{"_id":"69039d57395e1d25347a8307","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Can one pray with cat hair on their clothes according to the Shāfiʿī school?\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"What is the ruling on praying in clothes that have cat hair on them? Is it allowed if one believes that most of the cat hair has been removed?\\n\\nFor example, if someone often has cat hair on their clothes or prayer mat, do they need to remove every strand before praying? And if someone plays with a cat and believes that a noticeable amount of hair may be on their clothing, but they are not certain, can they still pray?\\n\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"According to the relied-upon opinion in the Shāfiʿī school, cat hair is considered impure (najis). Therefore, one is required to remove cat hair from their clothes and prayer mat before praying. However, one is not required to investigate meticulously or ensure that every strand has been removed.\\n\\nFor someone who is frequently affected by cat hair in their home, they should simply remove whatever amount they reasonably can without causing undue hardship. Any remaining hair will be excused due to the difficulty of complete avoidance. This falls under the legal principle, as famously articulated by Imām al-Shāfiʿī: “When restriction becomes tight, the ruling is eased” (idhā ḍāqa al-amr ittasaʿ).\\n\\n---\\n\\nIf a person believes there is a large amount of cat hair on their body or clothing, they are required to remove some of it until they no longer think that such an amount remains. They do not need to be 100% certain that it is gone — what matters is their belief (dhann), which in the Sharīʿah refers to when one possibility outweighs the other (more than 50%). When both possibilities are equal, that is called shakk (doubt).\\n\\nAs for someone who has played with a cat and thinks there may be hair on their clothing, they should check their clothes in a normal, reasonable manner, not in an excessive or overly scrupulous way. They cannot assume there is or isn’t cat hair without any actual indication.\\n\\n---\\n\\nAs a general rule, if someone believes that there is physical najāsah (i.e. najāsah that has a jirm, a tangible body) on their clothes, body, or prayer place, they cannot pray until it is removed. But if they are unsure or believe that such najāsah is not present, they may pray. The same ruling applies to najāsah ʿayniyyah and najāsah ḥukmiyyah. \\n\\nTo clarify, ʿayniyyah refers to impurity that has a physical substance (jirm), while ḥukmiyyah refers to impurity without a tangible substance.\\n\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668d9fe00b76658b4c2327bd","tag":"Tahara: Impurities and Invalidators","count":52},{"_id":"668d9ffb0b76658b4c232aee","tag":"Contemporary Life: Animals","count":37}],"createdOn":"2025-10-30T17:16:07.656Z"}