Question:
Assalamualaikum. What is the ruling of accidentally killing an insect in prayer, for example, if someone accidentally slaps a mosquito and the blood smeared on his clothing?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam. Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The scholars have reached the consensus (ijma’) that the blood of any living animals including humans is considered as najis (considered impure religiously). (Refer Al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab, 2/557). Among the evidences stating blood as najis is a hadith from Asma binti Abu Bakar RA:
عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ، قَالَتْ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ إِحْدَانَا يُصِيبُ ثَوْبَهَا مِنْ دَمِ الْحَيْضَةِ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ" تَحُتُّهُ ثُمَّ تَقْرُصُهُ بِالْمَاءِ ثُمَّ تَنْضَحُهُ ثُمَّ تُصَلِّي فِيهِ
“Asma (daughter of Abu Bakr) reported: A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: What should one do if the blood of menses smears the garment of one amongst us? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: She should scrape it, then rub it with water, then pour water over it and then offer prayer in it.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (307)
However, a question arises regarding if there is some smudged blood on one’s clothing, does it invalidates his prayer, or is the prayer of someone who wears clothing with smudged blood on it valid?
According to Imam al-Nawawi, when someone kills a mosquito or lice and its blood smeared on his clothing or his fingers, then it is considered as najis if it is a lot of blood. But if the amount is small, then scholars have differing opinions about it, but the strongest opinion state that it is forgiven. (Refer Al-Majmu’ Syarh Al-Muhazzab, 3/135).
Imam Khatib Syarbini said, among the examples of forgiven blood is from animals considered as ‘umum al-balwa which is difficult to clean such as the blood of mosquito, fly, lice and other blood that is unobservable with the naked eyes. (Refer Al-Iqna’ fi Halli Alfaz Abi Syuja’, 1/90)
How to accurately consider whether the najis (blood) is a lot or not is not clearly stated in fiqh books and is usually determined by the custom of society.
This is the opinion of madhab Hanafi. Imam al-Kasani said a small amount of najis is when it is difficult or nearly impossible to be avoided or removed. If the small amount of najis is not forgiven, then it will be a huge burden on people. (Bada’ie as-Sona’ie, 1/79-80)
This opinion is in accordance with the universal principle of Islamic law: Islam is a religion of ease and brings ease (taysir wa raf’ul haraj). Allah SWT states in the Quran:
يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ
“Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship,”
Surah al-Baqarah (185)
وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ
“… and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty.”
Surah al-Hajj (78)
As a conclusion, a small amount of blood due to a bite from small animals or insects such as mosquito and leech or others, which smudges on someone who is praying will not invalidate the prayer for a small amount of najis is included as matters that are forgiven in syarak.
Wallahua’lam.