity.
Now, in the case when impurity occurs upon something, there are different methods of washing it off.
In the scenario’s mentioned, the impurity referred to is invisible impurity. Invisible impurity will be washed three times and wrung after each wash (Nurul Idah, Wasim Charkawi, page 110) (3).
2) Waswasa
Waswasa as described in the earlier Quranic verse is the ‘evil suggestions of shaytan’. What is the purpose or aim of waswasa?
Allah SWT describes in the following verse of Surah Baqarah (verse 208) that Shaitan is our clear enemy meaning he is forever our evil wisher.
“Oh, Believers! Enter wholly into Islam and do not follow in the footsteps of Satan for he is your open enemy”. (4)
Therefore, it is in fact our duty to ensure we do not get swayed by Shaitan as Allah SWT has proclaimed and warned us of him being our enemy. How does he make us follow in his footsteps? This is by his whispers also known as waswasa.
The aim of the waswasa is to bring doubts, worries and excessive and wasteful behaviour upon a believer.
Regarding the wasteful behaviour that waswasa encourages is mentioned in the following hadith:
It was narrated that Ubayy bin Ka’b said:
“The Messenger of Allah said: ‘There is a devil for ablution who is called Walahan, so be on guard against the insinuating thoughts (Waswas) about water.'”
(Ibn Majah, 421) (5)
Therefore, upon understanding the purpose and aim of waswasa (Shaitan’s ploy to create wasteful and distressful behaviour), it is important one doesn’t feed into the whispers as that would be falling victim to the clear enemy.
As for how one should deal with whispers and doubts of droplets and sprinkles, if there are no evident stains etc, then the droplets cannot be guaranteed to have fallen upon someone – this creates doubt. The Prophet SAW has taught us how to deal with doubt in the following hadith:
Al-Hasan bin ‘Ali said:
“I remember that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: ‘Leave what makes you in doubt for what does not make you in doubt. The truth brings tranquillity while falsehood sows doubt.'”
(Tirmidhi, 2518) (6)
Therefore, in response to your query, when facing whispers such as have I washed my entire face or have droplets of istinja fell on me unless it isn’t evident (in which case one should wash it off though there are different requirements) then it will be considered a doubt upon which the certainty that nothing is there will prevail.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Alimah Habiba Akhtar
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
- (إِذۡ یُغَشِّیكُمُ ٱلنُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةࣰ مِّنۡهُ وَیُنَزِّلُ عَلَیۡكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَاۤءِ مَاۤءࣰ لِّیُطَهِّرَكُم بِهِۦ وَیُذۡهِبَ عَنكُمۡ رِجۡزَ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنِ وَلِیَرۡبِطَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِكُمۡ وَیُثَبِّتَ بِهِ ٱلۡأَقۡدَامَ)
[Surah Al-Anfal 11]
- (وَیَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡمَحِیضِۖ قُلۡ هُوَ أَذࣰى فَٱعۡتَزِلُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَاۤءَ فِی ٱلۡمَحِیضِ وَلَا تَقۡرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ یَطۡهُرۡنَۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرۡنَ فَأۡتُوهُنَّ مِنۡ حَیۡثُ أَمَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّ ٰبِینَ وَیُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَطَهِّرِینَ)
[Surah Al-Baqarah 222]
- وغير المرئية بغسلها ثلاثا والعصر كل مرة
(Nurul Idah, Page 110, Wasim Charkawi)
- (یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱدۡخُلُوا۟ فِی ٱلسِّلۡمِ كَاۤفَّةࣰ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَ ٰتِ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنِۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمۡ عَدُوࣱّ مُّبِینࣱ)
[Surah Al-Baqarah 208]
- عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ “ إِنَّ لِلْوُضُوءِ شَيْطَانًا يُقَالُ لَهُ وَلَهَانُ فَاتَّقُوا وَسْوَاسَ الْمَاءِ ”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, 421)
- عَنْ أَبِي الْحَوْرَاءِ السَّعْدِيِّ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ مَا حَفِظْتَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ حَفِظْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ دَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لاَ يَرِيبُكَ فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ طُمَأْنِينَةٌ وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ رِيبَةٌ
(Tirmidhi, 2518)