 The Cleansing Quality of Water

The Quantity of Water that Always Remains Clean

The Case of a Small Quantity of Water, the Water with a Dead Body in it and its use by a Man to Wash His Dirty Hand in it

The Case of a Well and Things that May Fall in It (Fatwa best explains Ahadith 2-12 as well as the following chapter.)

A Well near a Cesspool

Taking Wudu’ With Water from Which Animals, Beasts and Birds Have Drunk

Taking Wudu’ with the Water from Which a Woman during Her Hayd (menses), People After Having Carnal Relations, a Jew, a Christian or a Person Hostile toward ’A’immah Has Drunk (Fatwa best explains Ahadith 4-6 of this chapter.)

A Man Places His Hand in the Water before Washing, the Limit of Washing Hands Because of Carnal Relations, Urination, Feces and Sleeping

Mixing of Rain Water with Urine, with Water Used for Taking Ghusl (bath) Because of Carnal Relations, Touching of One’s Cloth with Water Used for Washing Because of Urine

Water of Bath Houses and Water Heated by the Sun’s Rays

Places Not Desirable to Use as a Lavatory

Expressions to Say When Entering a Lavatory and When Coming Out

Draining Urine, Washing and If One Does Not Find Water

The Quantity of Water Required for Wudu’, Showers and One Who Is Excessive in the Use of Water for Wudu’

Brushing One’s Teeth

Rinsing One’s Mouth and Nostrils

Description of Wudu’

The Area of the Face and Hands to be Washed for Wudu’

Wiping of Head and Feet

Wiping Over the Shoes

Bandages and Wounds

Facing Doubts about Wudu’ Forgetting or Mixing Proper Order

Matters that Invalidate or Do not Invalidate Wudu’

One’s Stepping over Feces or Other Such Things

Certain Fluid, Which Is Other than Urine and Semen

Kinds of Ghusl (bath)

Matters Covered by Ghusl (bath)

Necessity of Ghusl (bath) on Friday

Description of Ghusl (bath), Wudu’ Before or Thereafter and a Man’s Ghusl (bath) in an Improper Place, Expressions to Say During Taking Ghusl (bath) and Moving a Ring During Ghusl (bath)

Reason Necessitating Ghusl (bath) for Men and Women

Wet Dreams of Men and Women

Finding Fluid Coming Out after Ghusl (bath)

One after Carnal Relations Eats, Drinks, Reads, Enters a Masjid, Dyes Hair, Uses Fragrance and So On

One after Carnal Relation Sweats in His Clothes, Clothes Touch His Wet Body

Semen or Al-Madhiy Comes in Contact with One’s Clothes or Body

Urine Comes in Contact with One’s Clothes or Body

Urine of Animals and Their Dung

Clothes Come in Contact with Blood and Pus

Dogs Touching Clothes, Body and So On

Description of Tayammum

When Tayammum Is Necessary and Finding Water Thereafter

One’s having Little Water on a Journey but Is Afraid of Facing Thirst

One’s Experiencing Carnal Relations and Having Only Ice

Taking Tayammum with Clay

Bandages, Injuries, One’s Suffering from Smallpox and or Experiencing Carnal Relations

Rare Ahadith about Wudu’

Chapters on Hayd (menses)

Minimum and Maximum Duration of Hayd

Women’s Experiencing Hayd After or Before Their Date of Hayd

Women Observe Yellowish Blood Before or After Hayd (menses)

First Time Hayd (menses)

Examining if Hayd (menses) has Ended or Not

Taking Ghusl (bath) Because of Hayd and the Kind of Water Needed

Women Find Blood after Sexual Relation

Comprehensive Instructions About Hayd (menses) and Istihadah (irregular menses)

Signs for Differentiating Between Blood of Hayd and Istihadah

Differentiating Among Blood of Hayd, Virginity or a Wound

Pregnant Woman Finds Blood

Blood Because of Childbirth

Blood Discharge after a Woman’s Experiencing Discharge-Free Period after Childbirth and Blood Discharge before Birth or after Childbirth

Matters Necessary for Women during Hayd at the Times of Salah (prayer)

Women Find Hayd Blood after the Coming of the Time for a Salah (Prayer) Before Performing It Or Become Clean Before the Coming of the Time for a Salah (Prayer) But Are Too Lazy for Ghusl (bath)

Women Feel Hayd during Salah (Prayer)

Women Must Make-up-for Fasting Because of Hayd but Not Salah (Prayer) 

Women’s Reading the Holy Quran During Hayd or Child-birth 

Women during Hayd Can Pick up Things from a Masjid but Must Not Leave Anything Therein

Women’s Hayd (menses) Stops, Comes Again and the Time of Menopause

Women’s Using Medicine to Have Hayd (menses) after It Stops 

Using Dye during Hayd (menses) 

Washing Clothes of Women during Hayd 

Women During Hayd Pick up Prayer Rug or Water 

Causes of Death and that Believing People May Die by any Manner of Dying 

The Reward for a Person Suffering from Illness 

Another Section on the Same Subject 

The Limits of Complaints 

A Patient’s Giving Permission to His Visitors 

How Often a Patient Should Be Visited, How Long the Duration of Visitation Should Be and Complete Visit 

The Limit of a Sudden Death 

The Virtue (Reward) of Visiting a Patient 

Dictations to a Dying Person

Difficulty in Dying (If Dying Becomes Difficult and the Agony of Death Intense) 

Facing the Dying Person Toward Qiblah

A Believing Person Is Not Caused to Die Against His Will

Things that Believers and Unbelievers See in Dying Conditions

Taking out of the Souls of Believing and Unbelievers

Burial Should Take Place Immediately

Rare Ahadith

Women during Hayd Nurse a Patient (The following chapters are about rules of washing a dead body for burial, shrouding and other matters of burial, and are best explained in the form of fatwa. Consult current fatwa about them.)

Washing a Dead Body

Hunut (Rubbing Camphor) on a Dead Body and Shrouding

Shrouding a Deceased Women

Undesirability of Perfuming the Shroud or Warming Water for Washing Dead Bodies

The Desirable Pieces of Shroud and the Undesirable Ones

The Amount of Water Needed for Ghusl (bath) of a Deceased Person

The Two Fresh Al-Jaridah (Twigs of Palm Tree)

Persons Dead Without Shower Due to Carnal Relations Hayd or Child Birth Reasons

Chapter 26- Dead Woman with a Baby Moving Inside Her

Cutting of Nails and Hairs of Dead Person Undesirable

Things Coming Out of a Dead Body after Ghusl (bath)

Washing of Persons of opposite Gender

1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ شَاذَانَ بْنِ الْخَلِيلِ النَّيْسَابُورِيِّ عَنْ مَعْمَرِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ يُجْزِئُ مِنَ الْمَسْحِ عَلَى الرَّأْسِ مَوْضِعُ ثَلاَثِ أَصَابِعَ وَكَذَلِكَ الرِّجْلُ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Shadhan ibn Khalil al-Naysaburiy from Mu’ammar ibn ‘Umar who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ’For wiping the head it is sufficient to wipe a portion of it the size of three fingers and so also is the case of the feet.’” 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ الأذُنَانِ لَيْسَا مِنَ الْوَجْهِ وَلاَ مِنَ الرَّأْسِ قَالَ وَذُكِرَ الْمَسْحُ فَقَالَ امْسَحْ عَلَى مُقَدَّمِ رَأْسِكَ وَامْسَحْ عَلَى الْقَدَمَيْنِ وَابْدَأْ بِالشِّقِّ الأيْمَنِ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from abu Ayyub from Muhammad ibn Muslim from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said, “Ears are not (part) of the face or the head.“ He (Muhammad ibn Muslim) has said that wiping was mentioned, so he (the Imam) said, “You must wipe the front portion of your head, and you must wipe the two feet. You must first wipe the right side (foot).” 

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ شَاذَانَ بْنِ الْخَلِيلِ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) رَجُلٌ تَوَضَّأَ وَهُوَ مُعْتَمٌّ فَثَقُلَ عَلَيْهِ نَزْعُ الْعِمَامَةِ لِمَكَانِ الْبَرْدِ فَقَالَ لِيُدْخِلْ إِصْبَعَهُ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Shadhan ibn al-Khalil, from Yunus, from Hammad, from Al- Husayn who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who wears a turban and it is difficult for him to remove it because of the cold. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can push his finger under the turban.”’ 

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) أَ لاَ تُخْبِرُنِي مِنْ أَيْنَ عَلِمْتَ وَقُلْتَ إِنَّ الْمَسْحَ بِبَعْضِ الرَّأْسِ وَبَعْضِ الرِّجْلَيْنِ فَضَحِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا زُرَارَةُ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَنَزَلَ بِهِ الْكِتَابُ مِنَ الله لأَنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ فَعَرَفْنَا أَنَّ الْوَجْهَ كُلَّهُ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُغْسَلَ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرافِقِ ثُمَّ فَصَّلَ بَيْنَ الْكَلاَمِ فَقَالَ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُؤُسِكُمْ فَعَرَفْنَا حِينَ قَالَ بِرُؤُسِكُمْ أَنَّ الْمَسْحَ بِبَعْضِ الرَّأْسِ لِمَكَانِ الْبَاءِ ثُمَّ وَصَلَ الرِّجْلَيْنِ بِالرَّأْسِ كَمَا وَصَلَ الْيَدَيْنِ بِالْوَجْهِ فَقَالَ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ فَعَرَفْنَا حِينَ وَصَلَهَا بِالرَّأْسِ أَنَّ الْمَسْحَ عَلَى بَعْضِهَا ثُمَّ فَسَّرَ ذَلِكَ رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لِلنَّاسِ فَضَيَّعُوهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا ماءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيداً طَيِّباً فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ مِنْهُ فَلَمَّا وَضَعَ الْوُضُوءَ إِنْ لَمْ تَجِدُوا الْمَاءَ أَثْبَتَ بَعْضَ الْغَسْلِ مَسْحاً لأَنَّهُ قَالَ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ ثُمَّ وَصَلَ بِهَا وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ مِنْهُ أَيْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ التَّيَمُّمِ لأَنَّهُ عَلِمَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ أَجْمَعَ لَمْ يَجْرِ عَلَى الْوَجْهِ لأَنَّهُ يُعَلَّقُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الصَّعِيدِ بِبَعْضِ الْكَفِّ وَلاَ يَعْلَقُ بِبَعْضِهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ ما يُرِيدُ الله لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ وَالْحَرَجُ الضِّيقُ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan all from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once said to abu Ja’far (a.s.), ’Please teach me on what basis you say that wiping is only on certain portions of the head and feet.’ He (the Imam) smiled and then said, ‘O Zurarah, the Messenger of Allah has said so and the book from Allah is revealed about it. It is because Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “Wash your faces.” From this we learn that one must wash the whole face. He (Allah) then has said, “And (wash) your hands upto (from) the elbows.” He (Allah) then has placed a disjointing in the statement saying, “You must wipe with.of your heads.” From His saying, “With/of your heads” we learn that wiping is only for a portion of the head because of His use of (Arabic letter) al-Ba’ (which means, “with” or “of”). He then has joined (the case of) the feet with that of the head. He has joined the rule of hands with the face, saying, “. . . and your feet up to the ankles” from which we learn that since He has joined it (wiping of feet) with the case of the head, wiping (of the feet) is also for certain portions of it. The Messenger of Allah explained it to people but they lost it. He (Allah) then says, “If you cannot find water, take a Tayammum with clean soil. Wipe your faces and hands therewith.” (5:6) Since He (Allah) has set aside Wudu’ in case you cannot find water He has established wiping (of face partially) as substitute for washing. He has said, “Wipe with/of your faces” and then has joined it with the expression, “and (wipe) your hands” and thereafter has said, “therewith” that is the soil. It is because He (Allah) knows that all of it (soil) does not go to the face. Some of the soil remains attached to certain parts of the palm and not to the other parts. He (Allah) then says, “Allah does not want to sanction in religion such matters that cause you hardships.” Hardships are difficulties.’” 

5ـ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) الْمَرْأَةُ يُجْزِئُهَا مِنْ مَسْحِ الرَّأْسِ أَنْ تَمْسَحَ مُقَدَّمَهُ قَدْرَ ثَلاَثِ أَصَابِعَ وَلاَ تُلْقِيَ عَنْهَا خِمَارَهَا.

5. Ali has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘In the case of women it is sufficient for them to wipe the front portion of their head the size of three fingers without removing their head scarf.’” 

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَسْحِ عَلَى الْقَدَمَيْنِ كَيْفَ هُوَ فَوَضَعَ كَفَّهُ عَلَى الأصَابِعِ فَمَسَحَهَا إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ إِلَى ظَاهِرِ الْقَدَمِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلاً قَالَ بِإِصْبَعَيْنِ مِنْ أَصَابِعِهِ هَكَذَا فَقَالَ لاَ إِلاَّ بِكَفِّهِ.

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida (a.s.), about wiping the backs of the feet as to how they must be wiped. He (the Imam) placed the palm of his hand over his toes add wiped to the ankles over the back of the feet. I then said, ’I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what happens if one places two fingers and wipes up to the ankle?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it must be done with one’s palm.’” 

7ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مَنْ رَأَى أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) بِمِنًى يَمْسَحُ ظَهْرَ قَدَمَيْهِ مِنْ أَعْلَى الْقَدَمِ إِلَى الْكَعْبِ وَمِنَ الْكَعْبِ إِلَى أَعْلَى الْقَدَمِ وَيَقُولُ الأمْرُ فِي مَسْحِ الرِّجْلَيْنِ مُوَسَّعٌ مَنْ شَاءَ مَسَحَ مُقْبِلاً وَمَنْ شَاءَ مَسَحَ مُدْبِراً فَإِنَّهُ مِنَ الأمْرِ الْمُوَسَّعِ إِنْ شَاءَ الله.

7. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus who has said the following: “One who had seen abu al-Hassan (a.s.), in Mina narrated to me that he (the Imam) wiped over his feet to the ankles and from the ankles toward the backs of his feet and said that the matter about wiping the feet is simple. One may wipe forward or backward; it is one of the matters in which ease is granted by the will of Allah.’” (Fatwa best explains this Hadith.) 

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّكَ تَوَضَّأْتَ فَجَعَلْتَ مَسْحَ الرِّجْلَيْنِ غَسْلاً ثُمَّ أَضْمَرْتَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْمُفْتَرَضُ لَمْ يَكُنْ ذَلِكَ بِوُضُوءٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ ابْدَأْ بِالْمَسْحِ عَلَى الرِّجْلَيْنِ فَإِنْ بَدَا لَكَ غَسْلٌ فَغَسَلْتَ فَامْسَحْ بَعْدَهُ لِيَكُونَ آخِرَ ذَلِكَ الْمُفْتَرَضِ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “He (the Imam) has said, ‘If you take Wudu’ and instead of wiping your feet wash them, thinking that this is what is obligatory, it is not considered Wudu’.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘First you must wipe your feet. Then if you like to wash them and you did so thereafter wipe them to make it the last obligatory act (of Wudu’).”’ 

9ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ مِسْكِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) إِنَّهُ يَأْتِي عَلَى الرَّجُلِ سِتُّونَ وَسَبْعُونَ سَنَةً مَا قَبِلَ الله مِنْهُ صَلاَةً قُلْتُ وَكَيْفَ ذَاكَ قَالَ لأَنَّهُ يَغْسِلُ مَا أَمَرَ الله بِمَسْحِهِ.

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from al-Hakam ibn Miskin from Muhammad ibn Marwan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One may live for sixty or seventy years while Allah has not accepted not even one of his Salah (prayer).’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘How can that happen?’ He (a.s.) said, 'Because he washes what Allah ordered to be wiped.'

10ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَمِّهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَكُونُ خُفُّ الرَّجُلِ مُخَرَّقاً فَيُدْخِلُ يَدَهُ فَيَمْسَحُ ظَهْرَ قَدَمِهِ أَ يُجْزِئُهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ali ibn ’Isma‘il from Ali ibn al-Nu‘man from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ja‘far ibn Sulayman, his uncle who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, if the back of one’s slipper is torn and he pushes his hand through the torn portion to wipe the back of his feet, is this acceptable?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is sufficient.’” 

11ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ تَوَضَّأَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فَغَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ وَذِرَاعَيْهِ ثُمَّ مَسَحَ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَعَلَى نَعْلَيْهِ وَلَمْ يُدْخِلْ يَدَهُ تَحْتَ الشِّرَاكِ.

11. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Aban from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Ali (a.s.), once took Wudu’. He washed his face and forearms, then wiped on top of his head and over his shoes but he did not push his hand under his shoelaces.’” (Fatwa best explains this Hadith.) 

12ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فِي الَّذِي يَخْضِبُ رَأْسَهُ بِالْحِنَّاءِ ثُمَّ يَبْدُو لَهُ فِي الْوُضُوءِ قَالَ لاَ يَجُوزُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ بَشَرَةَ رَأْسِهِ بِالْمَاءِ. 

12. Muhammad ibn Yahya in a marfu‘ manner has narrated from the following: “About a man who dyes his head with henna and notices it during Wudu’, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not permissible until water reaches the skin of his head.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 3

Book 1, Chapter 19