Sunday 21 Jumada al-akhirah 1446 - 22 December 2024
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If the traces of blood remain after washing a garment in the washing machine, do the other garments also become impure (najis)?

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Publication : 05-07-2024

Views : 3241

Question

If I put water and soap in the washing machine, then I put dirty (impure) clothes in it and wash them once, and a trace of the colour of blood still remains, do all the clothes become impure and does the washing machine become impure, and does the hand become impure that touched the clothes when they were wet? If we put other clothes in the washing machine, do they also become impure? If that is the case, then almost all the clothes and household items have become impure, so what should I do?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly:

We have previously discussed the impurity (najasah) of blood in the answer to question no. 114018 .

Secondly:

It seems that what is meant by your saying “a trace of the colour of blood still remains” is that there is a slight trace of the colour of blood remaining on the garment after washing it. This trace may be overlooked.

It was narrated by Imam Ahmad in al-Musnad (14/371-372) and by Abu Dawud (365) from Abu Hurayrah that Khawlah bint Yasar came to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, I only have one garment, and I wear it when I am menstruating; what should I do?

He said: “When you become pure, wash it then pray in it.”

She said: What if the (traces of) blood have not disappeared?

He said: “Water is sufficient for you and the traces will not do any harm.”

It was classed as hasan by the commentators on al-Musnad, and classed as sahih by al-Albani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel (1/189).

Ad-Darimi (1052) narrated from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that a woman said to her: There may be blood on the garment, so I wash it, but it does not disappear; should I cut it out? She said: Water is a means of purification.

For more information, please see the answers to questions no. 438695 and 163825 .

Based on that, this garment may be deemed to be pure (tahir), and the impurity does not make the washing machine or the clothes in it impure.

If you were uncertain because of persistent intrusive thoughts (waswasah), we advise you not to get carried away with them; rather you should put a stop to them and ignore them, for when they take hold, they will cause you too much trouble.

 And Allah knows best.

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Source: Islam Q&A