Question
I have a question regarding purifying things, making them ‘paak (ritually purified)’. I have shifted to a flat in UK. I have got few things left by the previous occupier. My auntie told me if I take garden soil and make the kitchen sink and dishes/plates, glassed, etc. clean with it, then I can use them. She said I would have to make the soil wet, cover the sink and dishes with it, let it dry and wash it with clean water. She asked me to repeat it 3 times, at least. When I shifted to the property, I couldn’t do all that before shifting. It was not possible for some reason. I cleaned the sink and a tea
cup with dish washer and recited ‘Kalma’ while cleaning and washing it with water. My question is do things get ‘paak’ by doing what I did? I haven’t been able to buy new things for my use yet. Please let me know if my course of action was right. If not, what is the proper way to make things ‘paak’?
Answer
There is no such obligation in the sources of the Shari’ah. Islamic Shari`ah does not aim at making life difficult for a believer. Thing do not grow napaak (impure) when non-Muslims use it at the first place. We are allowed to eat the food of the People of the Book and they are allowed to eat ours. This is explicitly mentioned in the holy Qur’an. The basic requirement is just to wash things, thoroughly. Such superfluous and undesired exactitude have gotten to the minds of some because the Prophet (sws) has been reported to wash certain things three times. This however was to ensure that the things were washed thoroughly. He did not mean to introduce a symbolic custom of washing things thrice. Similar is the case of use of clay which has now been replaced with detergents etc. Therefore, you have not committed any wrong and have proceeded to a more desired course of action.
Answered by: Tariq Mahmood Hashmi
Date: 2015-01-10
