The Book of Water - Sunan an-Nasa'i 336

"If a dog licks a vessel then wash it seven times and rub it the eighth time with dust."

Textual Analysis

This hadith establishes the ruling concerning purification of vessels licked by dogs. The Prophet (peace be upon him) prescribed a specific purification method consisting of seven washings with water followed by an eighth purification with earth.

Juridical Ruling

The majority of scholars hold this purification obligatory when a dog's saliva contaminates a vessel. The wisdom behind this rigorous purification lies in the unique nature of canine impurity, which requires both water and earth for complete purification.

The seven washings must be performed with pure water, with the eighth purification using clean dust or soil rubbed thoroughly over the contaminated area.

Scholarly Consensus

Imam ash-Shafi'i, Imam Ahmad, and the majority of Malikis consider this purification mandatory. Some Hanafis consider it recommended rather than obligatory, though the preponderant evidence supports the obligatory nature.

The earth purification serves to remove the lingering impurity that water alone cannot eliminate, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of Islamic purification laws.