QUESTION:
As Salaamu Alaaikum,
I am desperately seeking clarity on a matter that’s causing me immense hardship. If you could please respond according to the Hanafi fiqh.
Whenever I have a wet dream, my clothes quickly dry up, leaving no visible trace. My mum washes these impure clothes together with other pure clothes in the washing machine. I recently checked with the company and was told that for all wash modes (i.e. cotton, eco mode), the wash cycle (water added at the start, clothes are spun, water drained) only happens once, and it’s not possible to add additional cycles. I have seen opinions stating that for invisible impurities, 3 cycles must be used. Even though the clothes are washed for 1 hour 20 minutes, and I don’t see any impurity (as the impurity was invisible anyway prior to washing), are all clothes now deemed impure?
This has been happening for over 10 years, and I am now anxious whether past prayers need to be repeated, for me and my family, and if all clothes need to be rewashed.
More recently, I started washing impure clothes separately before they are washed with the pure clothes. Because the impurity is not visible, I cannot identify the exact afflicted area, so I hold the garment under a running tap, ensuring water reaches everywhere. I then squeeze out as much water as I reasonably can and repeat this 3 times. However, because I felt wetness both inside and outside the garment during the wet dream, I also turn the garment inside out and repeat the process again, making it 6 washes in total. Is this excessive? I also find it difficult to fully wring out the garment due to not being physically strong, so I am unsure whether the garment is properly purified as I’ve read that all water must be squeezed out. Also, the garments are still severely soaked when I place them in the machine with the other pure clothes, so am I spreading najasah water?
Another concern I have is that even if I take these precautions, other family members are not doing the same, and so they could be adding their impure clothes into the same wash.
Lastly, if it is acceptable for impure and pure clothes to be washed together in 1 cycle, does washing powder/detergent have to be used, or does water alone suffice? Also, can I stop doing my current method of washing impure clothes separately, as I am finding it exhausting and difficult to maintain?
I sincerely apologise for overloading so much detail, I hope it’s all clear.
ANSWER:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
The following is the answers to your questions: –
When the impure clothes (as you have described) are placed with other pure clothes in the washing machine, and all the clothes are washed in one complete cycle of the washing machine, then all the clothes eventually become clean and pure even though it is washed with one cycle.
Therefore, your past prayers are not required to be repeated, and in the above situation, (whenever it occurs), the clothes do not need to be rewashed.
The impure clothes washed with pure clothes in a washing machine for one cycle become pure at the end of the washing process in the Hanafi Madhhab provided no color, smell or taste of the Najasah (impurity) remains after the wash.
The pure clothes become impure temporarily when both pure and impure clothes are put together to be washed in a small amount of water. This is due to the fact that the water first becomes impure and then the impurity transfers to the clothes. However, this impurity in the clothes is then removed when these are washed and rinsed, and the impure water is drained. Then again it is washed and rinsed in clean water, and then the water is drained. This is then followed by a high speed spin that extracts moisture and residue from the clothes.
So, immediately, when the impure clothes were placed together with the pure clothes, these became impure, but finally, by the end of the process of the cycle of the washing machine, all the clothes become pure. (Jami Al Fatawa 5/160,161 Idara Taleefaat Multan 1429 AH; Kitab An Nawazil 3/39 Zam Zam Karachi).
With respect to the other matter which you have referred to regarding the opinions which state that major invisible impurities should be washed 3 times, and on account of this, 3 cycles must be used in the washing, there are explanations on this. Many scholars have stated that consideration is not given to a fixed amount or a number of times in washing visible or non- visible impurities once the substance of the impurity is removed.
Similarly, Allama Shami has written regarding the removal of non-visible impurity,
و انّ المعتبرة غلبة الظن فى تطهير غير المرئية بلاعدد على المفتى به او مع شرط التثليث
‘And certainly consideration is given to one’s predominant thought (pre ponderant assumption) in purifying non visible impurity without a fixed number according to the Mufta bihi position, or according to the condition of washing three times’. (Mufta bihi means the view upon which a verdict is given or the adopted legal opinion). (Hashiya Radd Al Muhtaar 1/333 H.M Saeed Karachi).
This has been explained also by Imam Al Haskafi in his Ad Durr Al Mukhtar when he said, ‘The area/place of the non visible impurity will become purified through the predominant thought of the one who is washing off the impurity without a fixed amount of times (or number), and on this opinion, the Fatwa has been officially given’. While expounding on this, Allama Shami writes, ‘This shows clearly that if a person strongly believes in his thought (mind) that the non visible impurity has been purified (removed) with one washing, then this is permissible. Imam Al Karkhi has clearly expressed this also in his Mukhtasar and Imam Isbijaabi has preferred this opnion’. (Hashiya Radd Al Muhtaar 1/331 H.M Saeed)
The above explanation shows that many scholars held on to the opinion and gave the official Fatwa that with respect to purifying non visible impurity and removing it from one’s clothes, washing three times is not a condition and not essential. It is sufficient for one to use his predominant assumption. If he strongly believes and thinks that by washing one time the non visible impurity has been removed, then this is sufficient for him. This is permissible and valid in the Hanafi Madhhab, and there is no need to wash three times. Allama Shami went further in his ‘Hashiya’ to explain the both opinions and says, ‘And in As Siraji it is mentioned that giving consideration to one’s predominant thought in this matter is the preferred opinion of the Iraqi Fuqaha and stipulating with three times washing is the preferred opinion of the Bukhara Fuqaha. He further explained that Ibn Nujaim has stated in his ‘Al Bahr Ar Ra’iq’ that the first opinion of using one’s predominant thought in this matter refers to a state where one does not suffer from ‘waswasa’ (excessive doubts/suspicious), and if one suffers from such, then the second opinion of washing the clothes three times to remove non visible impurity should be adopted’. (Hashiya Radd Al Muhtaar (Shami) 1 /331 H.M Saeed).
So, taking this verdict into consideration, there is no need for you to wash three times or six times, and squeeze out the water or hold the garment under the running tap. The washing machine is able to clean and purify your clothes in a manner that is valid and acceptable in the Shariah, and there is no need for you to be doubtful or create waswasa in your mind.
A complete washing cycle consist of cleaning, rinsing, and washing the clothes by removing dirtiness, detergent and residue.
After the washing machine is filled with water up to the specified amount, the water is normally heated based on the type of clothes. The machine then moves the clothes back and forth or tumbles the clothes to remove dirtiness and impurities. The water is completely pumped out and removed entirely of the machine. Then the drum of the machine begins to spin at a high speed, forcing the remaining water out of the clothes. After this, the machine tub is filled with clean water again and rinsed completely with the clean water. This is rinsed completely at a fast pace to remove all residue from the clothes. This water is drained again, followed by a final, high speed spin to extract as much moisture as possible.
So, if the impure clothes are placed together with the pure clothes, then all will come out as being pure/clean at the end of the washing cycle.
To ensure thorough cleanliness in the clothes and removal of every type of dirtiness and impurity, it is best to use washing powder/detergent.
If you wish to first wash your impure clothes separately and then put them together with the other pure clothes in the machine, you should do so. This is more cautious, better and preferable to do to avoid the spreading of impurity.
And Allah Knows best
Mufti Waseem Khan
4/5/26