Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As per bohri custom, it s compulsory to recite kalima while washing clothes worn during hayz, janabah period and also if they are soiled with urine or faeces.Is this right or bida`? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Bohra reciting kalima while washing

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The declaration of the ‘kalimah’ or testimony of faith has absolute no bearing with the physical purity of an object. There is absolutely no evidence in the authentic Sunnah, whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) or his noble companions would declare the ‘kalimah’ everytime they wished to purify their clothes or their selves. Whenever they wished to wash and purify their clothes or their selves, they would simply declare ‘Bismillah’ and use pure water to wash their clothes or their selves.

One may recite the ‘kalimah’ any number of times one wishes; but to make it a ritual whereby one recites it everytime one wishes to purify his clothes or his self is a burden one has laden on himself and would be considered an innovation or ‘bidah’ in the deen of Islam.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His angels, and by all the people.”

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan