In the Name of Allah, the Extremely Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Chapter · The Types of Water ·
As for salaah (prayer), it has conditions that precede it, from them is at-Tahaarah (purification). The Prophet, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace stated
(( لَا يَقْبَلُ اللهُ صَلَاةً بِغَيْرِ طَهُورٍ ))
«Allah does not accept any prayer without purification.» Agreed upon.2
Whoever does not purify himself from major or minority impurities, his prayer is invalid
Purification is of two types. The first type is purification with water, which is the foundation.
All water which descends from the sky, or emanates from the earth is pure and purifying (tahoor). It can be used to remove the state of impurity (hadath), and to remove filth (khabath), even if something pure [mixed with it] alters its color, taste, or smell. The Prophet, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace, stated:
(( إِنَّ الْمَاءَ طَهُورٌ لَا يُنَجِّسُهُ شَيْءٌ ))
«Indeed, water is pure and purifying, and nothing causes it to become impure.»3 Related by the compilers of the sunan4 and it is authentic.
If one of its characteristics changes due to an impure substance, then the water becomes impure, and it is obligatory to avoid [using] it.
The basic principle of all things is that they are pure (at-Tahaarah) and permissible (al-ibaahah).
Thus, if a Muslim doubts the purity of water, a cloth, a portion of ground, or other than these things, then they are pure. If he knows for certain that he has purified himself, however, he doubts as to whether he has remained ritually pure, then he is considered to be in a state of purification. This is due to his statement ﷺ to a
man, who had imagined that he passed wind in his prayer:
(( لَا يَنْصَرِفْ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ صَوْتًا, أَوْ يَجِدَ رِيحًا ))
«Do not leave the prayer until you hear a sound or detect an odour.» Agreed upon.5
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Translated by Umm Sufyaan Faatimah
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[1] Imaam `Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa`dee, Manhaj as-Saalikeen wa Tawdeeh al-Fiqh fī ad-Deen, p38-39 [Daar al-Jawzee, 2nd Edition, 1432].
[2] Related by al-Bukhaaree, no. 145 and Muslim, no. 1/204.
[3] TN: It has been declared authentic by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Irwaa. al-Ghaleel, no. 14.
[4] Related by Ahmad, no. 3/31, 76 and he declared it authentic; by Aboo Daawood in “as-Sunan,” no. 66; at-Tirmithee, no. 66 and he declared it hasan; by an-Nasaa.ee, no. 1/174; and Daaraqutnee, no. 1/31.
[5] Related by al-Bukhaaree, no. 1/237 and Muslim, no. 361.