Explanation of the author's statement: "And it is permissible to use them for lighting in other than a mosque"
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The Shaykh : He said "And it is permissible to use them for lighting in other than a mosque". The pronoun "them" refers to the nearest antecedent, which is the oils that have become ritually impure. It is permissible to use them for lighting, meaning to make lamps from them. How is that done? In the past, they did not have... meaning kerosene, gas, or electricity. So what did they use to light fires? They used oils. They would bring oil, put it in a small container, place a wick in it, and light the fire. As long as this oil remains, it burns. So the author says "It is permissible to use them for lighting in other than a mosque". This sentence is an incidental remark, because the discussion here is not about the permissibility of using them, but about the permissibility of selling them. However, he mentioned it, may Allah have mercy on him, as an aside. An aside in matters of knowledge is permissible when necessity calls for it or when the public interest requires it, following the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). An example from the Sunnah is that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about ablution with seawater, and he said Sunan Abi Dawud 83Sahih (Al-Albani). There was no question asked about its carrion, but the public interest required it. So, using ritually impure oils for lighting is permissible, but the author stipulated that this must not be in a mosque. If it is in a mosque, it is not permissible to use them for lighting. For example, a man has a container of oil in which impurity has fallen, making it impure. What does he do with it? He makes lamps from it for his house. What is the ruling? It is permissible. If he makes lamps from this oil for the mosque, it is not permissible. Why is it not permissible? They said because this leads to the defilement of the mosque, and defiling the mosque is forbidden. How does the mosque become defiled? Does it mean that if the oil spills in the mosque, it becomes defiled, or what?
The questioner : The smoke.
The Shaykh : It becomes smoke. So this is based on the view that impurity is not purified by transformation. As for the view that impurity is purified by transformation, then it is permissible. The scholars have two opinions on this, which were mentioned previously in the chapter on impurities, or were mentioned in the chapter on impurities. Do you know what transformation is? It is the change of a substance from one form to another. For example, a dog falls into a salt pit and becomes salt. Is this possible or not? It is possible. If iron falls into a salt pit, it becomes salt, and it is iron. If a dog falls into a salt pit, it becomes a salted carcass. Is it still impure or not? It depends on the difference of opinion. If we say that transformation does not purify the impure, then this mass of salt is impure. If we say that impurity is purified by transformation because it has changed from one substance to another, we say this mass of salt is pure.
The smoke? Is the smoke of the impurity transformed or not transformed? It is transformed, from a substance to smoke. So if we say that impurity is purified when it is transformed, we say it is permissible to use impure and ritually impure oils for lighting in the mosque and elsewhere. Is that clear, everyone?
The questioner : Clear.
The Shaykh : Okay, so, yes. And it is understood from the author's statement that it is permissible to use them, meaning the ritually impure ones, that it is not permissible to use the impure ones, such as the oil of what? The oil of carrion. It is not permissible to use it for lighting at all, neither in the mosque nor elsewhere. This is a point of disagreement. May Allah help you with the disagreement. Yes, it is a point of disagreement. Is it permissible to use impure oil for lighting or not? There is a disagreement among the scholars on this, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Does the pronoun refer to the benefit mentioned by the Companions, or does it refer to the sale that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke about? Yes?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : The second is according to one opinion, and the first is according to another opinion, and Allah knows best.
Its water is pure and what dies in it is lawful food.
هو الطهور ماؤه الحل ميتتهThe questioner : The smoke.
The Shaykh : It becomes smoke. So this is based on the view that impurity is not purified by transformation. As for the view that impurity is purified by transformation, then it is permissible. The scholars have two opinions on this, which were mentioned previously in the chapter on impurities, or were mentioned in the chapter on impurities. Do you know what transformation is? It is the change of a substance from one form to another. For example, a dog falls into a salt pit and becomes salt. Is this possible or not? It is possible. If iron falls into a salt pit, it becomes salt, and it is iron. If a dog falls into a salt pit, it becomes a salted carcass. Is it still impure or not? It depends on the difference of opinion. If we say that transformation does not purify the impure, then this mass of salt is impure. If we say that impurity is purified by transformation because it has changed from one substance to another, we say this mass of salt is pure.
The smoke? Is the smoke of the impurity transformed or not transformed? It is transformed, from a substance to smoke. So if we say that impurity is purified when it is transformed, we say it is permissible to use impure and ritually impure oils for lighting in the mosque and elsewhere. Is that clear, everyone?
The questioner : Clear.
The Shaykh : Okay, so, yes. And it is understood from the author's statement that it is permissible to use them, meaning the ritually impure ones, that it is not permissible to use the impure ones, such as the oil of what? The oil of carrion. It is not permissible to use it for lighting at all, neither in the mosque nor elsewhere. This is a point of disagreement. May Allah help you with the disagreement. Yes, it is a point of disagreement. Is it permissible to use impure oil for lighting or not? There is a disagreement among the scholars on this, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
It is forbidden
هو حرامThe questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : The second is according to one opinion, and the first is according to another opinion, and Allah knows best.