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Dry Cleaning for Muslims

Written by Abu Mamoon Ahmad Abdul Rahman ibn Azizur Rahman

October
28

I recently attended a Fiqh class and learning something which is of the utmost importance and MUST be passed on to the Muslim masses Inshallah. The class was discussing Taharat (purification). During this discussion, the top of dry cleaning came up and the following is what was disclosed.

The cleaning fluid that is used is a liquid, and all garments are immersed and cleaned in a liquid solvent -- the fact that there is no water is why the process is called "dry." The solvent is called perchlorethylene (perc). The clothes rotate in a “basket” where there is a constant flow of clean solvent from the pump and filter system. The solvent sprays into the basket and chamber constantly. The dirty solvent is pumped continuously through the filter and re-circulated free and clear of dirt that gets trapped in the filter.

Although the dirt is filtered, any impurities that were on any of the existing clothing have now been mixed into the chemical. This renders the chemical IMPURE and thus any clothing which is washed with this chemical is now also impure. You CANNOT perform any acts of worship in these clothing even though the clothes may appear clean.

Bottom Line

If you have your clothes dry cleaned, you have two simple options to keep your clothing pure which will allow you to observe acts of worship while wearing them:

wash your clothes with water AFTER dry cleaning
stop dry cleaning (even if this means getting a new wardrobe)

More information on the dry cleaning process can be found at http://science.howstuffworks.com/dry-cleaning.htm.

Some facts about water and its purity and its power and conditions to purify:

There are three categories of water: purifying water, pure water, and impure water. This is the approach of the majority of scholars.

According to this classification, purifying water is water that is in a completely unaltered state. This includes well water, river water, and sea water. It also includes water that has become slightly altered because of age or other reasons. This water is not only pure in and of itself, but it has the power to purify.

The second category is water that is pure on its own but does not have the power to purify. It is suitable for drinking and cooking, but it is not suitable for purification purposes. This includes all water that has had its attributes altered by pure substances, like rose water for instance.

The third category is impure water.

More detailed information with references can be found at the source of the above reference to water at http://www.islamtoday.com/showme2.cfm?cat_id=33&sub_cat_id=565.

May Allah (SWT) guide us all to be amongst the successful in the hereafter by allowing us and guiding us to practice the Truth revealed by Allah (SWT) in the Holy Quran and through his blessed and final prophet (pbuh). Ameen.

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