Fatwa's Insights - Worship

THE 64TH MEETING OF THE PERLIS STATE FATWA COMMITTEE / 2023

28 - 29 OGOS 2023 / 11 - 12 SAFAR 1445H

GUIDELINES FOR PURIFYING MUGHALLAZAH AND MUTAWASSITAH IMPURITIES FOR PERLIS STATE HALAL CERTIFICATION

1. Purpose

This Guideline is prepared to serve as a guide in managing the purification process from Mughallazah impurities involving sertu and Mutawassitah without sertu for factories, premises, equipment, clothing, or human limbs and the like for applications for Perlis State Halal Certification.

2. Background

2.1. Taharah constitutes one of the issues given emphasis in Islam to ensure that Muslims are free from impure filth, especially for the performance of worship to Allah SWT. Therefore, every Muslim is obliged to strive to free themselves from impurity to the best of their ability.

2.2. However, the performance of purification must follow the views and explanations of Islamic scholars to avoid giving hardship on Muslims.

2.3. Therefore, Guidelines relating to taharah must avoid the characteristic of excessiveness without necessity, whilst at the same time not neglecting the aspect of cleanliness.

2.4. This Guideline applies to first applications for Perlis State Halal Certification or repeat applications after the cancellation of Halal Certification due to the occurrence of violations of conditions relating to impurities.

2.5. There is no longer any test to identify impurity for products produced from premises holding Perlis State Halal Certification that comply with the conditions stipulated in the Perlis State Halal Certification.

3. Definition of Sertu

Sertu is the act of purifying equipment or places and the like that are contaminated with mughallazah impurities, by washing them seven (7) times. The first washing with water mixed with soil followed by six (6) washings with clean water. If the number of washings exceeds the stated number, it does not invalidate the sertu.

The mughallazah impurity intended in this Guideline refers only to the licking of dogs. Meanwhile, parts of dogs other than their licking, similarly the entire body of pigs, are categorised as mutawassitah impurity.

4. Equipment Deemed Impure

4.1. Something pure remains in its purity until it is certain that it has been contaminated with impurity.

4.2. Something that is originally pure cannot be ruled as impure by mere suspicion and assumption.

4.3 Contact between something pure and something impure in a dry state does not render the pure thing impure.

4.4. Equipment that is ruled as impure and needs to be subjected to sertu is only equipment that has been identified as contaminated with the licking of dogs.

4.5 It is not necessary to perform sertu on the entire premises and every piece of equipment, except at places, areas, equipment that are certain to have been affected by dog licking only.

4.6. Areas, places, equipment and the like affected by mutawassitah impurity do not need to be subjected to sertu; instead, they only need to be washed until the traces of the smell and colour of the impurity disappear.

4.7. Equipment made from any part of a pig or dog, such as fur and the like, cannot be used in halal product production.

4.8. Items that are obligatory to undergo purification are those used in the production of food, clothing, and anything used in acts of worship.

5. Method of Performing Washing for Mutawassitah Impurity

Areas, parts or the like that have been confirmed as contaminated with mutawassitah impurity must be purified using pure water until the traces of impurity, whether smell and colour, eliminated.

6. Method of Performing Sertu for Mughallazah Impurity

When it is confirmed that something pure has been contaminated with mughallazah impurity (dog licking), the purification method is as follows:

6.1. Removing the equipment or the like to an appropriate area for the sertu process to be performed. Or preparing an appropriate area for sertu to be performed.

6.2 Cleaning the area, equipment or limb licked by a dog with soil water (water mixed with soil).

6.3. After performing matter 6.2. above, the washing must be repeated at the same place six (6) times with clean water.

7. Soil That May Be Used for Sertu

Soil that is clean and free from impurities.

Attendance of Members of the Perlis State Fatwa Committee:

1. YBhg. S.S Professor Dato' Arif Perkasa Dr Mohd Asri Bin Zainul Abidin – Mufti of Perlis;

2. Sahibul Fadhilah Ustaz Tajul Urus bin Abdul Halim – Deputy Mufti of Perlis;

3. Sahibul Fadhilah Dato' Dr. Johari bin Mat;

4. Sahibul Fadhilah Professor Dr. Muhamad Rozaimi bin Ramle;

5. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr. Hj Zaharuddin Bin Hj Abdul Rahman;

6. Sahibul Fadhilah Professor Dr. Azman Bin Mohd Noor;

7. Sahibul Fadhilah Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Akram Bin Dato' Dahaman @ Dahlan;

8. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr Ahmad Sufian bin Che Abdullah;

9. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr. Kamilin bin Jamilin;

10. Sahibul Fadhilah Ustaz Syed Abu Bakar Bin Syed Kamal Bharin;

11. Ustaz Muhammad Khidhir Bin Abdul Ghani – Secretary.

RESOLVED at the Meeting of the Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Perlis Bil. 5/2023 on 2 October 2023.