Is an Item Filthy If Blood Stains Are Present After Washing It?

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: In the past I was not careful about taharah. One day my pad which I used during menstruation got in the washing machine and then in the dryer. I threw away the pad which was still stained red and took a wet cloth and cleaned the dryer. This happened 7 years ago. We still have the same dryer.  What should I do?

Answer: assalamu `alaykum

I pray you are well.

You must not assume that your washing machine has been filthy for the past seven years. Nor must you assume that the clothes you subsequently washed in the machine became filthy as a result. If you do, this would be falling into baseless misgivings, which is contrary to the sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

Washing filthy clothes-items, which include the pad you mention, in a washing machine is permitted. If they come out without any trace of filth, they are considered to have become ritually pure. The presence of stains after the washing cycle does not effect the ruling as such stains are excused.

As a general rule, it is highly recommended and precautionary that one run a washing machine with filthy clothes in it through three washing cycles. Most modern washing machines are set to have multiple cycles. This is the optimal manner. If only one washing cycle is performed, this is permitted also as indicated above.

Salman

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

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