Tahaarah

What Does Tahaarah Mean in Detail?

Tahaarah is the first chapter in virtually every book of Islamic jurisprudence, reflecting its foundational importance. The Prophet Muhammad said: 'Cleanliness is half of faith' (Sahih Muslim). Tahaarah has two dimensions: physical cleanliness (removing impurities — najasah — from the body, clothing, and prayer space) and ritual purification (achieving a state of purity through wudu or ghusl). Minor ritual impurity (hadath asghar) — broken by sleep, using the restroom, or passing wind — requires wudu. Major ritual impurity (hadath akbar) — resulting from sexual intercourse, ejaculation, or menstruation — requires ghusl. When water is unavailable or its use is harmful, tayammum (dry ablution with clean earth) substitutes for both. For pilgrims, tahaarah is especially important: tawaf requires wudu according to the majority of scholars, and ghusl is sunnah before entering ihram.