The Meaning of an Excused Amount of Impurity

Q: Taharaat 50: I read a Fatwa of yours in a previous volume of Fataawaa Raheemiyyah in which you stated that it is not Waajib (compulsory) to wash off Madhi when it is little, but necessary to do so when it is a lot. What I fail to understand is how to gauge when it will be regarded as little and when it will be a lot. Please clarify.

Answer: Madhi is an impure liquid and such liquids will be excused (when they fall on clothing) when they amount to the amount of the inside of a palm (the depth of a palm). When equal to or less than this amount, it will be regarded as a little and anything more will be regarded as a lot.

Therefore when the Madhi on a person's clothing is equal to or less than the size of a palm and for some reason or another salaah was performed with it, it will not be necessary to repeat the salaah.l The meaning of a small amount being excused is that if one became aware of the impurity on one's body or clothing after performing the salaah. the salaah will not have to be repeated. However, if one is performing salaah in congregation and then discovers the impurity, one should leave the congregation to wash it off and then rejoin. This will apply only if one is confident that one will still be able to rejoin the congregation. If one fears that he will be unable to rejoin the congregation, he should continue the salaah. Similarly, if he is performing salaah by himself, it is also best that he terminates the salaah to wash the impurity off if there is no fear of missing the salaah (because of lack of time). If he fears that the salaah will become Qadhaa, he must rather continue with the salaah with the impurity on his person. For an impurity to be excused does not mean that it need not be washed off. It must be washed off at the first opportunity. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2