Islam gives great importance to both the spiritual and physical purity of humans.

The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) taught us that purity is half of faith.

A person who attains inner purity through prayer must also cleanse themselves externally from all impurities when preparing for prayer.

When entering into prayer, one must be free from all impurities that tarnish human purity, such as blood, feces, and urine.

Different Types of Impurities

1. Dog, pig.
2. Corpses and parts such as horns, hair, and bones from beings other than humans, fish, and locusts.
3. Intoxicating substances in liquid form.
4. Fluid discharged from the private parts during sexual arousal, fluid emitted immediately after heavy lifting or urination.
5. Urine, feces, blood, pus, vomit.
6. Poison from worms.
7. Feathers, fur, hair, etc., separated during the lifetime from the bodies of animals not fit for consumption.
   • Example: cat hair.
     

Tolerated Impurities

Some impurities are excused only under particular circumstances:

Tolerated Only in Water

1. The feces (excrement) of aquatic creatures such as fish.
2. Carcasses of insects like lice, flies, lizards, and bees that do not have flowing blood.
   

Tolerated Only in Prayer

1. Blood from creatures like mosquitoes, which do not have flowing blood.
2. Blood from one’s own wounds, boils, etc.
3. A slight amount of blood from others. However, to be excused, it must not be due to one’s own negligence.
4. Urine of a fly.
5. Blood inside the mouth.
   

Purification of Impure Objects

Impurities are generally categorized into three types:

1. Severe Impurity

This includes items contaminated by dogs and pigs.

Objects generated by these two creatures are also considered severely impure.

If these animals come into contact with an object, it must be washed seven times, one of which must be with water mixed with clean soil.

It is better to use the soil-mixed water the first time itself.

Modern medical science observes that germs from dogs and pigs can be transmitted to humans through contact, and that soil washing is the only way to counteract these germs.

2. Light Impurity

This refers to items contaminated by the urine of baby boys under two years old who have not yet consumed anything other than breast milk.

To purify such an item, it is sufficient to sprinkle plenty of water over the impure area; complete soaking and dripping are not necessary.

3. Medium Impurity

This covers all impurities not included in the above two types. When purifying such impurities, washing must continue until the impurity’s color, smell, and taste are removed. If either the smell or the color remains even after washing, it is still considered pure. 

But if both remain, it remains impure.

Caution

Water must be poured over the impure object to purify it. If an impure object is washed in less than 200 liters of water, the water and the vessel become impure. If there are 200 liters or more, even then, if the water’s color, smell, or taste changes due to the impurity, the water cannot be used for purification. When washing, if impure and other garments are soaked together in the same bucket, all garments will become impure. This must be strictly observed.

Purifying Impure Places

If liquid impurities like urine have dried up on the ground, pouring more water over it than the amount of urine will purify the ground. However, on surfaces like marble that do not absorb liquid, the urine does not dry properly. Thus, first, the urine must be fully wiped up, and then the area must be cleaned with water. Drying alone does not purify a place after wiping. If it is a solid impurity like feces, it must be completely removed first and then washed with water.

Seriousness

When offering prayer and performing other acts of worship, the body, clothes, and place must all be free from impurities. Thus, when urinating or cleaning impurities, utmost care must be taken to avoid splashing on the body or clothes. Modern toilets often cause urine or wastewater to splash back onto the body. 

Similarly, certain modern styles of dress hinder complete urination,  increasing the risk of impurity on body and clothes. Additionally, garments that trail below the ankles may touch the ground and get soiled with impurities. All these matters must be handled with great seriousness. Islam has forbidden men from letting their garments hang below the ankles. If we follow Islamic guidelines on dressing and using toilets, we can avoid such problems.

The seriousness of ensuring complete purification after urination can be seen from the Prophet’s (ﷺ) words:

Once, the Prophet (ﷺ) passed by two graves along with his companions.

He pointed to the graves and said, ‘These two are being severely punished.

And they are not being punished for a major sin.

One used to indulge in slander, and the other did not protect himself from urine.’

He then placed green branches on each grave and said, ‘As long as these remain fresh, their punishment may be lightened by their supplication.’”

This is why, even today, green branches are placed on graves, and prayers are offered for the deceased.

Etiquettes of Defecation

Islam touches every aspect of life. It provides precise guidance in every human activity. Islamic jurisprudence teaches the etiquettes to observe during defecation.

It is prohibited to relieve oneself in a way that causes environmental pollution or inconvenience to others. Thus, one must not relieve themselves on pathways, windy places, others’ property, stagnant water, under fruit-bearing trees, or places where people gather. It is also forbidden to relieve oneself on food items or respected objects.

Covering the head, wearing footwear, removing anything bearing revered words from the body, stepping into the toilet with the left foot first, stepping out with the right foot first, and refraining from speaking — these are the etiquettes to observe during defecation.

Supplications of the Sunnah:

Upon Entering the Toilet:

اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أعُوذُ بكَ مِنَ الخُبُثِ والخَبَائِثِ

(O Allah, I seek refuge with You from male and female devils.)

The place of defecation is often a shelter for harmful microbes and devils.

Through this prayer, we seek protection from such harms.

Upon Leaving the Toilet:

‏غُفْرَانَكَ، الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذي أذْهَبَ عَنِّي الأذَى وَعافاني‏

(O Allah, I seek Your forgiveness.

Praise be to Allah who removed harm from me and granted me well-being.)

Reflect for a moment: what if a person could not relieve themselves?! Here, we thank the Lord who allowed us to remove waste without difficulty.

After Completing Purification:

اَللَّهُمَّ طَهِّرْ قَلْبِي مِنَ النِّفَاقِ وَحَصِّنْ فَرْجِيْ مِنَ الفَوَاحِشِ

(O Allah, purify my heart from hypocrisy and safeguard my private parts from immorality.)

Out of respect for the Qibla (the Kaaba), it is not permitted to relieve oneself facing directly toward or with the back toward it without a covering. We have already discussed the types of water suitable for purification. One must use such pure water for cleansing. If impurity has not spread from the private parts, it is permissible to use dry, impurity-absorbing materials like stones for cleansing.