Q:

Salam, it is mentioned in Maraqi’l Sa’adat (Ascent to Felicity) by Abu ‘l-Ikhlas al-Shurunbulali (translation by Faraz A. Khan, on the topic of Hanafi Jurisprudence), on page 61, the following:

“[The following situations are examples of filth not transferring from one area to another:]

– The moisture that appears on a dry, pure garment, after being wrapped in a damp, impure garment that would not drip if squeezed, is not deemed impure.

– A wet [clean] foot that steps on impure ground, without any trace of filth appearing on the foot, is not deemed impure.

– A damp, pure garment that is placed on impure ground, without any trace of filth appearing on the garment, is not deemed impure.

– The body of one who sleeps in a dry

impure garment, which becomes wet from his sweat, without any trace of filth appearing on his body, is not deemed impure”

Are these above scenarios pertaining to discernible, or indiscernible filth (i.e. najasah)? Or do they apply to both?

If someone’s clean, wet foot/hand/any body part, or someone’s clean, wet garment touches an area in which there is INDISCERNIBLE filth, would his body part/garment still be considered pure (given that there is no trace of filth on his body part/garment, as mentioned in the excerpt of the book above)?

Another question I have is: if, for example, my finger is wet, and I end up touching a piece of najasah. Thereafter, someone else’s finger touches my wet finger, but is unaware that my finger had touched najasah (also because the najasah on my finger is indiscernible, and there is no trace of the najasah on the other person’s finger). Has the najasah transferred to the other person as well?

Can the transference of najasah occur indirectly – meaning a person touching another person who has touched najasah? Or is the transfer mainly applicable to those who had direct contact with the najasah?

Is there a difference in rulings between discernible and indiscernible filth with regards to all these scenarios?

Jazakallah Khayran

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

It seems to me that you are merely trying to get help in doing your homework; you should know that we are not allowed to pass exams by cheating or through underhand methods.

If, on the other hand, you are concerned about the purity or impurity of such items, you can infer the answer from the text itself: In case of nonvisible impurities, the general rule is we are excused if they are negligible. It is based on the Quranic principle that Allah does not take us to ask for matters beyond our capacity or ability.

Almighty Allah Knows best.