Mutahhirat (Purifying Agents)

Mutahhirat (Arabic: مطهرات) are the agents and methods that can purify (tathhir) impure things (najasah) and make them ritually pure again. Knowledge of mutahhirat is essential for maintaining taharah (ritual purity) in daily life.

In Shia fiqh, there are twelve mutahhirat: (1) Water (ma') — the most universal purifying agent, (2) Earth (ard) — purifies the soles of shoes and animals' paws, (3) The sun (shams) — purifies the ground, buildings, and certain objects by drying, (4) Transformation (istihalah) — when an impure substance is chemically transformed into a pure one, (5) Transfer (inqilab) — specifically wine becoming vinegar, (6) Reduction (inkisas) — two-thirds reduction of grape juice by boiling, (7) Islam — a disbeliever's conversion purifies the body, (8) Association (taba'iyyah) — e.g., the child purified with the parent, (9) Removal of the impure substance itself (zawal al-ayn al-najasah), (10) Abstention of an impurity-eating animal (istibraa'), (11) Absence of a Muslim (ghayb al-muslim), and (12) Excretion from animals (khuruuj).

Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) was asked about water that purifies, and said: "Water purifies, but nothing purifies water" — referring to kurr water (a large quantity that does not become impure upon contact with najasah) (Tahdhib al-Ahkam by Shaykh al-Tusi, vol. 1). These rules are derived from the Quran, the Prophet's sunnah, and the narrations of Ahl al-Bayt.

Islamic scholars have detailed guidelines on how these purifying agents are applied in practice. For example, chemical purification of water (such as chlorination) can be considered a form of istihalah. Understanding mutahhirat enables the believer to maintain ritual purity in all of life's situations, which is a prerequisite for valid prayer.