If a person finds impurity in his garment after several prayers, does he have to repeat those prayers?
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The questioner : If a person finds impurity in his garment after several prayers, does he have to repeat those prayers?
The Shaykh : If a praying person finds impurity in his garment after he has prayed, he does not have to repeat the prayer. Likewise, if he knew of the impurity before the prayer but forgot to wash it and then prayed, he does not have to repeat the prayer. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once led his Companions in prayer while wearing his sandals. During the prayer, he took them off, and the Companions took off their sandals in imitation of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When he finished the prayer, he asked them why they had taken off their sandals. They said, "We saw you take off your sandals, so we took off ours." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 766 Here, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) learned of the filth in his sandals. He continued his prayer after removing them and did not restart the prayer because he did not know, peace and blessings be upon him, that there was filth in them. This indicates that if a person is unaware of impurity in his clothing, whether sandals, trousers, a shirt, or a head covering, until he has prayed, his prayer is valid. If he becomes aware during the prayer, he should remove the impure item if possible and continue his prayer. If he cannot remove it, such as if the impurity is in a shirt and he has nothing else over it, he must break his prayer to wash the impurity or replace the impure garment with a pure one. In this hadith of the sandals, there is clear evidence that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) does not know the unseen, as his Lord, Mighty and Majestic, commanded him to announce to the Ummah that he does not know the unseen. Allah the Exalted said to him: [Al-An'am 6:50] And Allah the Exalted said to him: [Al-Jinn 72:21-22] The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) does not know the unseen, nor does he possess the power to bring harm or guidance, or benefit or harm, to others, because he is a human being created by Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and a creature of Allah. What befalls humanity—sickness, hunger, thirst, heat, and cold—befalls him, as he said, peace and blessings be upon him, when he forgot in his prayer: Sahih al-Bukhari 401 By this, we know the misguidance of those who call upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to remove their harm or bring them benefit, or who think that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) knows the unseen. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: [An-Naml 27:65] But the successful person is the one who does not call upon anyone but Allah, does not rely on anyone but Allah, does not seek benefit from anyone but Allah, and does not seek the removal or lifting of harm from anyone but Allah, Mighty and Majestic.
The important point is to say that anyone who prays in an impure garment without knowing it is impure, his prayer is valid. Anyone who prays in an impure garment knowing it is impure but forgot to wash the impurity, he does not have to repeat his prayer. As for the one who prays without ablution, whether out of forgetfulness or ignorance, and then it becomes clear to him, he must repeat the prayer. This is like if a person eats camel meat without knowing it is camel meat, then prays, and after the prayer it becomes clear to him that he ate camel meat; he must perform ablution and repeat the prayer because he prayed without ablution. One must distinguish between the one who prays without ablution and the one who prays in an impure garment.
Likewise, if a person is affected by major ritual impurity in his sleep, and he gets up without knowing it, performs ablution, and prays Fajr, and then it becomes clear to him afterwards that he had major ritual impurity from the night, he must take a full ritual bath and repeat the prayer because he prayed while in a state of ritual impurity. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you and bless you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : If a praying person finds impurity in his garment after he has prayed, he does not have to repeat the prayer. Likewise, if he knew of the impurity before the prayer but forgot to wash it and then prayed, he does not have to repeat the prayer. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once led his Companions in prayer while wearing his sandals. During the prayer, he took them off, and the Companions took off their sandals in imitation of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When he finished the prayer, he asked them why they had taken off their sandals. They said, "We saw you take off your sandals, so we took off ours." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Gabriel came to me and informed me that there was filth on them
إن جبريل أتاني فأخبرني أن فيهما قذرا فخلعتهماI do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel
قُل لا أَقولُ لَكُم عِندي خَزائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلا أَعلَمُ الغَيبَ وَلا أَقولُ لَكُم إِنّي مَلَكٌ(21) Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction." (22) Say, "Indeed, there will never protect me from Allah anyone [if I should disobey], nor will I find in other than Him a refuge.
قُل إِنّي لا أَملِكُ لَكُم ضَرًّا وَلا رَشَدًا * قُل إِنّي لَن يُجيرَني مِنَ اللَّهِ أَحَدٌ وَلَن أَجِدَ مِن دونِهِ مُلتَحَدًاbut I am a human being like you and liable to forget like you. So if I forget remind me
إنما أنا بشر مثلكم أنسى كما تنسون فإذا نسيت فذكرونيSay, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah
قُل لا يَعلَمُ مَن فِي السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ الغَيبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُThe important point is to say that anyone who prays in an impure garment without knowing it is impure, his prayer is valid. Anyone who prays in an impure garment knowing it is impure but forgot to wash the impurity, he does not have to repeat his prayer. As for the one who prays without ablution, whether out of forgetfulness or ignorance, and then it becomes clear to him, he must repeat the prayer. This is like if a person eats camel meat without knowing it is camel meat, then prays, and after the prayer it becomes clear to him that he ate camel meat; he must perform ablution and repeat the prayer because he prayed without ablution. One must distinguish between the one who prays without ablution and the one who prays in an impure garment.
Likewise, if a person is affected by major ritual impurity in his sleep, and he gets up without knowing it, performs ablution, and prays Fajr, and then it becomes clear to him afterwards that he had major ritual impurity from the night, he must take a full ritual bath and repeat the prayer because he prayed while in a state of ritual impurity. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you and bless you, O honorable Shaykh.