There are four situations in which minor impurity occurs, necessitating ablution (Wudu) before engaging in acts of worship.
1. The first cause of minor impurity is the discharge of any substance from the body’s excretory passages, either from the front or the back. The discharged substance does not necessarily have to be solid; even the passing of gas constitutes impurity. However, the mere movement of the private organ or the release of semen alone does not result in minor impurity.
2. The second cause is the loss of mental stability. Situations that can cause such a loss include sleep, unconsciousness, or intoxication. However, if a person dozes off in a way that does not result in a loss of consciousness, such as nodding off without losing awareness or sleeping in a seated position with the lower back firmly supported on a hard surface (such as the floor), then minor impurity does not occur.
3. The third cause is touching one’s own private parts with the inner side of the palm without a barrier. The specific areas that, if touched, require ablution are the external part of the anal opening and the area where the two sides of the genitalia meet. For men, this includes the penis (excluding the testicles), and for women, it includes the area where the two sides of the vaginal opening meet. If any part outside these specified areas is touched, purification is recommended but not obligatory. Touching the private parts of an animal does not result in impurity.
4. The fourth cause is skin contact between non-mahram men and women. Those considered non-mahram are individuals who are not closely related through blood, breastfeeding, or marriage. In Islamic law, mahram relationships are categorized into three groups: blood relations, foster relations (through breastfeeding), and marital relations.
Among the close blood relatives of a man who are mahram and cannot be married to him are his mother (from both paternal and maternal lineage), his daughters and granddaughters from both sons and daughters, his full sisters, half-sisters from either parent, his nieces (both from brothers and sisters), his maternal and paternal aunts.
A foster relationship (milk kinship) is established when a child under the age of two breastfeeds from a woman at least five times under different circumstances. This forms a permanent mahram relationship. If a boy breastfeeds in this manner, the woman who nursed him, her mother, and even the wife of her husband’s father are considered his mahrams. Similarly, if a girl breastfeeds from a man’s wife or daughters-in-law, she is considered his daughter in the foster relationship. If she breastfeeds from his mother or his father’s other wives, she is considered his sister.
Marriage also creates certain mahram relationships. A man’s stepmothers, daughters-in-law, and mother-in-law are considered mahram to him. For women, all the male individuals from these categories are considered mahram. These individuals cannot be married, and physical contact with them, such as shaking hands or embracing, is permitted.
However, touching one’s own wife results in minor impurity. This is not because she is considered a stranger, but because touching her may lead to emotional arousal similar to touching a non-mahram woman.
Acts Forbidden in a State of Minor Impurity
A person in a state of minor impurity is prohibited from engaging in the following acts until they perform ablution:
1. Performing prayer (Salah).
2. Prostration (Sujood), which is an obligatory component of prayer. However, since there are occasions outside of prayer where prostration is required, it is mentioned separately.
3. Circumambulation (Tawaf) around the Kaaba.
4. Touching the Qur’an.
However, mature children who are learning may touch the Qur’an for educational purposes. It is also forbidden to write the Qur’an in a language other than Arabic, to place coins or notes inside the Qur’an, or to handle it with disrespect. Even extending one’s feet toward the Qur’an is considered improper. While performing ablution (Wudu) is required before touching the Qur’an, it is not obligatory for merely reciting it from memory.
