The Book of Water - Sunan an-Nasa'i 338

"If a dog licks the vessel of any one of you, let him wash it seven times, the first time with dust."

Purification Ruling

This hadith establishes that when a dog's saliva contaminates a vessel, it requires specific purification. The vessel becomes ritually impure (najis) and cannot be used for drinking, ablution, or worship until properly cleansed.

The scholars agree that this ruling applies to all vessels, whether made of clay, metal, glass, or other materials, as the impurity stems from the dog's saliva itself.

Method of Purification

The purification must be performed exactly seven times. The first washing must include soil or dust mixed with water, while the remaining six washings may be with pure water alone.

The wisdom behind using dust in the first washing is that dog saliva contains harmful microorganisms that are effectively removed by the abrasive and absorptive qualities of earth combined with water.

Scholarly Interpretation

Imam an-Nawawi explains that this hadith demonstrates the comprehensive nature of Islamic purification laws. The specific number of washings and the requirement of dust in the first washing are matters of divine wisdom (ta'abbudi) that Muslims follow out of obedience to Allah's command.

The majority of scholars hold that if one forgets to use dust in the first washing, the entire process must be repeated from the beginning with the correct procedure.

Practical Application

In contemporary times, if dust is not readily available, clean soil may be used. The vessel should be scrubbed thoroughly with the soil-water mixture, then rinsed six additional times with clean water, ensuring all traces of impurity and soil are removed.

This ruling emphasizes Islam's concern for physical cleanliness and spiritual purity, protecting believers from harm while maintaining the sanctity of worship vessels.