Question:
Assalamualaikum. I would like to ask about the cat’s phlegm. My cat is sick and often sneezes anywhere. Is it najis? If it is, do I have to wash my clothes and clean the affected place with pure water or is it enough to just wipe it off with cloth? Hope for an explanation from SS Mufti. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Animals’ phlegm which is assured not coming from the stomach is ruled as pure according to their category. If it is among the pure animals, then the phlegm is ruled as pure. Hence, its sweat, saliva dan phlegm is also pure.
Explanation:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the 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 status of any liquid discharges from a pure animal is pure unless it comes from the stomach. This statement is explained by Imam al-Nawawi:
فرع في المنفصل عن باطن الحيوان هو قسمان أحدهما ليس له اجتماع واستحالة في الباطن وإنما يرشح رشحا والثاني يستحيل ويجتمع في الباطن ثم يخرج فالأول كاللعاب والدمع والعرق والمخاط فله حكم الحيوان المترشح منه إن كان نجسا فنجس وإلا فطاهر والثاني كالدم والبول والعذرة والروث والقيء وهذه كلها نجسة من جميع الحيوانات مأكول اللحم وغيره
“Liquids that discharges from the inner part of the animals are divided into two. First, liquids which do not undergo the process of accumulation and transformation in the stomach. The liquids just flow out from it. Second, liquids which undergo the process of accumulation and transformation in the stomach then they flow out. The examples for the first type of liquids are saliva, tears, sweat and phlegm. While the ruling of these types of liquids is based on the ruling of the animal which discharges them. If the animal is considered najis, the liquids are also najis. Conversely, if they discharge from a pure animal, then they are ruled as pure. The examples for the second type of liquids are blood, urine, faeces and vomit. All (the second type of liquids) is ruled as najis no matter it discharges from an animal which is permissible to be eaten or not”
(Refer Raudhah al-Tolibin, 1/16).[1]
Closing
In conclusion, based on the opinions of the jurists of madhhab al-Shafi’e, the animals’ phlegm which is assured not coming from the stomach is ruled as pure according to their category. If it is among the pure animals, then the phlegm is ruled as pure. Hence, its sweat, saliva dan phlegm are also pure.
Wallahu a’lam.
[1] Al-Nawawi, Muḥyī al-Dīn Yahyā bin Sharf (1991), Raudhah al-Tolibin, Wa Umdatun Muftin, Beirut: Maktabah Islami. Jld. 1 p: 15