Understanding the Rules of Najāsah (Ritual Impurity)

Translation: Islamic Rules on Impurity (Najāsah)

In Islam, certain things are considered impure (najis), and this article outlines them. Stay with us to learn more.

According to Islamic teachings, everything is considered pure except for eleven things—or anything that comes into contact with these eleven, while moist. These eleven impure items are:

1 & 2. Urine and feces of humans and of animals that fall into one of the following categories:

a. Animals that are impermissible to eat and have gushing (circulatory) blood.
b. Animals that habitually eat filth (najis substances).
c. Animals that have had sexual intercourse with humans.
d. Sheep whose meat has grown from being fed pig’s milk.

3. Semen of humans and animals that have gushing blood, whether they are halal to eat or not.

4. The corpse of a human or any animal with gushing blood.

5. Blood from humans or any animal with gushing blood.

(Fish, for example, do not have gushing blood and their blood is considered pure.)

6 & 7. Dogs and pigs.

8. Non-believers and those ruled as such (e.g., extremists and enemies of the Prophet’s family).

9. Intoxicating liquids, such as wine or grape juice that ferments on its own.

10. Barley beer (fuqqā‘) — an alcoholic drink made from barley.

Note: Barley water (mā’ al-sha‘īr) that causes no intoxication is pure and permissible.

11. Sweat of an animal that eats filth.

Question: What if something in our house became najis (impure), but we were unaware until much later? What should we do?

As long as you had no knowledge of the impurity, it is not considered najis. But once you become certain of it, you must remove the impurity and wash the area with water. Any item you are sure has come into contact with the impurity is also considered impure.

Question: In the restroom, if urine or feces splashes onto the floor and your wet slippers step in it, do your feet become najis too?

If you're wearing slippers and step on the impurity, only the slippers become impure—even if your feet are wet. But if you're barefoot, then your feet also become najis.

Question: A stone staircase inside the house became najis 25 years ago and was wiped with a damp cloth about 15 times. Is it now pure?

A damp cloth does not purify. If you want to purify the staircase with kurr water, washing once is enough. If using a container like a jug, then washing twice is sufficient.

Some scholars interpret a wet cloth (not just damp) as sufficient for purification, but using qalīl (small quantity) water once is enough. Washing twice is a precaution.

Question: If a carpet, clothes, dishes, etc., become najis, and during washing, water splashes onto your clothes, do those clothes become najis? Also, is the place (e.g., the tub) where it was washed also najis?

If the running water is connected to a kurr source, the splashed water is not najis. Also, if water is flowing in the tub and there's no visible impurity, then neither the place nor the items become najis.

In short: if visible impurity is present, it's najis. If water is running, it is not considered najis.

Question: If someone wakes up and finds wetness on their clothes but is unsure if it’s due to semen or urine, what should they do?

If the person has done istibrā’ (a purification practice) and is unsure whether the discharge is semen, urine, or other fluid, it is not najis and no ritual bath is required.
However, if the doubt is specifically between urine and semen, precaution dictates to perform both ghusl and wudu (ritual ablution). Usually, symptoms can help clear the doubt.

Question: Alcohol evaporates quickly. Is it still considered najis after evaporation?

If it's confirmed that the alcohol is derived from wine, it is najis. Industrial alcohol that is intoxicating is also najis.

Question: Are people who live with dogs considered najis?

The owner of the dog is considered pure, as long as there is no knowledge of impurity on their body or clothes.

Question: Part of a toenail becomes bruised due to pressure and starts lifting after a week. Is that considered najis?

If blood under the nail becomes visible, it is najis—unless it has chemically transformed (istihālah) over time, in which case it is considered pure.

Question: If dirty water from the street splashes on our clothes during rain or snow, is it najis?

No. As long as you're not certain that visible impurity is present, it's not considered najis—even if the water may be dirty.

Question: If a heavy coat becomes najis and is washed in a basin while the faucet is running, and it is moved around instead of being squeezed, is it purified?

If the faucet water connected to kurr water reaches all parts of the clothing and flows through it after removing visible impurity, then it is considered purified. Squeezing is not necessary. If squeezed afterward, the water that comes out is also pure.

Question: If a piece of clothing becomes najis and the impurity dries, will washing it in a washing machine purify it? Will it make other clothes najis?

The judgment depends on the machine's ability to meet purification conditions, which is up to the individual to assess.
If visible impurity remains on the clothes, other items become najis only if the water valve closes during the rinse cycle, preventing kurr water flow.

Question: Is it true that according to Ayatollah Sistani, najis clothes must be washed twice with kurr water?

Yes. Ayatollah Sistani gives this ruling specifically for clothes and the body contaminated with urine.

Question: Walking on muddy ground or snowy paths where dogs have walked—does that make shoes najis?

Only those moist areas that are definitely known to have come into contact with a dog's body or with qalīl water contaminated by impurity are najis.