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-salaam-alai-kum Brother,

One of my friends wants this clarification:

She has heard on 'Q' TV that you have to wash the clothes three times in a bucket overflowing with water or under running water to make it pure for wearing at Namaaz and other times. Does this have any bearing? Will a piece of cloth be considered impure if not washed in this manner and hence one will not be able to pray?

Please also let me know if clothes that have been 'dry-cleaned' can be used while offering namaz?

Do let me know the answer at the earliest.

Jazakallah.

(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:

Washing of clothes

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Under normal situations and conditions, there are two occasions when one would need to wash their clothes:

1. If an impurity has touched their garment.
2. If the garment is soiled or dirty.

If one is absolutely convinced that an impurity has touched their garment, one may wash the whole garment if one so wishes, or one may merely wash only the part of the garment where the impurity had touched…..that would suffice for the garment to be considered pure and one is at liberty to wear the garment in their prayer.

If the garment is merely soiled or dirty, but no impurity has touched it….one should wash the garment and one is at liberty to wear the garment in their prayer.

Respected sister in Islam, we absolutely assure you that there is absolutely nothing in the Glorious Quran or the authentic and established Sunnah whereby a believer is required or obliged to wash any garment (dirty or impure) in the manner stated by you (three times in a bucket overflowing with water or under running water)!!! The one who has declared that a garment must only be washed in such a prescribed manner to be considered pure should be asked to provide their evidence for their declaration from either the Quran or the Sunnah….and we absolutely assure you sister, there is none!!!

As long as an impurity has not touched a ‘dry-cleaned’ garment, one is at absolute liberty to adorn themselves with that garment in their prayer.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan