Cleaning Impurity
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question: How do I properly clean urine? If I step on a rug that is damp with impurity does the impurity transfer to my foot?
Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
Important Note in Cleaning Impurity
With regards to cleaning impurities, such as urine, first, minimize the amount of impurity. Pouring water on urine will only spread the urine further. You should dry as much of it as possible then wash the area, being careful to minimize any spreading.
You may want to mop the floor once again to be cautious.
Regarding the rug that became damp during the process which you mentioned. If the water poured onto the urine spread to the rug, the rug would be impure as well. Your stepping on that damp rug would only cause your foot to be impure if there was a transference of wetness to the foot. [Hashiyah Ibn ‘Abidin]
In this case, it was correct for you to have washed your foot. [Hashiyah al-Tahtawi ‘ala Maraqi al-Falah}
In short, when dealing with impurities, the impurity should first be minimized, as best as possible. Secondly, it should be cleaned, carefully, such that the impurity doesn’t spread.
May Allah bless you
Allahu A’alam
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a graduate from Tarim; a student of Habib Umar and other luminaries; and authorized teachers of the Qur’an and the Islamic sciences.
