Kitab Ul Taharat

[Mike Fowler]

Todaymajority if not all the scholars consider the Ahlul Kitab as pure even though the view of the classical scholars were mostly that they were considered najis. Since I learnt this, I've always tried to stay on the safe side and always wash my hands etc. when I for example shake hands with Christians. I'm gonna be honest and say it's not the easiest (since a close friend of mine is Christian) and I truly want to believe that they are tahir as I believe that there are proofs for that as well, however I would like to hear some input from knowledgeable brothers here first. I don't want to consider them tahir just on the basis that it would make my life a lot easier living here on the west, rather I want to do that with clear proofs.

سعد عن أحمد بن محمد عن الحسن بن محبوب عن عبد الله بن سنان قال : سأل أبي أبا عبد الله عليه السلام وأنا حاضر اني أعير الذمي ثوبي وأنا أعلم انه يشرب الخمر ويأكل لحم الخنزير فيرد علي فاغسله قبل أن أصلي فيه فقال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام : صل فيه ولا تغسله من أجل ذلك فإنك أعرته إياه وهو طاهر ولم تستيقن انه نجسه فلا بأس أن تصلي فيه حتى تستيقن انه نجسه .

Summary: Ibn Sinan asked the imam ; i gave a cloak to a dhimmi (jew or christian) and i know he drinks alcohol and eats pig - he returns it to me; so should i wash it before i pray in it? Imam replied, pray in it and you don't need to wash it for that reason, for you gave it to him in tahir state and you are not sure that he has made it najis, so no problem in praying in it unless you are sure it is najis.

[Can't remember the source but it was definitely authentic as it was included in one of Ayatollah Asif Mohsini's books, as you probably know he is one of the strictest scholars when it comes to rijal]

عنه عن أحمد عن إبراهيم بن أبي محمود قال : قلت للرضا عليه السلام الجارية النصرانية تخدمك وأنت تعلم أنها نصرانية لا تتوضأ ولا تغتسل من جنابة ! قال : لا بأس تغسل يديها .

Summary: Imam Ridha (as) had a christian slave (female) and they asked him regarding najasah and if it's a problem if she doesn't do ghusl or wudhu to purify herself and he said its not a problem (even though they lived in same house etc.)

(3) Aren't we allowed to marry women from Ahlul Kitab (at least temporarily)? The classical scholars who held the view that Ahlul Kitab were najis, they did deem it permissible to marry their women though correct? Also If I am not mistaken, Ayatollah Khoie r.h was one of the modern scholars who considered them as najis, but at the same time he held the view that marriage with them was permissible, how is this possible?

(4) Now if we are to consider them pure, how do we deal with all the narrations that talks about them being najis? Why would someone make up narrations about them being najis (if we would consider such narrations as weak)? How do we reconcile the two types of narrations?

(5) Sunni scholars don't view them as najis (though they believe that even kafirs are tahir). How come they do not have any hadiths from the Prophet s.a.w regarding the najasat of Ahlul Kitab while we have a few from our Imams (a.s)?

1) The meaning of kafir is non-Muslim. Scholars differed on whether all kafirs are najis, or only non-Kitabi kafirs are najis. Some went as far as to declare non-Twelver Shi'a as najis. So the opinions of the fuqaha throughout history has varied.

2) Some scholars today also hold the view that they are najis. And the famous view amongst our jurists throughout time is their najasa. Sayyed Sistani recommends based on precaution to stay away from them.

've always tried to stay on the safe side and always wash my hands etc. when I for example shake hands with Christians. I'm gonna be honest and say it's not the easiest (since a close friend of mine is Christian)

Thank you all for your comments. Yes I do know that the najasah only transfers through wetness, but since I can't risk it (due to my issues with doubts) and my hands being a bit sweaty most of the times, It's still pretty tough.. :/

Thank you brother, yes it's correct that the most famous view throughout the time has always been that they are to be considered as najis. What I can't understand is that the same scholars who consider them as najis, usually permit marriage with the Ahlul Kitab women (some even permanently or only temporarily). How can marriage be permitted with them if they are najis?

Interestingly, Sayed Sabah Shubbar mentions that he saw a saying from Sayyed Khoei r.h that goes like "If we gathered up all the evidence, there's a possibility that we can rule them as tahir, however with this very popular opinion that has been around, it's hard for a scholar to give a fatwa on this, so the least is they are najis by obligatory precaution"

Thank you for noticing that. My Arabic is not the best, but as I've understood it the Imam (a.s) says that she (the Christian slave) washes her hands. If she would have indeed been najis, there would be no point in her washing her hands (as she would still be considered najis). Correct me if I'm wrong.

وعنه عن الحسن بن علي الكوفي عن عباس بن عامر عن علي بن معمر عن خالد القلانسي قال : قلت لأبي عبدالله ( عليه السلام ) : القى الذمي فيصافحني قال امسحها بالتراب وبالحائط . قلت : فالناصب قال : اغسلها .

In this report, a man asks Imam as-Sadiq about shaking hands with a dhimmi, to which the Imam instructs him to wipe his hand on earth or on a wall. Then the man asks about shaking hands with a nasibi, to which the Imam instructs him to wash.

Wiping your hand on a wall would not suffice in getting rid of najasa, especially if water is available (as implied in the narration). So therefore we're not dealing with a tahara/najasa issue per se, but a cleanliness issue. And indeed, dhimmis were probably not washing and bathing as much as Muslims, if one were to purely judge based on ritual practice. Furthermore, especially in pre-modern times, one can become very ill when coming in contact with another community.

And indeed, dhimmis were probably not washing and bathing as much as Muslims, if one were to purely judge based on ritual practice. Furthermore, especially in pre-modern times, one can become very ill when coming in contact with another community.

Salam because they count Tahir as what they are doing in their ritual bathing so they are clean & wiping is just for precaution ,because of that they do Tahara in their own way other than us doesn't mean that they are Najis but Nasibis are like as Kuffars (unbelievers) so no type of bathing makes them Tahir & they are always Najis.

it's an story that Imam Sadiq (as) & one of his close companions & servant of man that was not muslim was walking in store & servant made a mistake & crushed some stuff the companion insulted him & said he is Najis because they marry with their Mahrams ,Imam became angry & said to his companion in their religion it's not a sin & you don't have to call him Najis & after now our way separated from each other & after that day Imam (as) didn't visit him & didn't allow him to enter his house or be with him because of his insult to his servant

I know brother but still, would it really make sense that we are allowed to marry them while they are najis? If that would truly be the case, then you'd expect at least someone from the companions of the Imams (a.s) asking them regarding this issue (i.e how it's possible to marry them while they are najis).

It is ultimately a khilaf issue. There are pretty good arguments for/against the najasa of Ahl al-Kitab. We have big scholars on both sides. I personally believe that these narrations are referring to hygiene; or perhaps washing is a recommended (mustaHab) practice rather than wajib.

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