Question:
Assalamualaikum w.b.t. I want to ask. Once, after I’ve prayed, I realized that there is blood spatter on my clothes. At that moment, I remembered that before that, I helped a person in an accident. What is the status of my prayer, ustaz? Hope for an explanation.
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
There are seven requisites of prayer. Validity of a prayer is in accordance with these seven requisites. If all is fulfilled, then prayer is valid. If not, then prayer is invalid, or in other words, invalidated.
Among the requisites is a person is certain that his body, clothes and praying area are pure from najis. If there is najis at any of the three stated places, then the prayer performed is invalid and should be performed again. We had discussed on the requisites of prayer in the ontroduction of Al-Kafi Series 1458 [1]
Najis is divided into two types which are blood and other than blood. If it is other than blood and can be seen through naked eyes without the need of any tools like dog’s excrements, then it is inexcusable. This is because, it can simply be avoided. If it is something that cannot be seen by naked eyes like cigarette’s ashes, then it is excusable because it is hard to be avoided.
While for blood, we should first consider and differentiate it. If it is the blood of mosquito or insects, then it is excusable najis whether it is a lot or a little, if it does not cause hardship or trouble others. While the blood of other animals like cow, dog and others or human blood, if it is a little, then it is excusable. If it is a lot, then it is considered as inexcusable najis. (Refer Al-Mu’tamad Fi Al-Fiqh Al-Syafi’i, 1/200).
Referring back to the question asked, if you realise right after prayer, added up that it is an inexcusable najis like blood, hence, the performed prayer is invalid and should be performed again. This is because, it is an obligation to make sure the purity of our clothes before we pray. It is also the requisite of prayer which if neglected, it could lead to the invalidation f prayer.
Imam al-Ramli [2] said, if someone pray while there is najis on his body or praying area and does not realise it at the beginning of prayer, only after he completes his prayer he realises that there is najis on his clothes, body or praying area, then he should perform it again according to al-qaul al-jadid. This is because purifying oneself is wajib (obligatory) and the obligation is not abrogated just because of a person’s ignorance. He further states that if he knows that there is najis on his clothes, then he forgets, then it is obligatory for him to perform prayer again because he has neglected to purify himself. (Refer Nihayah Al-Muhtaj Ila Syarh Al-Minhaj, 5/24).
Al-Khatib al-Syarbini states that if he knows that there is najis on his clothes, but then, he forgets. He only remembers it during or after prayer, then his prayer is invalid and should be performed again. (Refer Mughni Al-Muhtaj Fi Ma’rifati Ma’ani Alfaz Al-Minhaj, 1/194).
While if one is aware that there is najis on his clothes for long time ago, then he does not have to repeat his prayer. This is according to a maxim:
الأصل في كل حادث تقديره بأقرب زمن
The original rule of (stating) each occurrence is by the closest time
According to this maxim, it means that if the najis is found after a long time after performing prayer, then he does not have to repeat his prayer because there is a possibility that the najis come inot contact with him after the prayer. However, even if the najis is from a long time before, but he is sure that the najis exists before the long gap and is brought in prayer, then it is obligatory for him to repeat his prayer. (Refer Al-Mu’tamad Fi Al-Fiqh Al-Syafi’i, 1/203)
In conclusion, if you realise that there are blood splatter right after performing prayer, then the prayer is invalid and should be repeated. However, if you realise it after a long gap, then you don’t have to repeat the prayer. It’s just it is Sunnah to do so. However, even if you realise it after a long duration of time, but is sure that it exists even before you perform your prayer, then it is obligatory for you to repeat the prayer.
May Allah give us understanding. Wallahua’lam.
[1] http://www.muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/3851-al-kafi-1458-terkena-percikan-air-diragui-kesuciannya
[2] He is Imam Muhammad bin Syihabuddin Ahmad bin Hamzah al-Ramli. He is the son of a big scholar in madhhab al-Syafi’e which is Allamah Syihabuddin Ahmad bin Ahmad bin Hamzah bin al-Ramlii. He is known with the name al-Syafi’e al-Saghir (young Syafi’e) due to his expertise in madhhab Imam al-Syafi’e. He passed away on 919H. (Refer Al-Tabaqat Al-Sughra by Imam Al-Sya’rani, page 117-118)