Purifying Carpets and Rugs from Impurity
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
If something is placed on a carpet, how does one handle it?
The Shaykh:
If urine falls on the ground or on something fixed to the ground, such as a basin fixed in the ground, or what was known to them as the dog that is tethered to the ground, or anything similar that is attached to the ground, then the ground and whatever is attached to it, if it becomes ritually impure, is purified by pouring a large amount of water on it. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that a bucket of water be poured on the urine of the Bedouin man who urinated in a part of the mosque. Impurity on the surface of the ground or on what is attached to it is purified by pouring a large amount of pure water on it, and that is sufficient.
As for carpets, rugs, and items that are not attached to the ground, these are like everything else; they must be washed. They must be washed. If they are of a type that can be wrung out, they are turned over and beaten. If they are of a type that cannot be wrung out due to their weight, like a carpet, then water is poured on it and it is pressed with something heavy until the water inside is squeezed out. Then a second amount of water is poured on it until the impurity is removed from its surface and its interior. Water is poured on it and it is pressed with a stone or something heavy until the water is squeezed out, then a second amount is poured on it and it is pressed again, and so on, until one is certain that the impurity has been removed.
The questioner:
And.
The Shaykh:
Until one is certain. The correct view is that there is no specific number of washings required to remove impurity. Rather, if one is convinced in his mind that the impurity has gone, that is sufficient, provided that no smell or color remains. That is, if one does not smell its odor in the place or in the garment, and it has no color left, this is evidence that it has gone. One is not restricted to a specific number.
As long as the smell of the impurity remains, washing is obligatory, because the presence of its smell is evidence of the presence of its substance. The same applies to color, unless one is unable to remove the color, in which case it is excused. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the woman when she asked him about menstrual blood that falls on a garment: "It does not harm you if its trace remains." He said: "Sprinkle it with water, then pinch it, and wash it with water," and then he said: "It does not harm you if its trace remains," meaning after washing. If one is unable to remove the color, it is excused. But as long as it is possible to remove the color, it must be removed.
Another questioner:
Regarding the rugs in the bedrooms that have cabinets on them, and they are heavy. Meaning, it is difficult to carry them.
The Shaykh:
These are fixed. These are fixed. Pour water on them? For the sake of purification, and that is sufficient, if Allah wills. What cannot be moved, or what is fixed, or fixed for a purpose, or similar to that. This religion is easy, praise be to Allah. These, pour water on them and that is sufficient. Yes, pour water on them and dry them, and that is sufficient. Yes.
If something is placed on a carpet, how does one handle it?
The Shaykh:
If urine falls on the ground or on something fixed to the ground, such as a basin fixed in the ground, or what was known to them as the dog that is tethered to the ground, or anything similar that is attached to the ground, then the ground and whatever is attached to it, if it becomes ritually impure, is purified by pouring a large amount of water on it. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that a bucket of water be poured on the urine of the Bedouin man who urinated in a part of the mosque. Impurity on the surface of the ground or on what is attached to it is purified by pouring a large amount of pure water on it, and that is sufficient.
As for carpets, rugs, and items that are not attached to the ground, these are like everything else; they must be washed. They must be washed. If they are of a type that can be wrung out, they are turned over and beaten. If they are of a type that cannot be wrung out due to their weight, like a carpet, then water is poured on it and it is pressed with something heavy until the water inside is squeezed out. Then a second amount of water is poured on it until the impurity is removed from its surface and its interior. Water is poured on it and it is pressed with a stone or something heavy until the water is squeezed out, then a second amount is poured on it and it is pressed again, and so on, until one is certain that the impurity has been removed.
The questioner:
And.
The Shaykh:
Until one is certain. The correct view is that there is no specific number of washings required to remove impurity. Rather, if one is convinced in his mind that the impurity has gone, that is sufficient, provided that no smell or color remains. That is, if one does not smell its odor in the place or in the garment, and it has no color left, this is evidence that it has gone. One is not restricted to a specific number.
As long as the smell of the impurity remains, washing is obligatory, because the presence of its smell is evidence of the presence of its substance. The same applies to color, unless one is unable to remove the color, in which case it is excused. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the woman when she asked him about menstrual blood that falls on a garment: "It does not harm you if its trace remains." He said: "Sprinkle it with water, then pinch it, and wash it with water," and then he said: "It does not harm you if its trace remains," meaning after washing. If one is unable to remove the color, it is excused. But as long as it is possible to remove the color, it must be removed.
Another questioner:
Regarding the rugs in the bedrooms that have cabinets on them, and they are heavy. Meaning, it is difficult to carry them.
The Shaykh:
These are fixed. These are fixed. Pour water on them? For the sake of purification, and that is sufficient, if Allah wills. What cannot be moved, or what is fixed, or fixed for a purpose, or similar to that. This religion is easy, praise be to Allah. These, pour water on them and that is sufficient. Yes, pour water on them and dry them, and that is sufficient. Yes.
Source
شرح بلوغ المرام من أدلة الأحكام [ صالح الفوزان ]، تابع باب نواقض الوضوء - 2 — islamhouse.com (29:27)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.