Purifying the Mattress from Impurity

8-4-2018 | IslamWeb

Question:

There is urine on my bed, I want to know how to properly purify it. Is it sufficient enough to put the bed sheets in the washing machine and then take a wet cloth and scrub the mattress?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

If the upper part of the mattress has become impure, and it is not certain that the impurity has reached the inside of it, then in principle the impurity did not reach the inside of it. We do not rule something to be impure just because of doubt.

Therefore, if you want to purify this bed, then you should wash the bed sheet and the outside part of the mattress that is stained by urine. However, if you are certain that the urine has reached the inside of the mattress (due to its abundant amount), then if it is possible to purify it by pouring water over it until the water immerses the impurity, then you are required to do so.

If not, then some scholars are of the view if it is not possible to make water reach its inside, then it would be enough to purify its outside part, and automatically, the inside part is ruled to be pure.

Imaam Ash-Shaafi’i said in his book entitled Al-Umm:

“All impurities are applied to what is apparent and not to the inside parts (of the item stained with the impurity).” [End of quote]

Allah knows best.