How to purify the body, clothes, and other things

How impurity is removed from the body, clothes, skins, the ground, metal and glass, utensils, oil and honey, and other items.

Different things get purified in different ways. The most common rule is simple: wash it three times.

Washing and squeezing a garment three times.

How to purify common things
Item	How to purify it
Your skin, where you can't see the impurity	Wash it three times, or wipe with something clean if that's needed instead
Your skin, where you can see the impurity	Wash until it is actually gone; the number of times doesn't matter
Clothes, with impurity you can't see	Wash three times, squeezing hard each time so no more water comes out when you squeeze again
Clothes, with impurity you can see	Wash with clean water until it is gone, even if a stain or smell that's hard to remove stays behind
Shoes, socks, or leather	Rub or scrub off dried dirt; for a wet, unseen impurity, sprinkle dust or ashes on it, rub, then wipe
Metal, jewellery or glass that isn't engraved	Rubbing, wiping, or washing three times purifies it
Pots and dishes that don't soak up liquid	Rubbing or wiping is enough
Pots and dishes made of clay or wood that do soak up liquid	Wash three times and let them dry out fully each time
A dish a dog has licked	Wash it three times, drying it each time; washing it seven times, with one of those washes using earth or soil, is even better
Dry earth or ground	It becomes pure once it dries out and the impurity is no longer there, or once rain washes it away

Purifying the body
Situation	How to purify it
An unseen (invisible) impurity on a body part	Wash it three times, or wipe it with something clean where that is needed
A visible impurity on a body part	The number of times does not matter; wash until it is actually removed
Dried dirt on the body	Scraping it off is enough, as long as no other impurity (such as urine or semen) is present where it is scraped; otherwise it must be washed, not just scraped
Impure oil on the body	Washing three times purifies it, even if some greasiness remains, except for the fat of a dead animal, where the greasiness itself must be removed
A wound where washing would cause harm	Wiping it three times with a clean, damp cloth is sufficient
An impure dye or colour stained into the body or hair	Washing until the water runs clear is enough, even if the colour does not fully disappear
An impure substance that has gotten under the skin	Washing purifies it; there is no need to remove the skin
Unseen impurity on a woman's breast, where a child has sucked from it	It is purified after the child sucks three times; for visible impurity, the number of times does not matter, only that it is removed

Purifying clothes
Situation	How to purify it
Dried dirt on clothes	Shaking or brushing it off is enough, even if a slight mark remains; the clothes stay pure even if they get wet again afterwards
Semen on clothes, still wet	Brushing is not enough; it must be washed
Any other visible impurity on clothes (besides semen)	Wash with clean water; there is no fixed number of washes, only that the impurity and its effect are removed. If a stubborn stain remains despite washing (for instance, one that soap or hot water cannot fully lift), there is no need to keep trying; it is enough that the water runs clear
An invisible impurity on clothes	Wash three times, wringing thoroughly each time: meaning with enough force that squeezing the cloth again afterwards produces no more water
A large tarpaulin or coarse cloth that is hard to wring, or very fine or old cloth that might tear if wrung hard	Wash three times and let it dry thoroughly each time (until no more water drips from it) instead of wringing
A garment where the impurity has not fully soaked in and it is hard to wring	Washing three times is enough: no need to dry it thoroughly as well
An impure tarpaulin or coarse cloth left for a long time in running water	It becomes pure once it is reasonable to assume the impurity has washed away
Impure oil or fat on cloth	Washing three times purifies it, even if some greasiness remains, except for the fat of a dead animal, where the greasiness must be fully removed

After the first and second wringing it is better to clean the hands as well; after the third, both cloth and hands are purified together, provided the wringing was done with full force each time; otherwise both remain impure. The same logic applies if the cloth is then hung up and a drop of water falls from it: the drop is pure too, provided the third wringing was done with full force.

Purifying skins and leather
Situation	How to purify it
An animal slaughtered properly, with Bismillah and Allahu Akbar said over it	Its skin is purified by the slaughter itself
An animal that dies without being slaughtered (carrion)	Its skin is purified through tanning, whether the tanning is done by a Muslim or a non-Muslim
A skin tanned with an impure substance (such as the fat of a dead animal), where wringing is not possible	Wash it three times, wringing thoroughly each time
The same, where wringing is possible	Wash it three times, letting it dry after each wash until water stops dripping
Visible impurity (feces or urine, wet or dry) on shoes or socks	Rubbing or scrubbing purifies them
An invisible, wet impurity (such as alcohol or urine) on shoes or socks	Sprinkle dust or ashes on it, rub, then wipe it off; if it has dried, simply wash it
Visible impurity dried onto fur	Rubbing it purifies it

Purifying earth and similar surfaces
Method	How it works
Drying	The ground is purified once it dries and the effects of the impurity (colour or smell) no longer remain
Rain	Rain falling on the ground and removing the effect of the impurity purifies it
Pouring water	Pouring water over it three times, until the effects of the impurity are no longer visible, purifies it
Pouring, rubbing and wiping	Pouring water three times, rubbing it in by hand, and wiping with a clean cloth after each pour also purifies it
Turning the soil over	Turning the upper layer of soil to the bottom and the lower layer to the top purifies it
Covering	Covering the impurity with soil or another material, so that it is no longer visible, purifies it

Once the earth has dried and been purified, pouring water on it again does not make it impure once more. Objects not directly fixed into the ground (trees, grass, walls, thresholds, columns) or objects merely resting on the ground as a surface, such as bricks or stones, are purified by drying just as the ground is; but a felled tree, cut grass, or bricks and stones not resting on the ground cannot be purified without washing. Rough stones and similar earth-like items are purified by drying, the same as the ground itself. Pottery made from impure clay is purified by firing.

Purifying metal and glass
Item	How to purify it
Plain iron, brass, silver or gold items (swords, knives, jewelry), glass such as mirrors, or oiled utensils: anything that does not absorb water	Rubbing, wiping, or washing three times purifies it
Decorative, engraved or ornately designed jewelry or utensils	These must be washed; rubbing or wiping alone is not enough

Purifying utensils
Item	How to purify it
New earthenware or wooden utensils that absorb water	Wash three times and let them dry fully each time
Oiled utensils, porcelain, or old earthenware	Rubbing or wiping is sufficient
Earthen or stone utensils	Firing them also purifies them
A utensil a dog has licked or put its mouth to	Wash it three times, drying it each time; washing it seven times is better, with one of those seven washes done using earth or soil

Purifying oil, ghee and honey
Situation	How to purify it
A mouse falls and dies in a jar of solidified ghee	Remove and discard the ghee immediately surrounding the mouse; the rest of the ghee stays pure
Impurity falls into liquid ghee or oil	Add one-fifth water and heat until the water evaporates, leaving only the ghee or oil; or add water, mix well, then remove the ghee or oil and discard the water. Repeating this three times purifies it
Honey becomes impure	Add one-fifth water, heat until it evaporates, then add water again and boil. Repeating this three times purifies it

Purifying other things
Situation	How to purify it
The head or feet of a goat become blood-stained after slaughter	Purified by burning
Part of the grain on a threshing floor becomes impure (such as from animal urine or dung), and the exact portion is unknown	Take a small amount, wash it, and mix it back with the rest; if only a small, identifiable part is impure, wash that part three times and dry it
A small part of cotton becomes impure	If it is likely to fly away when rubbed, rubbing alone purifies it; otherwise it will not be pure without washing. If it is not known which part is impure, rubbing can purify it too

Purification of the body
Situation	Method
An unseen (invisible) najāsah on a body part	Washed three times, or wiped with something clean where that suffices
A visible najāsah on a body part	The number of washes is immaterial; washing continues until it is actually removed
Dried dirt on the body	Scraping suffices, provided no other najāsah (urine, semen) is present at the site scraped; otherwise washing, not mere scraping, is required
Impure oil on the body	Three washes purify it even where some greasiness persists, except for the fat of a dead animal, where the greasiness itself must be eliminated
A wound where washing would cause harm	Wiping three times with a clean, damp cloth suffices
An impure dye or colourant on the body or hair	Washing until the water runs clear suffices, even where the colour itself does not fully disappear
An impure substance beneath the skin	Washing purifies it without any need to remove the skin
Unseen najāsah on a woman's breast, from which a child has suckled	Purified once the child suckles three times; for visible najāsah, the count is immaterial, only removal

Purification of clothes
Situation	Method
Dried dirt on clothes	Shaking or brushing suffices, even if a faint mark remains; the garment stays pure even once wetted again
Semen on clothes, still moist	Brushing does not suffice; washing is required
Any other visible najāsah on clothes	Washed with clean water; no fixed number of washes is specified, only that the najāsah and its effect are removed. Where a residual stain resists removal (as by soap or hot water), there is no obligation to persist further; it suffices that the water runs clear
Invisible najāsah on clothes	Washed three times, wrung thoroughly (ʿaṣr) each time: 'thorough' meaning with enough force that a further squeeze yields no more water
A large tarpaulin or coarse cloth difficult to wring, or fine or aged cloth liable to tear under wringing	Washed three times and dried thoroughly each time (until no further dripping) in place of wringing
A garment where the najāsah has not fully penetrated and wringing is difficult	Three washes suffice, without the further requirement of thorough drying
An impure tarpaulin or coarse cloth left for an extended period in running water	Purified once it may reasonably be presumed the najāsah has been carried away
Impure oil or fat on cloth	Three washes purify it even where some greasiness remains, except the fat of a dead animal, where the greasiness must be eliminated entirely

It is preferable to clean the hands after the first and second wringing; after the third, cloth and hands are purified together, provided each wringing was performed with full force; otherwise both remain impure. Where the cloth is then hung and a drop falls from it, that drop is likewise pure, contingent on the third wringing having been performed with full force.

Purification of skins and leather
Situation	Method
An animal slaughtered by dhabḥ shar'ī, with Bismillah and Allāhu Akbar pronounced over it	Its hide is purified by the slaughter itself
An animal dying without proper slaughter (carrion)	Its hide is purified by tanning, whether performed by a Muslim or a non-Muslim
A hide tanned with an impure substance (such as the fat of a dead animal), or otherwise contaminated, where wringing is impossible	Washed three times, wrung thoroughly each time
The same, where wringing is possible	Washed three times, left to dry after each wash until dripping ceases
Visible najāsah (feces or urine, wet or dry) on shoes or socks	Rubbing or scrubbing purifies them
An invisible, moist najāsah (alcohol, urine) on shoes or socks	Dust or ashes are sprinkled on it, rubbed in, and wiped away; where dried, simple washing suffices
Visible najāsah dried onto fur	Purified by rubbing

Purification of earth and comparable surfaces
Method	Mechanism
Yabis (drying)	The ground is purified once dry and the traces (colour, smell) of the najāsah no longer remain
Rainfall	Rain removing the trace of the najāsah purifies the ground
Pouring water	Pouring water three times, until the traces are no longer visible, purifies it
Pouring, rubbing and wiping	Pouring water three times, rubbing by hand, and wiping with a clean cloth after each pour
Qalb (inversion)	Turning the upper soil to the bottom and the lower to the top purifies it
Covering	Covering the najāsah with soil or other material so it is no longer visible

Ground once dried and purified is not rendered impure again merely by later being wetted with water. Items not fixed directly into the earth (trees, grass, walls, thresholds, columns) or items merely resting on it as a surface, such as bricks or stones, are purified by drying exactly as the ground is; but a felled tree, cut grass, or bricks and stones not resting on the ground cannot be purified without washing. Rough stones and similarly earth-like matter are purified by drying, as the ground itself is. Pottery fired from impure clay is purified by that firing.

Purification of iron, glass and the like
Item	Method
Plain iron, brass, silver or gold items (swords, knives, jewelry), glass such as mirrors, or oiled utensils: anything non-absorbent	Purified by rubbing, wiping, or washing three times
Decorative, engraved, or ornately worked jewelry or utensils	Must be washed; rubbing or wiping alone does not suffice

Purification of utensils
Item	Method
New, absorbent earthenware or wooden utensils	Washed three times, dried fully each time
Oiled utensils, porcelain, or aged earthenware	Rubbing or wiping suffices
Earthen or stone utensils	Purified also by firing
A utensil to which a dog has put its mouth or which it has licked	Washed three times, dried each time; seven washes are preferable, one of the seven performed with earth or soil

Purification of oil, ghee and honey
Situation	Method
A mouse falls and dies within a jar of solidified ghee	The ghee immediately surrounding the mouse is removed and discarded; the remainder stays pure
Najāsah falls into liquid ghee or oil	A fifth part of water is added and heated until it evaporates, leaving the ghee or oil; alternatively, water is added, mixed thoroughly, and then the ghee or oil is drawn off and the water discarded. Repeating this three times purifies it
Honey becomes impure	A fifth part of water is added, heated until it evaporates, and water is again added and brought to a boil; repeated three times, this purifies it

Purification of miscellaneous items
Situation	Method
A goat's head or feet stained with blood after slaughter	Purified by burning
Part of the grain on a threshing floor becomes impure (from animal urine or dung), the affected portion unidentified	A small sample is taken, washed, and mixed back with the remainder; where a specific small part is known to be impure, that part alone is washed three times and dried
A small portion of cotton becomes impure	Where it is likely to be dispersed by rubbing, rubbing alone purifies it; otherwise washing is required. Where the impure portion is unidentified, rubbing can purify it as well

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