Elements of Islamic Studies
Lesson 19: Najasah
Najasah means the thing which is unclean in itself, and makes other things unclean by contact. There are ten (10) Najasah:
1 and 2. Urine and stool of those living things whose meat is forbidden (haram), and whose blood comes out with a gush, other than birds. For example the urine of sheep is not najis, because its meat is not haraam though its blood comes out with a gush. Likewise, the stool of snake is not najis because its blood does not come out with a gush, though its meat is haraam.
Note: Urine and stool of those animals are najis which eat refuse of the human beings or have drunk milk of pig.
3 and 4. Blood and semen of those living things whose blood comes out with a gush, whether they be halal or haraam. So all these things of human beings are najis, and also those of cow are najis.
- Dead body of those living things whose blood comes out with a gush. But there are some details: Those parts which have no life in them during life-time, like hair, nail, bone, teeth etc. are not najis. The corpse of a Muslim is najis after being cold and before being washed. Before being cold it is tahir; after being washed it is tahir. The limbs which are cut from a living body (as in operation) are treated as corpse. (Ivory is taken out from dead elephant; still it is not najis, because it is a part which has no life in the life-time of the elephant (You may think of other examples yourself).
- The dog.
- The pig.
- Kafir.
- Liquor (liquid intoxicant).
- Fuqqa (mild beer).
Note: The sweat that comes out during or after becoming unlawfully 'junub', and the sweat of the animal which eats refuse of human beings are not najis; but prayer with such sweat on body or clothes is not allowed.