ISTEHAALA (CHANGE IN STATE) IN THE LIGHT OF ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE: A RESEARCH ANALYSIS

Abstract

Najasat is from Najas which means filth or dirt. Basically, najas is ‘infinitive’ and was later on used as noun. Whether najasat is hukmi (legislative)or haqiqi (physical) its removal from human body and cleanliness from it is necessary under Islam. The sacred Shariah has ordained different methods of getting rid of dirt and obtaining purity. For instance, ‘Hadas’ isnajsathukmi (legislativefilthiness) and rid of it is ablution or ‘ghusal’ (bath/shower) and in case water is not available or in case of disease the way to get rid of dirt is ‘tayamum’. Similarly, getting rid of najasathaqiqi (physical dirt), on the body or cloth, is through washing and ‘ghusal’. Although the removal of najasathaqiqi (physical dirt) is possible in other ways also as the body part or cloth gets clean but there is a question. The question is whether the change in the state of dirt will make things clean? We find guidance in “Shariah Mutahhara” (the Pure Law). Jurists have defined the process of change in the state of dirt/filth as ‘istehaala’. In the following is a research discussion on the literal and metaphorical definitions and function of ‘istehaala’.