Islam is a pure religion. Keeping the cleanliness and purity are the important part in Islam. Even the prayer requires wudu’ or purifies from all impure so that it can be considered to be valid. See also Cleanliness in Islam
One of the kinds of impure that has to be cleaned is blood. However, there are also several theologians state that blood is not impure. However, this usually only occurs on a little blood or a splash or blood that comes out because of injury.
Allah has forbidden to drink or eat blood as it is mentioned in Qur’an,
قُلْ لَا أَجِدُ فِي مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَى طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنْزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُ رِجْسٌ
“Say: “I have not found within a revelation which is revealed to me, anything that is forbidden for people who would eat it, unless if it is a carrion, spilled blood, or the flesh of swine – for indeed, it is rijsun (dirty).” (QS. Al-An’am: 145). Imam Ibnu Jarir Ath-Thabari stated that rijsun here was impure and dirty. (Jami’ Al-Bayan, 8:93)
Therefore, the blood should be purified or cleaned, especially before we pray. How to clean impure blood in Islam is also different according to its types. Also read Ways To Purify Yourself In Islam
Menstruation Blood
For example, in menstruation blood. The menstruation blood should be cleaned by washing the parts of body or clothes that are exposed to the menstruation blood. See also How to Clean Yourself After Period in Islam
From Asma’ radhiyallahu anha, said,
جَاءَتْ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَتْ إِحْدَانَا يُصِيبُ ثَوْبَهَا مِنْ دَمِ الْحَيْضَةِ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ تَحُتُّهُ ثُمَّ تَقْرُصُهُ بِالْمَاءِ ثُمَّ تَنْضَحُهُ ثُمَّ تُصَلِّي فِيهِ
“A woman went to meet the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam while she said, ‘There is menstruation blood on one of our clothes, what should she do?’ He said, ‘Scrape the blood first, then rinse it with water, then wash it. After that, you are allowed to wear it for prayer.” (Hadith Al-Bukhari, no. 330 and Muslim, no. 291)
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Blood Due to Injury In A War
However, it is different with the blood due to injury in a war. Then he is still allowed to pray even though he is in injury. This is in accordance with the companions condition when they were together with the Prophet in a war. Also read The Law of Self-Injury in Islam
Al Hasan Al Bashri said,
مَا زَالَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ يُصَلُّونَ فِى جِرَاحَاتِهِمْ
“The Muslims (who are the companions) used to pray in injury.”
It is also the same as the story of Ibnu Mas’ud who told about the Prophet who prayed in blood and dirt,
صَلَّى بْنُ مَسْعُوْدٍ وَعَلَى بَطْنِهِ فَرْثٌ وَدَمٌّ مِن جَزْرِ نَحْرِهَا وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ
“Ibnu Mas’ud once prayed and there was a dirt (livestock) under his stomach and there was blood of a slaughtered camel, however he did not repeat his wudu’.”
This is also reinforced in other hadiths,
“The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam once prayed on the side of Ka’bah. While Abu Jahl and his companions were sitting at that time. Some of them said to the others, “Try to go to the slaughter of the fulan”. Then Abu Jahl found animal waste, slaughtered blood and others, then he slowly put them on the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam shoulder when he prostrated. The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam felt difficulty in his prayer. When the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam prostrated, Abu Jahl put the dirt and blood again between his shoulder. He kept prostrate, while Abu Jahl and his companions laughed.” (Hadith Al-Bukhari no. 240 and Muslim no. 1794)
That verse shows the ease of doing the prayer in the middle of the test from the unbelievers. A man also once asked about the blood trace on the clothes that is difficult to be removed. See also Ways on How To Gain Tranquility in Your Prayer
وعن ابى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قالت حوله يارسول الله فانلم يذهب الدم؟ قال يكفيك الماء ولا يضرّك اثره (اخرحه الترمىذى وسنده ضعيف
From Abu Hurairah ra. he said: Khaulah asked: “Oh Rasulullah, how if the blood does not disappear?” Rasulullah said: “It is enough for you to wash it with water, and the trace is nothing for you.” (Hadith Tirmidzi and the sanad is weak)
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The ease from this impure should also really be used by every Muslims to never leave the prayer. Allah says,
وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ
“And He has never made you any narrowness in the religion.” (QS. Al-Hajj: 78)
يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ
“Allah intends the ease for you, and does not intend the hardship for you.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 185)
That was a brief explanation about how to clean impure blood in Islam. Even though the ease is given, however we should keep try to clean impure blood that is seen for the convenience of worship. That is all for this brief article. Hopefully it will be useful and motivated us to be more diligent in keeping the cleanliness. Aamiin.