Concept recall
What is the difference between something that is dirty and something that is najis?
Dirty means physically unclean (e.g. mud, dust).
Najis means ritually impure — something Islamically impure that prevents prayer or worship until cleaned according to rules.
What does Taqleed mean?
Taqleed means obeying Islamic laws according to the rulings of a Marjaʿ (a qualified Islamic jurist).
If your hand is wet and you pat a dog, what happens to your hand?
The hand becomes najis, because dogs are impure by nature and moisture transfers najasat.
When does a person have to start doing Taqleed?
Upon becoming bāligh (reaching maturity).
Girls: at completion of nine lunar years
Boys: at puberty or fifteen lunar years, whichever comes first.
Salman’s tooth bleeds and a little blood mixes with saliva. Is his saliva najis?
No, if the blood disappears in the saliva, it’s not najis and he can swallow normally.
What are the 10 things that are najis by nature called?
They are called Najaasat al-‘Ayn.
These include: urine, stool, blood, corpse, dog, pig, intoxicating drinks
Who is a Marjaʿ?
A Marjaʿ al-Taqleed is a Mujtahid who is the most knowledgeable in Islamic laws and whose rulings others follow in their daily religious practice.
Zahra sees a spot of blood in an egg yolk. Should she eat it?
It is better not to eat it. The recommended precaution is to avoid consuming an egg with visible blood.
What is a Fatwa?
A Fatwa is a direct ruling given by a Marjaʿ that must be followed by his Muqallids.
If your carpet is najis but dry, do you need to warn guests before they sit on it?
No, you don’t need to warn them — najasat transfers only if there is moisture.
What does the word mutanajis mean?
Mutanajis means something that became najis after touching a najis thing — not najis by its own nature.
Who is a Mujtahid?
A Mujtahid is an expert in deriving Islamic rulings from the Qur’an, Hadith, and other sources, but may not necessarily have his own book of rulings.
Mahdi kills a mosquito and sees its blood on his hand. Is his hand najis?
No, it’s not najis — because the blood of animals whose blood does not gush out (like mosquitoes or fish) is pure.
What are Ehteyaate Wājib and Ehteyaate Mustaḥab?
Ehteyaate Wājib: Obligatory precaution — must be followed, but one can refer to another living Marjaʿ with a direct Fatwa.
Ehteyaate Mustaḥab: Recommended precaution — better to follow but not obligatory.
What is the difference between blood that gushes out and blood that doesn’t? Give examples.
Gushing blood = when cut, blood flows freely (humans, chickens, cows) → najis.
Non-gushing blood = does not flow (fish, mosquitoes) → taahir.
What two conditions must be present for najasat to transfer from one object to another?
1️⃣ There must be contact with one of the 10 Najasat al-‘Ayn.
2️⃣ There must be wetness or dampness between them.
If both are dry, najasat doesn’t transfer.
Who is a Muqallid?
A Muqallid is a person who follows a Marjaʿ and acts upon his rulings.
Sajjad finds blood in chicken meat that was slaughtered Islamically. Does he need to wash it three times?
No need — the blood that remains inside an animal slaughtered according to Islamic law is taahir (pure).
Who is our present Marja?
Ayatullah al-ʿUẓmā Sayyid ʿAli al-Sistani, born in Mashhad, Iran, and currently based in Najaf, Iraq.
Why can’t things that are najas al-‘ayn become taahir by washing?
Because they are inherently impure by nature (e.g. dog, pig, alcohol). Washing doesn’t change their essence.
If you are in doubt whether something became najis, what should you assume?
You should assume it is still taahir (pure), unless you are sure najasat transferred.
What are the qualities required for a Marjaʿ?
The Marjaʿ must be:
Male, Shīʿa Ithnā-ʿAsharī, adult (bāligh), sane (ʿāqil), of legitimate birth, living, and just (ʿādil).
Aasiyah cuts her finger and two drops of blood fall into boiling macaroni, but the colour and smell don’t change. Is the food paak or najis?
Najis — because human blood is najis, even if the colour or smell doesn’t change.
(However, if the amount was very tiny and completely disappeared, it might be excused — but generally, it’s avoided.)
When can you change your Taqleed to another Marjaʿ?
You may change your Taqleed if:
Your current Marjaʿ passes away,
You find another Marjaʿ who is more knowledgeable,
You cannot access your Marjaʿ’s rulings, or
Your Marjaʿ issues an Ehteyaate Wājib and another has a direct Fatwa on that issue.
If a taahir object touches a najis one but both are completely dry, does najasat transfer?
No, najasat transfers only with wetness or dampness between them.